City of Memories
Istanbul is an unusually beautiful city with a rich history. Even its geographical location is unique – the city is located on two continents at once, Asia and Europe, which could not but affect the development of culture.
Istanbul is a modern city, but nevertheless it has a huge number of ancient attractions, which are an integral part of the history of this amazing place. The city is washed by two seas – Black and Marble, so in addition to exciting excursions in summer and autumn, tourists can enjoy azure Turkish beaches. One of the most visited places in Istanbul is the Prince Islands, which can be reached by ferry. The archipelago consists of nine islands, but the most visited are only four islands.
Most of the attractions are located in the center of Istanbul, among which the most popular are the Blue Mosque and one of the largest buildings in the world – Hagia Sophia. Istanbul is also a shopper paradise with numerous boutiques, colorful bazaars, on which merchants make great discounts. Another place characterizing this city is the Bosphorus. Here you can buy everything from industrial goods to delicacies.
Istanbul is a hospitable city in which guests are respected, so the service in it comes first. Having visited it once, there is a desire to return.
Beaches
Alania is a relatively small city located in Turkey, near the well-known Antalya. The landscapes of Alania adorn the Taurus Mountains. Lovers of warm sea water will love this city, since it is located far from the cold currents of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, in addition, the mountains protect Alania from the cold north wind. This geographical location allows you to enjoy the wonderful local beaches from April to October. Among the main attractions are the archaeological museum of Alania, Park Sialanya, Caves of Alania.
Alania is one of the most inexpensive resorts, however, the service of local hotels remains first-class. Often families come here, since the beaches are small and safe for young children. There are many beaches in Alania, almost the entire coastline consists of places for tourists to relax.
On the coastal territory there are beautiful rocks. On one of the rocks of Alania there is an observation deck located on a cliff. There is another attraction here – an ancient fortress. The main part of the fortress is called Ich-Kale, in which there are towers and bastions. The city has a hospitable and quiet atmosphere, which has a good holiday.
Once again Beaches
One of Turkey’s most famous resorts is the southern city of Antalya. This mild climate allows you to undead in warm seawater from April to November. At the peak of the tourist season, the pearl of Turkey has up to two million vacationers, taking into account local residents.
Antalya has a high-end service and a variety of entertainment. Karaalioglu – a picturesque park, the length of which is hundreds of meters, is famous for amazing landscapes. The park is the most popular place in the city. Atlantis Water Park, a popular Mediterranean entertainment complex, is considered the second most important place in Antalya.
The symbol of the city is the minaret of the Yivli mosque. Tourists will be interested to visit the monument to Atatürk – the man who became the founder of the Republic of Turkey, as well as the Museum of Suna and Inana Kyrac. In this museum you can get acquainted with the life of the residents of this city, climb the Khydyrlyk Tower. Climbing to the top of this ancient structure, over the origin of the purpose of which historians still break their heads, you can enjoy the seascapes and views of the city.
Many in Antalya and entertainment establishments. All water sports, water parks, dolphinarium, numerous parks and beaches are available to tourists, among which the beaches of Lara and Konyaalta deserve special attention. Antalya is the capital of tourism in Turkey, which should be visited by every traveler, and get true planting from recreation.
Quiet Cove
Marmaris is considered one of the best resorts in Turkey. Here there are a lot of Europeans who are connoisseurs of a good holiday. The beaches of Marmaris are in the bay, they are naturally closed from the open sea, and therefore are quiet and safe. Thanks to this, it is comfortable to relax with children and those who float insecure.
In the picturesque harbor of Marmaris there are many chic pleasure yachts. Residents of this city like to dance, so it has many nightclubs and discos, where tourists can join dancers from around the world. Diving enthusiasts can admire the many ancient ruins on the seabed. Most of the ruins are part of the historical monument of the city of Calais fortress. After entertainment, you should go to an indoor market where you can buy anything from your soul.
You can’t do without excursions. In Marmaris there is a museum located in the fortress of Calais. From the height of Calais fortress you can admire wonderful landscapes.
Attractions include the Ibrahim Aga Mosque, a caravanserai owned by Sultan Hasfa. Going on an excursion to the island of Sedir, you can see Cleopatra beach and the colorful ruins of the ancient city of Kedrai, or go to the resort village of Ichmeler, breathe mountain air. Another specific local entertainment is sailing on a traditional sailboat.
Turtle beach
Side is a southern Turkish resort located on a peninsula near Antalya. The city has a huge number of cultural property and archaeological finds, so the resort is under government protection.
The shoreline of Side is dotted with sandy beaches and hotels. Here, vacationers will be offered a lot of entertainment: skiing and sailboats, boat trips, fishing. On the shoreline of Side is one of the most beautiful places – turtle beach.
Lovers of excursions will have where to walk. There are many ancient ruins and interesting sights in Sid, including fragments of the temples of Tyche and Artemis, the colossal ruins of the Theater of Fortune, the temple of Apollo. Today, little has been preserved from this building, but the location of the temple allows archaeologists to assert that the founders of the temple worshipped the god of winemaking. The main decoration of the temple of Dionysus is the fountain.
In Sid, an entertainment infrastructure has been established, there are a lot of discos and other recreational facilities. In the stores of the resort you can buy colorful Turkish souvenirs. Among the natural monuments of the ancient city of Side, one can note the picturesque Manavgat waterfall. It is worth visiting the ancient theater, where the Opera and Ballet Festival is held.
