As soon as a visitor sets foot on Turkish soil, he is veritably setting foot on layers of history. The Turkish Empire, at one point of time, stretched from Budapest to Baghdad. From the Topkapi Palace of the Ottoman Emperors to Cappadocia's cave-cut churches, built centuries earlier by the Byzantine Christians, to hide from Islamic armies, to the intriguing Lycian ruins on the Mediterranean beaches, the Hittites built Hattusa's Stone Walls on the Anatolian Steppes, Turkey has history strewn everywhere.
The Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental nation. That means that it spreads across two continents. It is a Eurasian country that extends from the Anatolian peninsula in Southwest Asia to the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. 8 countries, in Europe and Asia, surround Turkey. They are Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Syria. The Black Sea lies to the North of Turkey, the Aegean Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. There is also the Sea of Marmara in Turkey, which is considered to be the dividing line between Europe and Asia. Because of the unique location, Turkey has the flavor of both Europe and Asia, and is a beautiful land worth visiting again and again.
The Byzantine and the Ottoman Empire have risen in the place, which, we call Turkey today. The architect of modern turkey is Mustafa. Kemal Ataturk. He came to power with the downfall of the six hundred year old Ottoman Empire after a three-year war of independence in 1923.After the devastation of First World War where, the Ottoman emperor had joined the Germans, and lost vast stretches of his empire, Kemal, brought together all the Turkish nationalists under his leadership and instilled a sense of national pride in them. The Turkish under his able leadership, pushed out the invading Greek forces from Anatolia or Asia Minor, Turkey was declared as a republic. He made Turkey into a secular, democratic, and constitutional republic and made sweeping changes in the existing political, social, linguistic and economic structures in Turkey.
As of today, Turkey is more inclined to the western world, while still holding on to eastern values. It is a curious mixture of the modern high rises, swanky shopping malls with the traditional bazaars and mosques. Modern Turks are usually extroverts and closely resemble their southern European neighbors.
Turkey is the founding member of the United Nations, a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization from 1952, member of the Organization of Islamic Conference, and since 2005 Turkey has been wanting to join the European Union. Turkey is a member of the G-20, the twenty largest economies in the world.
Ankara is the capital city of Turkey. Turkey is divided into 81 administrative provinces. These provinces are further divided into districts. There are a total of 923 districts in Turkey. The principal cities in Turkey are Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Konya, Bursa, Adana, Antalya, Mersin, Gaziantep, Trabzon etc It would be worth mentioning that the majority of Turkish population, that is about 67% are urban, and live in cities.
Turkey can be geographically divided into seven regions. Marmara, Aegean, Black Sea, Eastern Anatolia, South-Eastern Anatolia and the Mediterranean. The North-Western portion or the European section Of Turkey is called Eastern Thrace, and borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Anatolia or the Eastern part of Turkey is formed of a central plateau with narrow coastal plains. The Eastern region of Turkey is mountainous and rivers like Euphrates, Aras, Tigris, originate here. Mount Ararat, and Lake Van, are also situated here. Turkey, shares borders with four seas. The Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, The Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara, which, demarcates the border between Europe and Asia.
Turkey is magnificent, where it meets the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. This is a more Western face of Turkey, and is more European. Izmir is the third largest city of Turkey and is the capital city of the Province of Izmir. It is a city, which is based on its Aegean Coast. Izmir is situated on the Gulf of Izmir, which is connected to the Aegean Sea. There are about 4 million people living in the city. It is a very important city in terms of its strategic location, and is the seat of North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s command for land forces in Southeastern Europe. It is also a very big industrial hub and is the production center for cement, dyes, soaps, textiles, tobacco etc. Izmir is famous for many landmarks like Agora and the ancient Aqueducts of Kizilcullu. 50 kilometers to the south of Izmir lie the famous ruins of Ephesus .The famous city of Troy is said to have been located quite close to Izmir.
Ephesus is the ancient city of ancient Anatolia, which owing to its strategic location, for its trade routes between Asia and Europe. It connected the Mediterranean Sea to Asia Minor. It was a very rich city, and was renowned for its Temple of Artemis (Diana), which was later burned down. The magnificent ruins of Ephesus, yields a beautiful theatre, capable of seating 25,000 people. There is also a very impressive bath, between the theatre and the port, which is worth visiting. In Ephesus is located, one of seven of the oldest churches in Asia. Ephesus also had the most advanced aqueduct systems of its time, something that one would marvel at. It also had a well-stocked library, which was later razed to the ground by the Goths. Meryemana is a city, which is South of Ephesus. Here many people come for pilgrimage. That is because, it is claimed by early Christianity, that the tomb of Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus is located here.
