Turkey
Turkey is situated at a point in the northern hemisphere where the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe are closest to one another. With a population of 65 million it covers an area of approximately 814,000 sq km (roughly 3 times the size of the UK), of which over 790,000 are in Asia and 24,000 in Europe. Its neighbours are Greece and Bulgaria to the north-west, Armenia and Georgia to the north-east, Iran and Iraq to the south-east and Syria to the south. The Black sea lies to the north of the country, the Aegean sea lies to the west and the Mediterranean to the south, so with over 8000km of coast line Turkey is a beach-lovers paradise, and its abundance of plants and wildlife make it and ideal location for trekking through its many national parks.
Turkey is split into 7 regions. Each has its own distinct climate, landscape and traditions. The first four are named according to their adjacent seas (the Black Sea, the Marmara, the Aegean and the Mediterranean Regions). The other three in relation to their location in the whole of Anatolia (Central, Eastern and South East Anatolia Regions).
Whether you are fond of art, history, archeology, nature or if your idea of bliss is a relaxing beach or sailing holiday, there really is something for everybody in Turkey.
Turkey has been home to twenty fascinating civilizations, spanning over 10,000 years of history, and many of her ancient secrets have still to be uncovered. Fascinating sites include statues of gods and goddesses, temples, theatres, agoras, churches, mosques and palaces. But Turkey isn't just a treasure house of historic artefacts (even though it has the first church and more Roman remains than Italy and more Greek remains than Greece!), it's a thriving, bustling, energetic modern country, with cosmopolitan cities, dazzling marinas, first class hotels. Wonderful climate, friendly, hospitable people, world class cuisine, every kind of sport and leisure activity, great service and reasonable prices make Turkey just about the perfect place to visit.
Turkey is for everyone, and Turkey welcomes everyone. "Come, come whoever you are", wrote the famous 13th Century Turkish philosopher, Mevlana. By Turkish tradition, the guest is seen as a gift from God, and you are sure to be touched by the overwhelming hospitality of the people.
| AEGEAN |
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Arguably the most beautiful of Turkey's coastlines, the Aegean Region is perhaps best known for its turquoise sea and the enviable "blue cruise" route. The Aegean is littered with ancient sites, including two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and King Mausolus' Tomb in Bodrum. |
| ISTANBUL & THE MARMARA REGION |
This region uniquely straddles both Europe and Asia and the two continents are separated by the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles. Istanbul is undoubtedly the jewel of the Marmara Region, but don't miss the Ottoman cities of Edirne and Bursa. |
| MEDITERRANEAN |
Stretching from the south of the splendid Taurus Mountains, Turkey 's Mediterranean coast is awash with sandy beaches, beautiful scenery, secluded coves and fascinating ancient sites, including the amazing Aspendos Theatre. The region also boasts an enviable climate of long, hot summers and mild winters. |
| EAST & SOUTH EAST |
High mountain ranges, plunging valleys, expansive plains and vast lakes, East and South East Turkey is a region of contrast and colours. Adorned with the unique architectural samples of Turkish culture, attractions include the impressive Ishak Pasa Palace and the imposing Mount Ararat, thought to be the landing point of Noah's Ark. |
| BLACK SEA |
Among the most fertile regions of the country, the Black Sea area is famed for verdant plateaus, traditional villages with a way of life unchanged for generations and fields of tea, hazelnuts, tobacco and corn. |
| CENTRAL ANATOLIA |
Home to Ankara, Turkey's capital and political centre, Central Anatolia also boasts the fascinating City of Konya, the country's spiritual heart, as well as the expansive natural wonder that is the region of Cappadocia. |
Did you Know? Little Known facts about Turkey!
| Istanbul |
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Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia. In its thousands of years of history, it has been the capital of three great empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. |
| Catalhöyük |
The oldest known human settlement in the world is located in Catalhöyük, Turkey, dating back to 6500 B.C. The earliest landscape painting in history was found on the wall of a Catalhöyük house, illustrating the volcanic eruption of nearby Hasandag. |
| Seven Wonders |
Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World stood in Turkey - the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum. |
| Coffee |
The Turks introduced coffee to Europe. |
| Coins |
The first coins ever minted were done so at Sardis, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lycia, at the end of the seventh century B.C. |
| Turquoise |
The word "turquoise" comes from "Turk" meaning Turkish, and was derived from the beautiful colour of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern Turkish coast. |
| Tulips |
The Turks first gave the Dutch their famous tulips that started the craze for the flower in England and the Netherlands. Bulbs brought to Vienna from Istanbul in the 1500s were so intensely popular that by 1634 in Holland it was called "tulipmania". People invested money in tulips as they do in stocks today. This period of elegance and amusement in 17th century Turkey is referred to as "The Tulip Age." |
| Carpet |
The most valuable silk carpet in the world is in the Mevlana Museum in Konya, Turkey. Marco Polo's journeys in the thirteenth centuries took him here, and he remarked that the "best and handsomest of rugs" were to be found in Turkey. |
| Christianity |
Many important events surrounding the birth of Christianity occurred in Turkey. St John, St Paul and St Peter all lived and prayed in southern Anatolia. Tradition has it that St John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the Crucifixion, where she spent her last days in a small stone house (Meryemana Evi) on what is now Bulbul dağı (Mount Koressos). It remains a popular pilgrimage site for Christians to this day. |
| Noah |
Many archaeologists and biblical scholars believe Noah's Ark landed on Agri Dağı (Mount Ararat) in eastern Turkey. |
| Churches |
The seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation are all found in Turkey: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. |
| St Peter |
A cave known today as the Grotto of St Peter, or Church of St Peter, is believed to be where the apostle Peter preached when he visited Antioch (Antakya, in southern Turkey). It is widely considered to be one of the earliest Christian houses of worship. In 1963, the papacy designated the site as a place of pilgrimage and recognised it as the world's first cathedral. Every year on June 29, a special service held at the church, is attended by Christians from around the world |
| People |
Anatolia is the birthplace of many historic figures and legends such as the poet Homer, King Midas, Herodotus (the father of history) and St Paul the Apostle. |
| Santa Claus |
St Nicholas known as Santa Claus today, was born and lived in Demre (Myra) on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. The village contains the famous Church of St Nicholas with the sarcophagus believed to be his tomb. |
| Flight |
The first man ever to fly was Turkish. Using two wings, Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi flew from the Galata Tower over the Bosphorus to land in Usküdar in the 17th century. |
For more info go to www.gototurkey.co.uk
