Category: Holiday resorts of Turkey

Turkey is a holiday paradise of the world.

Secrets of Topkapı Palace

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Topkapı Palace had been the head palace of Ottoman Empire around for 500 years. It was built in 1460’s firstly. It was constructed on the hill which dominates the all straits and can see the continents Europe and Asia.

The history of this hill is dated back to Roman Empire age. Roman Emperors knew that it was a junction point of the world. So they built palaces on this hill. As we know that there used to be one of the biggest palaces of ancient era; Megalo Palacio. It was a mega palace. It was so huge that it covered up whole peninsula. Even today we can see the remain of this mega palace on the square of old town.

When the city was conquered by Ottomans, Sultan Mehmed II had a temporary palace constructed on Beyazıt district of Istanbul (there is an university on this site at present). Then he decided have a great palace built and he chose the hill that was chosen by Roman Emperors. So Topkapı Palace was being constructed on the mega palace of Byzantines.

Every sultan of Ottoman Empire added extra buildings to this palace complex so it got wider in the time.

That’s why we come across traces of Roman and Byzantine era while excavating Topkapı Palace complex. It had been reconstructed for many times, even the original baths that were dated back to 1460’s were unearthed.

The archeaologists are still unearthing the Roman and Byzantine traces during the excavations and reconstructions.

Discover Turkey and travel in time…

Boat tourism in Turkey

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Before the COVID outbreak, hiring a boat or a special sort of local ship (Gulet) was one of the preffered travel modes but it was avaliable for high class society. Mostly the people didn’t think this mode very necessary. COVID outbreak changed this trend. Isolation became the most necessary rule and the people looked for alternative modes. So hiring a boat for a period became popular.

The boat tours such as blue voyage and Gulet tourism are more prefferable at present. As Turkish Republic is surrounded by three sides, it became more popular. But we can state that only Aegean sea and Mediterranean Sea tours are improving. Tours of Blacksea aren’t trendable right now due to the wild nature of Black Sea.

Gulets (A local ship especially on the shores of South western coasts of Turkey) are like economical yachts. When we talk about yachts, they are the ones which are worth millions of dollars. Gulets are symbols of Bodrum region. If you had an opportunity to experience a voyage, it would have never been forgotten.

Discover Turkey and travel in time…

A monastery was discovered by illegal excavation

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A statement ” Wherever you dig in Turkey, it is possible to come across an archaeological site or object.” is becoming true. As much as the illegal excavations are common in Turkey unfortunately.

An archaeological site ( a monastery) was unearthed during an illegal excavation in İzmir. In addition to a monastery, a mosaic was unearthed. It is thought that it is around 1500 years old.

It is obvious that Turkey is one of the countries that are lucky for archaeology science.

Discover Turkey and travel in time…

Belek District of Antalya; Attraction center of Turkish tourism

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Antalya is named as Turkish Riviera in tourism world. Also Antalya is considered as the center of Turkish tourism. Every district of Antalya offers different experiences for their visitors.

Belek is in the border of Serik county of Antalya. It is the zone where luxury accommodation facilities are. Belek is also famous for outdoor sports such as golf. We can come across huge facilities for golf. International tournaments are held at those facilities. It is 50 km.far away from the center of Antalya.

Discover Antalya and travel with joy…..

Istanbul; A city and a love

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Constantinople or Istanbul; It isn’t only a city or a resident place where human beings live. It is so special that a person who visits this city at any time, this person falls in love with here. It was the same in the past. When the city was named as Constantinople, we could see that various communities came to reside here including Vikings and Genoese community.

Various communities and religions have been living in harmony for thousands of years in this city. We can see some small struggles among the communities here but when we compare those struggles with ones in the world, we realize that they seem insignificant. The relations of those communities were based on respect and tolerance. Actually it should be the same today. We had less problems on this subject in the world thanks to respect. The poets and painters loved this city. We can find many art masterpieces that are based on Istanbul. There is a lovely emotion in the spirit of this city. The residents of this city were sometimes blind but it was obvious that they loved the site where they lived.

This spirit has been creating multi-cultural society for hunderds of years. We can see traces of Istanbul in art. Mostly the artists prefer to live in Istanbul as it used to be in the past.

Istanbul isn’t only a city, it is like a beloving friend……

Discover Turkey and travel in time…..

Golden Horn of Istanbul

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Golden Horn of Istanbul is a river that is subject to all mysterious stories about the city. Actually it was used as inner port in ancient period. Golden Horn is one of the symbols of Istanbul city. During the period of Constantinople and Byzantium, it was used as navy base. Even today we can see some shipyards on the shore of Golden Horn.

