ON THE ROAD City Istanbul

In his introduction to Costantinopoli, the book written by Edmondo De Amicis and republished by Einaudi in 2007, Umberto Eco referred to Istanbul as “Una e Trina”, [a Trinity of three cultures] describing it as a fascinating city of myths and legends, to be discovered little by little, wandering its winding streets, free to gaze and absorb the city’s endless diversity. While researching this book dedicated to Istanbul for the On the Road series, as we strolled through the streets of this metropolis, we too realised that it represented a journey in space and time, through a myriad of different periods and civilisations. To gain a true reading of this place, one must explore the multiple layers accumulated over the centuries and which continue to be generated at the present time, determined by an intricate weave of both conservation and modernisation.