The historic palette of Turkey is traced to Stone Age settlements constructed in 7500 BC, and here, today, unforgettable names like Troy and the Trojan War, Homer, Cyrus the Great, Alexander the Great, the Holy Roman Empire and the Medieval Crusades leap from the pages of its ancient history, and many relics and ruins of same still stand for all to view.
Overrun, conquered, and eventually lost by a litany of forces over eons of time, the modern country of Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by its national hero Mustafa Kemal, later honored with the title Ataturk, or “Father of the Turks.” Under his authoritarian (and rather effective) leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms.
Through it all the unflappable spirit of the Turkish people has prevailed, and in recent years the government has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy, so it can eventually join the European Union. Turkey is now a thrusting and dynamic society that embraces cultural, economic and political change while consciously seeking to retain the best of its multicultural heritage and time-honored traditions of hospitality.
Turkey is geographically, politically and officially part of two continents - Europe and Asia. The smaller northwestern portion (Thrace) is part of Europe, while the larger portion (Anatolia) is part of Asia. Mediterranean, was called “Pamphylia” in ancient times. The historical and cultural value of the city was inherited from the Hittite, Lydian, Persia, Ion, Macedonian and Roman civilizations built in this region which has been famous for its unique geographical assets through centuries.
A rich history has left an indelible mark and Turkey, and the country overflows with historic sites and archaeological wonders set in a varied and beautiful landscape. Highlights of Turkey’s many religious treasures include the spectacular Byzantine churches and beautiful mosques of Istanbul; the ancient city of Antioch where emperors lived and apostles preached; the ruins of the fabled city of Pergamum on a windswept hilltop; the Sufi holy city of Konya; the otherworldly landscape and cave churches of Cappadocia; and the colonnaded streets and great theater of Ephesus. With its unique fusion of Europe and Asia, West and East, exotic and familiar, ancient and modern, today’s Turkey is a delight to travelers and pilgrims.
The greatest surprise for first-time visitors to Turkey, with its stereotypes of kebabs, carpets and exotic souvenirs in the bazaar, is the sheer diversity found between its Aegean beaches and eastern mountains. Turkey is a land of vast open spaces, massive mountain ranges, fertile valleys and rugged coastline, fast-growing cities and sleepy villages, bustling neon-lit seaside resorts and unfrequented beaches. In Istanbul, you can cruise – on the Bosporus as well as through markets and nightclubs – in a Westernized metropolis offering equal parts romance and overcrowded insanity. In holiday spots such as Bodrum and the southwestern coasts, mix trekking, horse-riding and water sports with meze savoring on a panoramic terrace. Then there are the less-frequented eastern quarters, where honey-colored outposts overlook the plains of ancient Mesopotamia, and weather-beaten relics add lashings of lyricism to mountain ranges.
Due to Turkey’s diverse geography, one can experience four different climates in any one day. The rectangular shaped country is surrounded on three sides by three different seas. Its shores are laced with beaches, bays, coves, ports, islands and peninsulas. The summers are long, lasting as long as eight months in some areas. Turkey is also blessed with majestic mountains and valleys, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and grottoes perfect for winter and summer tourism and sports of all kinds. Skiing fans, mountain climbers, trekkers, hikers and hunters can enjoy new and unforgettable experiences in Turkey. Recently, a new field of tourism has opened up: health tourism. The country is in fact rich with hot springs, healing waters and healing mud’s, which come highly recommended by the medical authorities as a remedy for many diseases.