2010 will be the year of İstanbul because the city has choosen as European Capital of Culture for 2010.
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one calendar year during which it is given a chance to showcase its cultural life and cultural development.
A number of European cities have used the City of Culture year to transform their cultural base and, in doing so, the way in which they are viewed internationally.
You can ask here why İstanbul? the answer is ; istanbul is an old city, you can see the remains of many ancient civilizations and their culture in harmony with Turkish culture. Ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asia and Europe, mystical and earthly all co-exist here.
So İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture , as one of the most energetic cities in the world , İstanbul continually gets to be an attraction center.
