Istanbul, formerly Constantinople and before that Byzantium, was for centuries a crossroads between East and West. A walled city where caravans arrived, using the Silk Road to bring silk and other valuable goods from China and the regions they traversed. It was in the city's best interest to treat the merchants well, so they built many "Han" (caravanserais), buildings where they stayed, near the markets. The caravanserais on the less touristy side of Istanbul are being restored, and the one pictured (Büyük Valide Han) now houses a café with a magnificent view of the Bosphorus Strait.