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Planet In1: Destination Asia - Turkey

Turkey is located at a crossroads, between Europe and Asia, bordered by the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas to the west and south. Turkey shares borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Present-day Turkey was created in 1923 from the Turkish remnants of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey has a magnificent past, and is a land full of historic treasures from 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. A mix of old and new, Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains, and lakes and from April to October, most places have an ideal climate that is perfect for relaxing on sandy beaches or enjoying the tranquility of mountains and lakes.

Istanbul

The former capital of three successive empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, Istanbul today honours and preserves the legacy of its past while looking forward to a modern future. It is Istanbul's endless variety that fascinates its visitors. The museums, churches, palaces, grand mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beauty seem innumerable.

The Topkapi Palace stands on a finger of land at the confluence of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. This maze of buildings was the focal point of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. Here are magnificent wooded gardens, palace kitchens, now serving as galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain, the Harem, the Hall of Audience, the Library of Ahmet III, the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle which enshrines the relics of the Prophet Muhammed. This palace, along with the others in the city shows the opulence in which the sultan and court lived.

As Turkey is mainly a Muslim country, Istanbul has many beautiful Mosques and minarets dominating its skyline, the Blue Mosque being one of the most famous.

Museums house everything from ceramics, mosaics, metalwork, miniatures, calligraphy, textiles, woodwork, fine arts, to some of the oldest carpets in the world. T he Grand Bazaar is a maze of narrow streets where you can buy a bangle, a carpet, or just browse.

The Istanbul city walls, once an impenetrable fortification, stretch seven kilometers from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn. Recently restored, these walls date from the fifth century. UNESCO has declared the walls and the area enclosed by them to be one of the cultural heritages of the world.

A stay in Istanbul is not complete without a traditional and unforgettable boat excursion up the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia.

Ankara, the present day capital of Turkey, is located in the central Anatolian plateau, which was a cradle of civilization. (At Catalhoyuk , remains of settlements as old as the eighth millennium B.C. have been unearthed.) The city was an important cultural, trading, and arts centre in Roman times, and an important trading centre on the caravan route to the east in Ottoman times. Nowadays its main business is government. Museums, mosques and monuments are present in abundance and Ankara is well endowed with parks and open spaces. The city is a centre for opera, ballet, jazz and modern dance and houses the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, as well as a number of theatres and art galleries. The old shops in Cikrikcilar offer old and new items of copper, jewelry, carpets, costumes and embroidery. South of Ankara are Golbasi Lake, Incek, and Karagol Lake, all popular picnic sites. The three dams around the city are good for swimming. In the province of Ankara there are six thermal centers all offering comfortable facilities in which to soak away your ills. Skiing and other winter sports are available on Elmadag Mountain, just east of the city.

Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey and its port is second only to Istanbul. Known in Turkish as "Beautiful Izmir" the city lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf. The climate is mild and in the summer the constant and refreshing sea breezes temper the sun's heat. Archaeological and Ethnography (folklore artifacts) museums vie with Fine Arts and Natural History for the attention of the visitor. These alongside historical excavations, monuments and mosques make for interesting sightseeing.

The Aegean shores of Turkey are among the loveliest landscapes in the country. Whether you prefer idyllic fishing harbours, popular holiday villages or the remains of ancient civilizations, this region offers something for nature lovers, sun worshippers, photographers, sports enthusiasts, sailors and archeologists.

Balcova, on the road to Cesme, is one of Turkey's largest thermal spas. Camalti, west of Karsiyaka, is an area of coastal marshes and salt fields that is preserved as an important bird sanctuary the - Izmir Bird Paradise. Bodrum is one of the South Aegean's prettiest resorts, with a yacht harbour and a port for ferries to the Greek island of Kos. Boating, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving are popular activities here.

Mount Ararat, the highest spot in Turkey and the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country.

The cities of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, mentioned by St. John in the Book of Revelation, are all found in Turkey: Efes (Ephesus), Izmir (Smyrna), Bergama (Pergamum), Akhisar (Thyatira), Sart (Sardis), Alasehir (Philadelphia), and Eskihisar (Laodicea).

Ephesus is one of the grandest and best preserved of the many ancient cities and classical ruins in the country. Originally Ionia, this was important during the Greek Empire and Roman times. The Temple of Diana, counted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Hadrian, Arcadian way, the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers are just some of the sights to be enjoyed. The nearest town is Selçuk.

The Turkish Riviera is the tourism capital of Turkey. The region, bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year, is a paradise for sunbathing, swimming, and sports activities like wind surfing, water skiing, sailing, mountain climbing and spelunking. If you come to Antalya in March or April, you can ski in the mornings and in the afternoons swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Antalya is the main city on the central Mediterranean coast and a good base for exploring the quieter older cities in the region.