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Istanbul (Metropolitan Municipality, Turkey)

Last modified: 2005-01-22 by ivan sache
Keywords: istanbul | mosque | minaret | triangles: 7 (red) | triangles: 7 (blue) | triangles: 7 (white) |
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[Flag of Istanbul]by Jaume Ollé


See also:


Flag of Istanbul

For the emblem of the city of Istanbul, a contest was held by governorship in 1969. The winner was Metin Edremit. He was awarded 18,000 Turkish liras.

The symbolism of the emblem is as follows. On the lower part, the Bosphorus, which separates the city into two parts and combines two continents (Europe and Asia), is symbolized. The city walls of the historical city are shown on each side. The famous mosques of Istanbul and their minarets, which constitute a major item in city's tourism potential, are symbolized as they are seen in the silhouette of city view. The seven triangles in the middle of the emblem represent the seven hills on which Istanbul was built.

The semi-circular writing below the emblem reads BÜYÜKŞEHIR BELEDIYESI, that is "Metropolitan Municipality".

Onur Özgün, 22 March 2004; information received from the municipality of Istanbul


Variants of the flag

[Variant flag of Istanbul]by Jaume Ollé

The emblem is also the logotype of municipality and widely used as it is or on flags. Two variants of the flag are seen in various parts of city. The first variant is the blue version of the red flag.

[Variant flag of Istanbul]by Jaume Ollé

The second variant is white with the logotype in blue and horizontal writing.

Onur Özgün, 22 March 2004