TURKEY

Tarsus

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:55:00 +0300

Tarsus

Tarsus is a famous province of İçel city, which is in Mediterranean region, with its history, culture, art, commerce and natural beauties. As being a history and science center, serving to different religions for years, it was the interest center of the world.St. Paul, first disciple of Jesus Christ, Daniyal Prophet, Bilal - ı Habeşi, muezzin of Hz. Muhammed, Harun Reşid's son Caliph Ma'mun and famous philosopher of Antic Era, Aristo, descendant of doctors, Lokman Hekim, Egypt Queen, Cleopatra and Roman Commander, Antonius had lived in Tarsus.

History

Pre historical development of Tarsus is reaching to Neolithic Period. Neolithic Period is followed by Kalkeolitic, Early Bronze Age settlements. It is reigned by Hittite, Asur, Persia, Macedonia, Roman, Byzantium, Seljukian and Ottoman States.

Climate

In Tarsus, at the junction point of land and maritime ways connecting Çukurova to Central Anatolia in Mediterranean Region typical Mediterranean climate is dominant.

Don't Leave Without

Passing from Cleopatra Gate, walking on the Antic Road, constructed in Roman Period,

Seeing Eshab-ı Kehf Cavern, Ulu Mosque and Makam-ı Şerif Mosque, Old Mosque, Bilal-i Habeş Small .. ( devamı )

Kemer-Turkey

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 01:33:00 +0200

Kemer

Kemer is an important tourism center with green and blue met qualified, resort, restaurant and beach facilities, yacht ports and historical cities.

Climate

Summers are hot and dry, and winters are warm and precipitating.

How to Get

Being road parallel to the coast, allows you to see beautiful panoramas throughout road. There is a transportation chance by minibus from Antalya coaching station alternatively per ten minutes. It is one hour away from Antalya International Airport. Also reaching to Kemer via maritime lines is possible.

Sports Actıvıtıes

Jeep Safari

Daily jeep safaris from Kemer to Toroslar, are organized by the expert agencies, on this subject.

Bicycle Tours

Tourism agencies are organizing bicycle tours on routes at Kemer's environment.

Horse Riding

There is horse riding possibility with horse riding teachers in the stables within resort facilities at Kemer and its environment, in case of requirement.

Yachting

Kemer Yacht Port is serving a qualified service to the yachters. Blue tours, first founded in Kemer, is giving the possibility to see bays and ports between Kemer and Kaş, antic settlements and natural beauties.

Don't Leave W.. ( devamı )

Cesme-Turkey

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:32:00 +0200

Çeşme

Çeşme is a charming convergence of healing mineral springs, excellent beaches, crystal clear waters and sun are perfect for vacationers. It is located 94 km in west of İzmir, on the very tip of the peninsula that bears its name. It was called as the 'little harbor' by sailors, but in the course of time, the area became known as Çeşme (Fountain) due to the increasing number of fountains with ice - cold waters. The Erythrai Ancient City excavated in (the village of) Çeşme-Ildırı, the Castle, Caravanserai and many fountains from Ottoman Period and the other examples of civil architecture in the historical texture of the city compose the historical and archaeological remains of the area.

Today the remains of the Acropolis can be seen on the top of the hill which is in the city centre. Small statuettes offered to the Temple of Athena Pallas were found during the excavations in the Acropolis. One of the most important finds is the statue of a woman belonging to Archaic Age. It is on display in the İzmir Museum of Archaeology.

History

Çeşme is a port of Erythrai Ancient City, was called as Cyssus in Ancient Times. It was an important settlement area in the 6th century BC. The city developed its trade by establishing relations with Egypt, Cyprus and Western Countries.

Climate

The Mediterranean Climate is dominant in Çeşme. It is quite hot and exposed to the winds blowing from the north.

How to Get

Time To Fly Fethiye

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:11:00 +0200

Fethiye

Fethiye with its cultural wealth, natural beauties and geography, is among the important touristic centres of Turkey. It is famous for its works of art belong to Persians, Lycians, Carians and Romans. This charming county is in a bay within Fethiye Gulf where both large and small islands are scattered. The rear of the bay is surrounded by pine forests.

