CORRECTED: Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Istanbul

Removes reference to capital in paragraph 13 By Ola Galal ISTANBUL, July 25 (Reuters Life!) - Got 48 hours to discover Istanbul, a city that bridges Europe and Asia, boasting a rich cultural mix with influences ranging from Roman to Arab? From the Muslim heritage of the Ottoman Empire to the secular republic founded in 1923, Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help you sample the contrasts of a city that straddles east and west. SATURDAY 9 a.m. -- Sultanahmet district, the hub of historic Old Istanbul dotted with centuries-old mosques, is the ideal place to start a short visit to this city. Start your walk around this historic area at the Basilica of St. Sophia, now called the Ayasofya Museum. Turn full circle, then look up to absorb the grandeur of its dome. Arabic calligraphy has coexisted with Christian mosaics... [read full story]