This comprehensive study of Istanbul from the late 19th to early 20th century offers a nuanced examination of the city's architectural and urban configuration. Focusing on the city's metamorphosis as the capital of the Ottoman Empire until 1923, the research delves into the socioeconomic and political shifts that shaped its urban landscape. A crucial text, Mir'ât-ı İstanbul by Kolağasi Mehmed Râif Efendi, published in 1898, serves as the primary source for analyzing the city's urban layout and architectural features, offering a wealth of information on the city's spatial organization, architectural heritage, and preservationist efforts. Through a comparative textual analysis and the application of digital humanities tools, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Space Syntax analysis, this research provides a spatially reconstructed and analyzed historical urban fabric. The findings of this study contribute significantly to our understanding of Istanbul's urban history, highlighting the importance of preserving architectural heritage in the face of natural disasters and the impact of legal and administrative reforms on the city's development. By examining the Mir'ât-ı İstanbul within the context of the travel writing genre and the broader global trends of urbanization, this research aims to provide a multifaceted understanding of the city's transformation and its significance as a historical example of urban evolution.