The Sumela Monastery

The Sumela Monastery, which stands at the foot of a steep cliff facing the Altındere valley in the region of Maçka in Trabzon Province, is popularly known as "Meryem Ana" (The Virgin Mary). The building complex is nearly 300 metres high and was built following the tradition of monasteries that were located outside the cities in forest near caves and sources of water.

The Monastery, founded in honour of the Virgin Mary, took the name of "Sumela" which derives from "Melas", meaning black. Although it is thought that it has taken this name from the mountains, the Karadağlar (Black Mountains), on which stands, it could also be associated with the black colour of the icon of the Virgin Mary.
According to tradition, the Monastery was founded by two priests called Barnabas and Sophronius who came from Athens during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius I (AD 375 - 395). Then, in the 6th century, it was restored by the General Belisarius at the behest Emperor Justinian who wanted it to be enlarged and restored.

The Monastery reached its final, present form in the 13th century. It gained importance during the reign of Alexios III (1349 - 1390) of the Comnenian Empire of Trabzon, which had been established in 1204. Its income was assured from imperial funds. During the time of Manuel III, son of Alexius III, and the reigns of later princes, Sumela gained further wealth from new imperial grants.
Like most other monasteries, the rights of the Sumela Monastery were preserved by the Ottoman Sultans and some special privileges were given after the Eastern Black Sea Coast came under the domination of the Turks.
During the 18th century many parts of the Monastery were restored and the walls were decorated with frescoes. In the 19th century the Monastery took on an impressive appearence with the addition of larger buildings. This was the Monastery's heyday and it attracted many foreign travellers who mentioned it in their writings.
The Monastery was seized by the Russian during the occupation of Trabzon between 1916 - 1918, and then in 1923 it was completely abandoned.
The principal elements of the Monastery complex are the Rock Church, several chapels, kitchens, student rooms, a guesthouse, library and sacred spring revered by Orthodox Greeks. These were built over a very large area.
The large aqueduct at the entrance, which clearly supplied water to the Monastery, is constructed against the side of the cliff. The aqueduct has many arches which now mostly restorated.
The entrance to the Monastery leads up by a long and narrow stairway. There is guard-room next to the entrance. The stairs lead from there to the inner courtyard. On the left, in front of cave, which constitutes the centre of the Monastery and which was turned into a church , there are several monastery buildings. The library is to the right.
The large building with a balcony on the front part of the cliff was used for the monks' cells and as guesthouse. It dates to 1860.
The influence of Turkish art can be observed in the design of the cupboards, niches and fire-place in the rooms of the buildings surrounding the courtyard.
The inner and outer walls of the Rock Church and the walls of the adjacent chapel are decorated with frescoes. The frescoes of the time of Alexios III can be seen on the inner wall of the Rock Church facing the courtyard. The frescoes of the chapel which were painted on three levels in three different periods are dated to the beginning of the 18th century. The frescoes of the bottom band are of superior quality.
The frescoes of the Sumela Monastery are seriously damaged since they have largely been moved from their original settings. The main subject of the frescoes are biblical scenes telling the story of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
The much important sections of Sumela has been restorated and restorations, conservations are still continued.

A City of Peace and Brotherhood "Mardin"

Mardin Province is a province of Turkey with a population of 779,850.{fact source needed} The population was 835,173 in 2000[1]. The capital of the Mardin Province is Mardin. Located near the traditional boundary of Anatolia and Mesopotamia, it has a diverse population with a Arabic majority in provinces Mardin, Midyat, Yeşilli, Savur, Ömerli and significant minorities of Kurds, Syriacs and Turks. And with a Kurdish majority in provinces Kızıltepe, Nusaybin, Derik, Mazıdağı, Dargeçit and significant minorities of Arabs,Assyrians, Syriacs and Turks The local Syriac Christian community, while much reduced due to the results of the Assyrian Genocide, supports two of the oldest monasteries in the world, Dayro d-Mor Hananyo (Turkish Deyrülzafaran, English Saffron Monastery) and Deyrulumur Monastery. The Christian community is concentrated on the Tur Abdin plateau and in the town of Midyat, with a smaller community (approximately 100) in the provincial capital.

Politically the area is competitive between the governing moderate-Islamist Justice and Development Party and Kurdish nationalist Democratic People’s Party, and the True Path Party has some strength, especially in rural parts of the province.[2] The area was the scene of bitter fighting between the Turkish Army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party for much of the 1970s and 1980s.
The old town of Midyat, second city of the province
The old town of Midyat, second city of the province

Unemployment and poverty are serious problems, and there has been considerable out migration to western and southern Turkey, although the reduction in political violence, coupled with infrastructure improvements such as a new civil airport at the provincial capital and improvements to the Ankara-Baghdad highway are helping ameliorate matters.

Mardin is an Aramaic word and means “fortresses”.

Districts
Mardin province is divided into 10 districts (capital district in ‘bold):

* Dargeçit
* Derik
* Kızıltepe
* Mardin
* Mazıdağı
* Midyat
* Nusaybin
* Ömerli
* Savur
* Yeşilli

Mardin
Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for its Arab-style architecture, and for its strategic location on a rocky mountain overlooking the plains of northern Syria.[1] Mardin has a very mixed population, Turks, Assyrians, Syriacs, Arabs and Kurds all represent large groups.