History

The ancient name of Fethiye, which was a coastal city at the borders of Lycia-Caria, is Telmessos. There is not definite information about the foundation of this Ancient city. According to the first written records, it has come into existence in the 5th century B.C. Telmessos, separate from Lycia, survived as an independent city for a long time. The city experienced the rule of Persia, Alexander the Great, Rome, Pergamum Kingdom, Byzantium, Menteşeoğulları Principality and Ottoman State respectively.

Climate

Mediterranean climate, which is hot and dry during summers and warm and rainy during winters, is dominant in the region. Temperature, which is approximately 30 degrees during the summer months, is generally over 10 degrees during winter. Sea water temperature never decreases under 16 degrees during each season.

How to Get

By Road

Fethiye can be reached easily by road from all cities in .. ( devamı )

Pamukkale-Cotton Castle

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 01:43:00 +0200

Pamukkale

The stunning white calcium pools, which cling to the side of a ridge, have long been one of the most famous picture postcard views of Turkey. Pamukkale, literally meaning “cotton castle”, is also the site of the ancient city of Hierapolis of which there are many interesting ruins, and is a very popular destination for a short visit.

Pamukkale was formed when a spring with a high content of dissolved calcium bicarbonate cascaded over the edge of the cliff, which cooled and hardened leaving calcium deposits. This formed into natural pools, shelves and ridges, which tourists could plunge and splash in the warm water.

Hotels were springing up from the 1970s to cater for the large influx of tourists, and shortly afterwards UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. But by the 1990s, this took its toll on the state of the calcium pools and restrictions were placed on these travertine terraces. Many hotels were knocked down, visitors are only allowed on major paths around the sites, and must remove footwear to stand on the calcium deposits. This seems to have been a successful move, as the water supply is now used for preservation and some of the damaged calcium deposits have been strengthened.

Climate

The summers are hot and dry, and winters warm and rainy.

Alanya

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:09:00 +0200

Alanya

With its vast beaches, historic sites, the innumerable fish restaurants of its modern hotel and motels and its cafes and bars, Alanya, is an outstanding holiday getaway. The first thing that greets the visitor is the 13th century Seljuk Castle, which sits like a crown atop of Alanya Peninsula. Besides the impressive castle, there is the shipyard and the Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) with monumental beauty. All along the road which runs beside the port are latenight cafes and bars and boutiques selling handicrafts, leather clothing, jewelry, handbags and local gourds painted with extraordinary colors. If you like to explore caves, then you must see Damlataş Cave.

Near the cave is the Ethnography Museum. You can reach by boat to the three other caves: the Phosphorous Cave with its phosphoric rocks, Girls Cave (Kızlar Cave), where pirates held their women prisoners, and Lovers Cave (Aşıklar Cave). The cool shade of Dim Brook Valley, 15 km east of Alanya, is an ideal place to get away and relax. The sea all around Alanya is excellent for swimming. Alanya is a paradise of sun, sea and sand.

History

Based on skeletal evidence found between the villages of Bademağacı and Oba northeast of the city, Alanya is believed to have been inhabited in pre-historic times. Alanya was sometimes considered part of Cilicia and sometimes part of Pamphilia. It was later ruled by the Hittites and Romans respectively. In a bad state of repair after a number of invasions and wars, the city was rebuilt .. ( devamı )

Kusadası

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:06:00 +0200

Kuşadası

This seaside resort town has grown up immensely in the last 30 years, and is especially popular with package holiday-makers from Europe. From a population of 6000 in the 1970s, it is now closer to 50,000, although a high proportion of this are part of the tourist industry and here only for the summer.

Many cruising ships travelling around the Aegean Islands stop here, especially because of its close proximity (20km) to Selcuk. Kusadasi is a good base to explore this and other ancient cities like Priene and Didyma.

Although there is a little historical interest in Kusadasi itself, the town is popular predominantly because of its many hotels, restaurants, souvenir and carpet shops, and lively nightlife. The Kale district has some old traditional houses and narrow streets, and gives some indication of what the town used to be like. The most famous beach is Kadinlar Plaji, 2.5km south of the town, dominated by huge hotels and can get very crowded in summer. There are several small beaches further south, and closer to town is Yilanci Burnu, the peninsular.

