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Introducing Turkey
Turkey with huge swath of land situated between two continents, Asia and Europe, has one of the world’s best cities and is famous for its unique and magnificent scenery from white-sand beaches to soaring mountains.
Its history has encompassed several thousands years of human evolution and civilization. The accomplishments and influences of people who had resided in the land can be seen all over the country such as the ruins on Meditterarean beaches left by the mysterious Lycians, whirling dervishes gyrated with Sufi mysticism, Ani’s churches on the Anatolian steppe built medieval Armenians, and the Curetes Way at Ephesus. Byzantine Christians cut cave churches into Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys and hid in underground cities from Islamic armies. During Ottoman Empire, the Sultans luxuriated in İstanbul Topkapı Palace surrounded by fawning courtiers, harem members, eunuchs and the riches from an empire stretching from Budapest to Baghdad.
Hence, Turkish culture is the mixture of the East and the West and yet posseses its own characters.
Landscapes & Activities
The most surprising impression that every first-time visitor has about Turkey , other than its stereotypes of kebaps, carpets and moustachioed hustlers in the bazaars, is the vast diversities found between the west coast and the east regions. Evening entertainments such as night clubs as well as cruising through markets are common in westernized metroplises such Istanbul and Izmir. In Cappadocia and the southwestern coasts outdoor sports and water sports are enjoyable and most popular, just as is the meze-savouring fun time on a panoramic terrace. Then there are the less-frequented eastern quarters, where honey-coloured outposts overlook the plains of ancient Mesopotamia, and weather-beaten relics add lashings of lyricism to mountain ranges. It’s hardly surprising Turkey has attracted so many folk over the centuries. Come and discover their legacy for yourself.
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About 100 kilometers west of Tarsus is Seleucia of Isauria. St. Thecla is said to have been buried in the cemetary near the ruined basilica in the near-by hill of Meremlik or Ayatekla just south of Silifke. The church was probably of fifth century construction. According to […]
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An ancient medical centre, the Asclepion was founded by Archias, a local who had been cured at the Asclepion of Epidaurus (Greece). Treatments included mud baths, the use of herbs and ointments, enemas and sunbathing. Diagnosis was often by dream analysis. Pergamon‘s centre came to the fore […]
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Akhisar is a county district and its town center in Manisa Province in the Aegean region of Western Turkey. Akhisar is also the ancient city of Thyatira or Thyateira. With archaeological findings that are proving settlements going back to 3000 BC, Akhisar has been a busy trade […]
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The origin of the church in Turkey goes back to the events immediately following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ in Judea. On the Day of Pentecost Jews from Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia were gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:9–10). Many of these became eyewitnesses […]
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Two of the four rivers in the Creation account have their source in eastern Turkey. The Euphrates and Tigris Rivers flowed through the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:13). Some traditions suggest that this garden in which Adam and Eve lived was located in southeastern Turkey. After the […]
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According to the historian Strabo, Troas was a renowned city. It was founded by Antigonus and Lysi-machus at the command of Alexander the Great, and its fortifications date from that time. The city had a good but artificial harbor which helped it become a thriving commercial center. […]
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Myra is one of the ancient coastal cities of the Guif of Antalya visited by Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus (Acts 27:5-6). It is where as prisoners they changed boats on their way to Rome in 60 or 61 AD. In Myra the centurion Julius found a ship […]
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South of the Taurus Mountains lies the fertile plain of Cilicia ( Kilikya )known today as Çukurova. The main entrances to the plain from the central highland were either down the Calycadnus (Gôksu) River or through the Cilician Gates, a narrow rock pass on the Cydnus (Tarsus […]
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Van was once the center of the Kingdom of Urartu; it was known as Tushpa. It is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van in eastern Turkey. It became the center of an Armenian kingdom founded by Tigranes the Great in the first century B.C. There […]
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