8 World Famous People Strolled Around The Streets Of Istanbul
The only city in the world that is located in both Asia and Europe, Istanbul also bestrides the ancient and modern worlds. The excellent way to explore Istanbul is to allow for unscheduled wandering in between visits to historical places and museums. Wake-up early enough to partake of the famous Turkish breakfast. Istanbul’s charm smoothly blows over two continents; the city is permeated through a new calmness, with even greater magic. Do you think that there are people we know that strolled around and inspired by this magnificent city? Of course, there was! Here are the world-famous eight people who passed by Istanbul.
1. Agatha Christie
The world-renowned crime fiction writer Agatha Christie visited Istanbul several times. She was also one of the most famous guests of the Pera Palace Hotel which is the first modern hotel in Istanbul and hosted the most distinguished people of a period. The writer stayed many times in room 411 between 1926 and 1932 and even wrote her famous novel The Murder on the Orient Express. This acclaimed novel has broken sales records and has also been the subject of movies.
2. Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway, the world-famous writer, was also one of the enthusiasts of Istanbul! The famous writer was staying in Pera Palace Hotel during his visits to Istanbul in the 1920s. During his stays in the hotel, he often spent time in the hotel bar. The room where the famous author was a guest can be preferred for accommodation just like Agatha Christie’s room 411.
Greta Garbo
Swedish actress Greta Garbo, who was remembered internationally as “Queen of the Ice” came to Istanbul for the first time in 1924 for a film project. She stayed in Pera Palace Hotel room 103 for 50 days. The famous star, during this time, toured Sultanahmet, attended the New Year’s party in the Swedish Consulate.
3. Zsa Zsa Gabor
Gabor, who escaped from war and took shelter in Istanbul, was a true lover of Istanbul, married Conrad Hilton in 1942. She glorified and told her husband so much about Istanbul that she finally persuaded him to build a hotel in this city. Even after the couple got divorced, the hotel has stood in Istanbul as a memory of their love!
4. Umberto Eco
The famous Italian writer Umberto Eco was also one of the enthusiasts of Istanbul. He expressed his feelings about Istanbul:
“Istanbul is one of the four most beautiful cities in the world. Rome, Rio de Janerio, New York, and Istanbul. I have deep intellectual feelings in these four cities.”
5. James Baldwin
The novelist, playwright, and poet James Arthur Baldwin came to Istanbul upon the invitation of the famous actor Engin Cezzar. According to the claims, he finished “Another Country” in Istanbul, which was his third novel and worked on it for ten years.
6. Mark Twain
World-famous author Mark Twain allegedly visited Istanbul in 1867 by the ship named Quaker. In his book, “The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrims’ Progress,” he gave a place to Historical Peninsula, The Golden Horn, Uskudar and its surroundings, and described the geographical location of the city as “The most beautiful city we have ever seen from the point we have anchored”!
7. Arthur Conan Doyle
The Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II was very fond of detective novels and had a very rich library. Because of this, he invited Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes, to Istanbul. In fact, it is rumoured that the Sultan rewarded the author with the Order of Mecidiye. Let’s not forget that the famous author admired Istanbul!
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