Bright Nights City
Bodrum is a resort Turkish city in which active young people like to relax. There are a huge number of nightclubs, dance floors and discos. One of the most famous places of entertainment is Halikarnas The Club, which is located in the open air.
Winds walking in local environs caused the development of sailing in Bodrum. Surfers also liked this city, since Bodrum is the best place in the country for fans of surfing. On the beaches of the resort you can find other water entertainment, for example, riding a water motorcycle. Bodrum is a muse for local art creators – writers, artists, sculptors and musicians. Also here you can meet famous Turkish businessmen and philanthropists who came to enjoy this wonderful city.
This resort is recommended for active people, because here you can find an incredible amount of entertainment: yachting, diving, sailing and much more. A stormy nightlife with an abundance of entertainment facilities, noisy parties and drinking cocktails. In addition, you can visit many exciting excursions to ancient places, such as the Bodrum fortress or the castle of St. Peter.
Shish kebab
Shish kebab is a typical Turkish dish, which is a familiar barbecue on champagne. In Turkey, there are many varieties of it, but all of them are united by the name kebab (mince on trochanter). In any cafe and restaurant you can taste shish kebab from almost any kind of meat (pork is an exception) and with any degree of sharpness. It is served on a table on a plate with garnish of rice and vegetables, it is drunk with Turkish raka.
Manti
Manti is another main dish of Turkish cuisine. Mants are prepared from dough filled with meat mince, seasoned onions, salt and pepper. They are eaten with yoghurt (iran), with butter, pepper, parsley and basil.
Pilyav
Pilyav is an analogue of the usual swimmer for Russians. The difference is that here the plow is prepared not only from rice, but also from wheat cereal with meat, bulbs stewed in oil, tomatoes and green pepper. Pilyav serves as a side dish for meat and vegetables.
Peinir
Peinir is Turkish cheese, which is prepared from salted sheep’s milk (somewhat reminiscent of brynza). It is curious that its assortment is very wide: there is a hard variety (kashar-paynir), an analogue of Greek feta (beyaz-paynir), salted cheese (dil-paynir), etc.
Raki
Raki is the national alcoholic drink of Turkey. Raki is a grape wine distillation product insisted on anise root. It is also made of figs and dates. Before bottling, the cancer is kept in oak barrels for at least one month. The usual alcohol content is 40% to 75%.
Pahlava, writing (Turkish halva), rakhat-lukum and dozens of other sweets, the names of which are unlikely to be remembered from the first time, but the taste will forever remain in memory. Problems with finding sweets on the streets of Istanbul will not arise for sure, rather, on the contrary – then it will be necessary to deny yourself another treat. But in order to fully enjoy the oriental color and taste all the wonders of the confectionery art of Turkey, it is definitely worth going for sweets to the Grand Bazaar – one of the largest indoor bazaars in the world (address: Beyazit, İstanbul).
The sounds of Istanbul are a special part of the life of the city. Here, the winds of the Bosphorus, filled with the hum of ferries and the screams of gulls, spread through narrow streets, catching the voices of numerous merchants and the noise of an ongoing taxi flow. This symphony is supplemented by companies of musicians located on the busy pedestrian street Istiklal. Right from them you can buy discs with recordings of their creations, and having already returned home, sometimes return to the atmosphere of a noisy city.
Even if you do not follow the tradition of sending postcards from your travels, surely a city on the shores of the Bosphorus will inspire you to do so. The displays of hundreds of souvenir shops, old bookstores and chain book giants are full of cards for every taste: with the history of the city, the outlines of the famous symbols of Istanbul and Turkish patterns. Getting such a card means getting a piece of the atmosphere of the former Constantinople.
DoGo – the name of the Turkish brand created by a team of young and creative guys. They are engaged in the production of shoes, clothing, accessories and household decor products with an unusual design. Running into the DoGo on the way to the French Quarter, you can get ballets (worth about 80 lire) with the legendary symbol of the city – a red tram to Istiklal, a clutch with the Galatian Tower and the Bosphorus or another interesting thing that will always remind you of the journey to Istanbul.
Turkey’s food and drink is a huge part of the culture of this people. The rush of colors and tastes of Turkish dishes is reflected in the traditional dishes that you will meet in the Grand Bazaar and in small souvenir shops on the streets of the city. The most popular drink, tea, will be served in a glass glass in the form of a tulip flower, and the unique Turkish coffee – in a small cup painted with a national pattern. The same pattern frames plates and dishes, the choice of which seems endless. Perhaps it is the painted cup that will inspire you in the cold evening to make Turkish coffee and memories of Turkey.
True coffee connoisseurs will appreciate if you bring them coffee from Turkey as a gift. Mehmet Efendi Kurukahveci is considered a popular coffee producer in Turkey. Many advise buying coffee on the market: there is more choice and there is an opportunity to taste coffee. In Istanbul, shops in the Eminönü area (near the Egyptian Bazaar) sell freshly ground, very aromatic coffee.
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wonders of the world
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December
2000
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1875
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Wonders of the world
Two of the seven ancient wonders of the world were in Turkey: the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus.
Santa Claus
Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, was born in the city of Patara. He served as a bishop in a church in the city of Demre, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The church still exists today.
Capital of empires
For more than 2000 years, Istanbul has been the capital of three empires: Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman.
Subway
Istanbul Tunnel is the second oldest underground railway in the world. It was put into operation in 1875.
Hazelnuts
70% of the global hazelnuts market is grown in Turkey.