| About Turkey |
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Turkey is as intricate and colourful as the pattern of an oriental carpet. Myth and legend, interwoven with the history of six great civilisations, shape the background of this vast land. Throughout centuries of opulence and decadence, of conquest and defeat, Turkey has been moulded by the conflicting influences of Orient and Occident. Seat of Rome in the East, known as the Byzantine Empire for centuries, it was also the nucleus of the Islamic Ottoman Empire, which at its greatest encompassed Europe as far as Vienna, together with much of North Africa and the Near East. Two narrow straits, the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus separate the Asian landmass, called Anatolia or Asia minor, from Trachea, Turkey's tiny toehold on Europe. At the crossroads of two continents, Istanbul exemplifies Turkey's dual personality. The city teems with life, stippled and confused by the ebb and flow of mighty powers. A walk along a fashionable shopping street, a sophisticated evening in a waterfront restaurant and one will be convinced that Istanbul is Western. Then see the crowds crossing Galata Bridge, dodge the barrow‑men wheeling their carts of cucumbers and tomatoes, penetrate the bustle of the Spice Bazaar or the calm of a great mosque, and the magic of the Orient appears. The capital being Ankara, Istanbul is still where the heart of economy beats. The country is surrounded with 3 seas, Black Sea, the Agean Sea and the Mediterranean. It is considered one of the most important passageways in the World. The Agean Coast perfect for blue cruises and Mediterranean for water/sand/sun holidays, Turkey reflects an excellent combination of modern world with an oriental touch. Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. Centrally located in Anatolia, Ankara is an important commercial and industrial city. It is the center of the Turkish Government, and houses all foreign embassies. It is an important crossroads of trade, strategically located at the center of Turkey's highway and railway networks, and serves as the marketing center for the surrounding agricultural area. The city was famous for its long-haired Angora goat and its prized wool (mohair), a unique breed of cat (Angora cat), white rabbits and their prized wool (Angora wool), pears, honey, and the region's muscat grapes. The hill which overlooks the city is crowned by the ruins of the old castle, which adds to the picturesqueness of the view, but only a few historic structures surrounding the old citadel have survived to our date. There are, however, many finely preserved remains of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine architecture, the most remarkable being the Temple of Augustus and Rome (20 BC) which is also known as the Monumentum Ancyranum. Istanbul
Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul; historically Byzantium and later Constantinople) is the largest city in Turkey, largest city proper and second largest metropolitan area in Europe, and fourth largest city proper in the world with a population of 16 million. Istanbul is also a megacity. It is the cultural and financial center of Turkey. The city covers 27 districts of the Istanbul province. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the Europe (Thrace) and on the Asia (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. In its long history, İstanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. Izmir
Izmir, historically Smyrna, is Turkey's third most populous city and the country's largest port after Istanbul. It is located along the outlying waters of the Gulf of İzmir, by the Aegean Sea. İzmir has almost 3,500 years of urban past, and possibly that much more of advanced human settlement. İzmir is widely regarded as one of the most progressive Turkish cities in terms of its values, lifestyle, dynamism and gender roles. The city hosts an international arts festival during June and July, and İzmir International Fair, one of the city's many fair and exhibition events centered around but not limited to Kulturpark, is held in the beginning of September every year. Modern İzmir also incorporates the nearby ancient cities of Ephesus, Pergamon, Sardis and Klazomenai, and centers of international tourism such as Kuşadası, Çeşme, Mordoğan and Foça. Antalya
Antalya (formerly known as Adalia or Attalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attáleia) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey, and the capital city of Antalya Province. Situated on coastal cliffs, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Development and investment, began in the 1970s, have transformed the city into a major international resort. Today, Antalya is one of the largest touristic attraction center with its marvellous costs and suitable weather. Bodrum
Bodrum (from Petronium), formerly Halicarnassus (Turkish: Halikarnas, Ancient Greek: Ἁλικαρνασσός ), is a Turkish port town in Mugla Province, in the southwestern Aegean Region of the country. It is located on the southern coast of Bodrum Peninsula, at a point that checks the entry into the Gulf of Gökova, and it faces the Greek island of Kos. Today, it is an international center of tourism and yachting. The city was called Halicarnassus of Caria in ancient times. The Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was here. Bodrum Castle, built by the Crusaders in the 15th century, overlooks the harbor and the International Marina. The castle grounds includes a Museum of Underwater Archeology and hosts several cultural festivals throughout the year. |
