It took the Ottomans five sieges over the reign of four sultans to conquer Constantinopolis. The road to the final victory was long and tedious. The picturesque castle by the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus was built as an initial step to pave the way.
Different communities of Jewsih citizens of Istanbul have been an integral part of the city for thousands of years. Over the centuries, Istanbul has been home for Ashkenazic Jews (expelled from France, Germany, East Europe and Russia) and Sephardic Jews (expelled from Spain, Portugal, Sicily and Puglia). Joining the already existing Romaniote and Karaite Jews, each community brought its own culture, language and tradition, forever enriching this amazing city.