The Taurus Mountains separate the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey from Anatolia. The Mediterranean coast of Turkey can boast of one of the best beaches in the world, quaint bazaars, selling Turkish delicacies and carpets as well as comfortable resorts perched on rocky cliff-sides, that offers the most panoramic view of the blue Mediterranean or the picturesque fishing villages that offers perfectly romantic getaways are all highlights of the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey. Cities and towns worth visiting on this coast are Marmaris, Antalya, Adana and Mersin. This region is known as the Turkish Riviera. Though the beaches and resorts are the highlight of the Turkish Riviera. However, the splendor of the cities and the ruins of Greek, Roman, Arab, Seljuk, Armenian, Crusader, and Byzantine origin are a bonus worth reckoning.
The weather is mainly hot in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Together with that climate, the sun-kissed beaches of the Mediterranean Coast, provides for a variety of entertainment for tourists of all budget. The weather and the fertile soil is very conducive for the growth of citrus fruits, nuts, figs, olives, barley etc.
Kebabs, carpets, bazaars are what one stereotypes, Turkey, with....but one has to visit Turkey to get a real feel about its diversity.
Turkey can be called as a cultural and historical bridge
between Europe and Asia. It is steeped in history and bears the legacy of great
civilizations and empires like the Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman etc. This
curious amalgamation of cultures of various flavors, have made Turkey a tourist
destination with a difference. This is a country, where, a traveler can expect
to find surprises at every bend of the road.
Added to this, Turkey has also been endowed with stunning natural
beauty. From the Taurus mountains between Anatolia and Mediterranean region,
the varied coastlines of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea and
the Mediterranean Sea, to the arid Anatolia plateau to name only a few, Turkey
has a holiday destination suited to every palate.
Turkey is almost encircled on all its sides by a number of
seas. That is why it has miles upon miles of uninterrupted coastlines, with
different flavors. Some of them are rocky and ragged, some mountainous with just
a narrow strip of coastline, some with cliffs overhanging the beaches, while
others with undulating, pristine yellow beaches, and the azure blue waters
offering a spectacular view. Together with the beaches, the coastal hamlets,
the fishing villages, the byways of small coastal towns offering mouth-watering
dishes, the colorful bazaars, where one can browse for carpets and other
Turkish specialties, these coastal areas can also boast of a perfect climate.
This total package of sea, beaches, bazaars, mountain-sides, historic places,
tempting climate and affordable stay have made Turkey into a tourist hot-spot
that it is today.
Holidays as well as holiday rentals in Turkey are centered
in and around the Mediterranean Sea coast, the Aegean Sea Coast and the Sea of
Marmara and the Black Sea. Most of the holiday rentals are spread across the
Mediterranean Sea coast. These Holiday Rentals offer myriad facilities, like
Spa, Jacuzzi, Outdoor Pool and a variety of water sports. Self-catering
services are also on offer. Marmaris, Fethiye, Alanya, Calis, Gundogan, Dalyan,
Ovacik, Kalkan, are just some of the places, where the Villas are located,
which, are given out on rental.
Holiday apartments, chalets, cottages, studios and villas,
authentic Turkish farmhouses in village resorts, apartments in cities like
Istanbul, Ankara on rental, suiting every pocket and budget, are a rage in
Turkey. That is maybe because, tourists find them more affordable, comfortable,
homely and convenient, than hotels with star ratings. These holiday villas and
apartments, provide for an ideal holiday base, from where, tourists can tour
immediate locales and even further destinations in order to have a glimpse into
the rich history and culture of Turkey or to relax and laze around and have a sunshine-filled
vacation in pristine and peaceful surroundings.
Tour operators arrange for many types of tours like weekend
getaways, fishing tours, coastal trek tours, biblical tours, shore excursions
from specific harbors etc. Shore excursions are very popular with tourists
wanting to take short trips to small islets, mountain coves near the shore, or
the butterfly valley in Oludeniz, which, is unique with a picturesque valley
and lagoon, and can be reached only by a boat ride.