Up to its shape, it is called as Golden Horn. In ancient times the water became yellow because of sun rays. So it got the name of Golden Horn. This river has an important role on city legends. For example, it is told that East Roman society or soldiers threw all of the treasure to Golden Horn as Ottomans could never have them. This treasure was so valuable that golden objects and golds were hidden here according to the legend. Constantinople was a well known city in ancient era. East Roman Emperors had a wealthy city. Finally crusaders invaded Constantinople and the capital lost its shine forever.

After the conquest of the city by Ottoman Empire, Ottoman sultans reconstructed the city. It had some various names but finally Istanbul remained. Golden Horn was the attraction center of the city as it is today.Most of the minatures described the beauty of Golden Horn several times.

Till 19th century, Golden Horn had green shores. It was a place where the society could spend time with boats. After the industry came here, it polluted and the life ended here. It is told that it was deeper in the past. By the time, mud covered the bottom the river and formed a thick layer. The legendary treasure can be under this mud layer. Despite those features, it is one of the beautiful places of Istanbul. It is a worthvisiting site and a place where time stopped.

Discover Istanbul and travel in time….

Seagulls of Istanbul

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Seagulls are one of the residences of Istanbul. We can consider them as the symbol of the city. Wherever you go on the shore, you can see the seagulls everywhere. Actually they are feeding by fish but due to pollution, fish population got less in recent years. So they become more addictive to human being. For example, you can see many seagulls flying around ferries. Their purpose is to catch bread or simit slices. We share our simits and breads with seagulls.

Seagulls are the natural residences of this city. We can honour them by protecting their environment. And also respect shouldn’t be forgotten.

Greetings to seagulls……

Why is Turkey so attractive for tourism?

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Tourism is a mixture of some branches and culture. Also culture has a diversity inside the subject. Briefly if tourism of a country works well, it means that the management of culture and other branches work very well. Having a tool such as historical background is a gift but the most important thing is to manage them up to the benefit of the country.

Some countries are very lucky for the fundamental of tourism. Turkey is one of them. We have historical background, multi-cultural structure and hospitality. The disadvantage we have is (sometimes) to be lack of management of those tools. Also tourism is one of the top sectors that are affected from international and economical events in the world. We can state that it is a very sensitive sector. The most important tool we have is the reputation of the country. Investing in tourism means to be flexible and open-minded. Any obstacle can interrupt the works of tourism. Tolerance for other cultures and other people is the another key tool of tourism. Especially the religious tourism is one of the top branches in Turkey. Thus belief have a deep diversity in the world. Every culture has good and bad sides. So we should evaluate them in an objective perspective. Natural beauties are the most important tools of a country not only for tourism and also for environment protection. Turkish Republic have all of those tools. Even domestic tourism can be so perfect that our citizens can be an expert of publicity. It requires investment and education. At least we have a great hospitality in our country.

History is a time period which records the events and everything that affects the life. We find out the events and characters from the historical records. That’s why our cultural legacy is very important. According to the records, we had many powerful characters. Roman Emperors are starring. We can list Alexander the Great and Egytpian Queen Cleopatra and more. Isn’t it enough to state those names to show the importance of this landscape?

Turkish landscape offers you more opportunity. Discover Turkey and explore tourism….

Water regime in rivers of Turkey

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Manavgat Waterfall /Antalya
Van Lake /Van
The storm creek /Rize

There are photographs of water springs on Turkish landscape. Turkish territory can be considered as a wealthy territory for water. Mostly Turkish territory has flowing rivers and proper eco-systems around them. Except South Eastern Region of Turkey, we can come across water springs. South Eastern region has a dry climate and the rain is so a few that long time droughts can be considered as usual there.

The most wealthy region of Turkey (for water and eco-systems) is Black sea region. It is located on the northern side of Turkey. It is almost green and the whole territory is covered with forests. Those forests have various tonnes of green. So the climate is rainy in whole year. Summer season is very short here. Even in summer, you can come across heavy rains. So the water regime is so high that the creeks are avaliable for outdoor sports such as canoe.

As the climates have changed, the rain regime has also changed in the world. Unfortunately this regime has changed in Turkey, too. Not only the global changes and also some factors we cause have serious results on this climate change.

Discover Turkey………..

The land of natural therapy sources; Turkey

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Wellness is one of the main purposes of a human being. A holiday doesn’t mean to have a rest only and also to be healthy in a natural way. Nature has every sort of tools to provide it for all living organisms. Some countries are also very lucky for this potentional tourism branch. Turkish Republic is one of the lucky countries.

Natural water and mud sources are very wealthy in Turkey. Thousands of the international tourists are coming to Turkey in order to be healthy in natural way. Natural water springs and mud baths are the popular destiantions for those.

Turkish Bath
Pamukkale ancient pool

Anatolian Peninsula has a wealthy natural structure due to the volcanic activities and natural development of the history. Those activities created useful substances that human being can benefit. We have been using those sources for thousands of years.

Discover Turkey and get healthy in natural way.