Hidden
Turkey
BOZCAADA
Black Sea Coastline
7 Turkeys
There are effectively seven Turkeys, with diverse climates and
landscapes, and many types of agriculture and architecture.
Turkey is surrounded by sea on three
sides with long mountain ranges lying
parallel to the length of the long coastline.
These mountains separate the high, but
slightly steep and uneven central section
from the influence of the sea. They used
to say that Turkey is a paradise where
you can experience the four seasons
simultaneously. By criss-crossing the
country it is easy to see why.
Aegean
Gulfs and peninsulas, coves and golden
beaches with scattered remains of ancient
civilizations, this is the first stop for the
tourist to Turkey.
Anatolia Centre
Around Ankara is the hinterland from
which the Hittites migrated to establish
the first kingdom encompassing all of
Turkey. Here is the Anitkabir mausoleum,
the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations,
and the ancient Aspendos theatre with
its renowned opera performances. The
vast and fertile Konya Plain stretches as
far as the northern slopes of the Taurus
Mountains.
Anatolia East
The least visited part of the country, where
the Ark allegedly landed on Mount Ararat
(Agri Dagi), whose peak soars to 5165m,
and Lake Van with its beautiful mountain
silhouettes, bays, beaches and islands.
Anatolia South East
The high mountain ranges, valleys,
plains and lakes of the south east are
home to a distinctive architecture and
streams and riverbeds bursting with
purples, browns, greys, yellows and
reds.
Black Sea
The coastline curls beneath mountains
covered with verdant forests, and
beside valleys and plains cooled by
north winds from Russia. Here there
are snow topped mountains with ski
resorts, fields of tea, hazelnut, tobacco
and corn, and highways rippling
alongside coves, villages, beaches and
sea. And Rize of the rains, the best
watered city in Turkey.
Marmara
The European region is separated from
Anatolia by the Bosphorus, the Sea of
Marmara and the Dardanelles. It boasts
hills, fields of sunflowers and vineyards
as far as the eye can see. And beautiful
Edirne, once the Ottoman capital.
Mediterranea
Beginning from south of the
splendid Taurus Mountains lies the
Mediterranean coast, with its beautiful
scenery, sandy beaches, secluded
coves and ancient ruins.
An Aegean island with boutique
wineries, small lokantas with a look
of the Greek taverna about them,
and streets of stone houses. There
are inviting fish restaurants on the
waterfront.
EDIRNE
Capital of the Ottoman Empire before
Istanbul was captured, Edirne has the
monumental architecture to prove it.
It can be combined with Istanbul as
a city break or explored in its right.
Highlights include the old Roman
district with its picturesque wooden
Ottoman houses, the Archaeological
and Ethnographical Museum and
the Meric River spanned by graceful
Ottoman stone bridges.
PRINCES’ ISLANDS,
ISTANBUL
An hour’s ferry ride from Istanbul, you
can explore the streets of wooden
white-washed summer houses,
bedecked with climbing flowers,
and the pine-clad forested slopes.
It is refreshingly car-free so you can
walk or hire a bicycle or horse-drawn
phaeton.
The most popular island is Buyukada,
which hosts yearly pilgrimages to
the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St
George, at the summit of the island.
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