Blog

Having been a sanctuary for early Christians, Cappadocia is an open air museum full of unequal natural and cultural components. The region of Cappadocia is located in the middle of a once-active volcanic area of central Anatolia. Millions of years ago three of its mountains – Erciyes, Hasandağ and Güllüdağ – were active volcanoes; indeed...Read More

Çanakkale is an honourable resting place for the soldiers who lost their lives in Gelibolu. The city of Çanakkale lies at the narrow 1200m entrance to the Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelles) that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. Passenger and car ferries run daily between Çanakkale on the Asian side and Eceabat and Kilitbahir...Read More

Burdur has ruins from many civilizations, revealing a true combination of various aesthetic tastes. Burdur preserves excellent examples of Ottoman regional architecture, in particular the Taşoda (now the Ethnography Museum), Kocaoda (also known as Çelikbaş) and Mısırlılar konaks or mansions dating back to the 17th century. Both the interior and exterior decors reveal much of...Read More

Bolu is a lovely city between Ankara and İstanbul with lofty mountains, thick forests, lakes and streams. The breathtakingly beautiful Yedigöller (Seven Lakes) National Park is one of the gifts of nature to Bolu. Lying 42 km north of the city centre, the Park is named after seven large and small lakes formed by landslides....Read More

Bitlis, accommodating the largest Islamic graveyard, offers a deeper insight into a more peaceful everyday life. The lively city of Bitlis stands in the middle of a green oasis. The city’s architecture uses the local dark stone, with stone monuments including the Şerefhan Madrasah, the 12th-century Ulu Mosque, the Seljuk Gökmeydanı Mosque and the Ottoman...Read More

During the late Ottoman Period, the European tradesmen, followed by the embassies community left the confines of Galata Walls surrounding the Galata port area, and created a new cosmopolitan development at Beyoğlu (Pera) along the lines of European cities, where diverse nationalities come together. The area of the settlement was referred to as Pera by...Read More

Batman, a museum-like city, is home to the ancient Hasankeyf- a priceless iconic treasure at the Tigris River. The archaeological excavations which have taken place at the Hallan Çemi Mound in the county of Kozluk near Batman have unearthed various ornaments, animal statues and stone tools, with these items revealing that the first settlement in...Read More

Parthenios of ancient times, Bartın impresses visitors with its timbered houses that reflect a different artistic taste. Bartın, Parthenios of ancient times, is a pretty city full of timbered houses that holds a strawberry festival every year in the springtime. Homer records that warriors from Bartın helped Troy in the Trojan War. The remains of...Read More

In the province of Balıkesir interesting historical sites seem to harmoniously blend with nature. The mid-14th century Yıldırım Mosque, built by Beyazıt I, is the city’s oldest mosque while the Zağnos Paşa Mosque, built by and named after the Grand Vizier of Mehmet the Conqueror Zağnos Paşa in 1461, was once part of a great...Read More

The estuary, Haliç in Turkish, was called as the Golden Horn by the Byzantines. According to legend it was formed by the thrust of Io’s horns that was transformed into a heifer by Zeus. Another legend relates that the plentiful palamut fish (Atlantic bonito) makes the water shimmer with their reflective skin. Actually the sunrise...Read More

Ayvalık, where health-giving olives grow in abundance, is ready to share its age-old traditions and vibrant cultural present with you. Ayvalık is a county of Balıkesir Province in the Aegean Region of Turkey, and it is one of the country’s fast emerging but still largely untouched tourism destinations. The impressive geography is complemented by pine...Read More

A charming city with a mild climate that enchants the visitors with tens of shades of green. A winding drive midway up a mountainside takes you to Artvin, one of the important cities of the Black Sea region. At the foot of the escarpment, a ruined 16th century castle crowns a rocky outcrop. Artvin is...Read More

According to available knowledge the history of the ancient city Anavarza (Anazarbus) goes back to 2100 years, and it has reached its zenith in the 2nd century BC when it was awarded by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. Anavarza rapidly developed and became the capital of Cilicia in 408. The city maintained its significance through...Read More

With ancient cities hidden among forests with oxygen-rich air, Antalya is a holiday paradise offering much more than one might expect. Antalya was founded in 158-138 BC by Attalus II, King of Pergamon, who named the city Attaleia after himself. Having been inhabited continuously since then, it was encircled by strong protective walls in Roman...Read More