How to Get

By Road

For most long-distance bus journeys, it is necessary to change at Izmir, 90 minutes away, which has many more choices. Smaller buses make regular trips to Bodrum (2 hours), Pamukkale (3 hours) and Selcuk (30 mins), and dolmuses run a shuttle service to the beaches to the south of Kusadasi. There is a bus service that stops near Izmir’s airport. Buses either depart from the bus station, or from the town centre.

Bus Station Tel:.. ( devamı )

Marmaris

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:00:00 +0200

Marmaris

Once a sleepy fishing village, Marmaris has ballooned into one of the largest resorts on the Aegean coastof Turkey. Little of its history remains, as the town is now a modern development with tourism at its heart and soul. The population swells to a massive 200,000 in the summer, with most hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and shops catering to low-cost package holidays, although there are facilities for all budgets.

Despite the development which reaches around 10km along the west of the bay, Marmaris is also well-known for its expanse of green, present the whole year round thanks to the pine-covered hills which surround the town. There are many beaches around the bay, and there are ancient cities and seaside villages close by for day trips. The yacht harbour is the biggest and newest in Turkey, and therefore the busiest charter port especially for trips along the Turquoise Coast.

In addition to the climate, beaches and facilities of the town, the transportation infrastructure is a definite plus for attracti.. ( devamı )

Bodrum

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:45:00 +0200

Bodrum

Homer describes Bodrum as "The land of eternal blue" and the words of another resident of Bodrum, Cevat Şakir, who said "The heavenly bliss of life in Bodrum is better than any eternal bliss that may await us" were not without foundation in reality. Throughout history of Bodrum, known as Halicarnassos in ancient times, has always been fought over and people have been unwilling to share its beauty with others.

Built on a peninsula formed by the meeting of the eastern and western harbors, Bodrum, with its narrow streets winding down to the sea, is famous for its castle, its world-renowned yachts, its shipyards and the dazzling white houses and tombs lining the shores of its two harbors.

Bodrum, has the all facilities to meet the expectations of tourists from all income levels, ranging from the rich yacht owners to the penny counting tourists who just want a reasonable room to make his vacation last all summer.

History

Bodrum has been the cradle of several civilizations. Down through the ages it has suffered from the countless invasions of those coming from the Aegean islands and has been important to all those powers wishing to dominate the Aegean.Halicarnassos(Bodrum) was an important city in the Caria civilization which was located between its much more powerful neighbors Lykia and Ionia. The region boasts such a greats as the historian Heredotus, history's first woman admiral Artemisia .. ( devamı )

Nevşehir

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:36:00 +0200

Nevşehir

Kurşunlu Mosque (Külliye of Damat İbrahim Pasha Külliye-Center): The Külliye was constructed by Damat İbrahim Pasha, who was from Nevşehir in 18th Century. The structure of Külliye is composed of a mosque, a theological school, a library, a youth school, a charitable establishment and a bathhouse. The mosque which is located to the southeast of the Külliye was constructed in the year 1726. The exterior part of the mosque displays a plain appearance while the interior sections are decorated with the embroideries reflecting the characteristics of the Tulip Period of the Ottoman Empire.

Hacı Bektaş Veli Dervish Convent and Kulliye (Hacı Bektaş): Hacı Bektaş Veli is a famous Turkish - Islam intellect and thinker who lived in the 13th century. Having a brilliant and superior intellect and personality, Hacı Bektaş Veli had been initially educated in the culture society of the great Turkish intellectual and thinker Hodja Ahmet Yesevi, the patron saint of the Turkish lands and had attained the broad accumulation of knowledge and a wide understanding of the world in Horasan where numerous Turkish scientists had grown up. After he had roamed every city and every village of Central Anatolia, he had founded a Belief and Education Center in Suluca Karahöyük in order to preserve the Turkish traditions and customs and had educated numerous students. Also known as a patron saint in the Janissary society, Hacı Bektaş Veli had assisted to the obtaining of the Turkish-Islam Union in Anatolia.

Dervish Convent and Kulliye (Hacı Bektaş): The Kızılca Halvet (sufferin.. ( devamı )