History
The earliest settlers in Mardin were Assyrian Christians, arriving in the 3rd century AD; in fact, the old Assyro-Babylonian religion existed in Mardin until the 18th century.[3] Most Syriac Orthodox churches and monasteries in the city, which are still active today, date from the 5th century AD, such as the Deyrülzafarân Monastery.[citation needed] Mardin is likely the Maride and Marida of the Greeks and Romans. Another important church, Kırklar Kilisesi (Church of the 40 Martyrs), originally built in the name of Benham and Saro, the two sons of the Assyrian ruler who executed them because they chose to become Christian, dates from 569 AD.Mardin remained a heavily Christian area during its control by Muslim Arabs between the seventh and twelfth centuries, and even during its use as a capital by the Artukid Turkish dynasty which ruled Eastern Anatolia and Northern Mesopotamia between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. The 12th century Sitti Radviyye Madrasa, the oldest of its kind in Anatolia, dates from this period. The lands of the Artukid dynasty fell to the Mongols who took control of the region in 1394, but the Mongols never directly governed the area. Mardin was later controlled by the Turkish Akkoyunlu kingdom. The Kasımiye Madrasa was built by Sultan Kasım, son of the Akkoyunlu Sultan Cihangir, between 1457 and 1502.

The City of Prophets

Sanliurfa, the Turkish city of prophets, lies about 180 Km west of Kiziltepe, in the southern Anatolian region. The city has a great religious importance. According to both the Bible and the Quran, the city is the birthplace of Abraham, before he migrated to Canaan, erstwhile Palestine. Sanliurfa is perhaps a rare city that had been honoured with the footprints of so many Old Testament prophets like – Jethro, Job, Elijah and Abraham. Sanliurfa was known as Edessa in ancient times. The city also was the home of Moses, who lived in this region for seven years before returning to Egypt. The place also showcases fusion architectural marvels. The people of Sanliurfa and the place it self has an aesthetic feel to everything, think you would want to blend in? Sanliurfa Attractions A main attraction of Sanliurfa is the nomadic tribes who inhabit this place. Further, bazaars of Sanilurfa are flag bearers of economy since the times of Ottoman. Kazzaz Bazzar, built in 1562 preserves the authentic Turkish flavour even now. The bazaar has shops of one-meter height on both sides of the inner passage. Other famous bazaars include Sipahi Bazaar and Huseyniye Bazaar. Handicrafts occupy a very important position in Sanliurfa. Weaving, copper works, tannery, jewellery, stone working and fur making are only a few of its handicraft wonders. Harran, Sanliurfa South of Sanliurfa, the landscape progressively flattens into the Mesopotamian plain. All the villages here, originally poverty-ridden are gradually experiencing a progressive economy. The village of Harran is off the main tarmac road leading to Syria. The site of the famous Temple of Sin (alternatively known as the first University) was at Harran. Harran is a place of religious, mythological and historical significance. Here Rebecca drew water for Jacob and from here Abraham decided to move into the land of Cannan. The Roman Emperor Crassus was defeated by the Parthians right here. Bits and pieces of history lie strewn at Harran. Standing atop the reins of the ancient citadel, you can look at rocks and materials, broken vessels etc. that bears historic links with the ancient times. Other Places of Interest in Sanliurfa There are many places to see when you at Sanliurfa. The first in the list is the Sanliurfa Fortress at the northern slope of Damlacik Mountain. The citadel has 25 watchtowers and hosts remains of Byzantine and Islamic times. The second in line should be the antique city of Sogmatar, 73 KM away from Sanliurfa. Its modern name is ‘Yagmurlu’. Sogmatar has a cultural origin from the Harran Sin culture. Still you can see an open-air temple here were people used to worship planets and the Supreme God. Sacrifices were also made. Then there is the ‘Naveli Cori’ antique settlement. It is near Kantara village of Hilvan.

The town of Marmaris is located at the meeting place of the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Marmaris is one of the largest natural harbors in the world surrounded by pine-clad hills.

Situated in the south-west of Turkey, in Mugla province, Marmaris is one of Turkey’s biggest holiday resorts. To the north lies the Gulf of Gökova; to the south, the Mediterranean. Datca Peninsula falls to the western side and to the east is the Lake of Köycegiz. The hills running into the sea and the beautiful bays make Marmaris the jewel she is. Many foreigners, especially Scandinavian nationals, have bought properties in and around Marmaris for their holidays or for the retirement.

The town is 60 kilometers from the provincial capital of Mugla and the mountainous nature of the surrounding countryside means that forestry plays an important part in the area’s economy. The town boundaries are enclosed by 65,000 hectares of forest area.
History

It is not known for certain when Marmaris was founded. However, as Marmaris previously known as Physkos, was part of the Carian Empire in the 6th century BC before she was overrun by the Lydians. Another invasion by the Lydians in 334 BC led to the partition of the Roman Empire ruled by Alexander the Great.

According to the historian Heredotus, the Carians coming from Crete, settled in the area which is now known as the province of Mugla. They also took over the town of Physkos with its natural harbor and used it as a military base and to enhance trade between Rhodes and the other Aegean Islands. The Carian civilization entered a dark period after 300 BC, coming under the reign of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Ionians, and Dorians successively. The Dorians colonized the Carian province and divided the region into 9 cities, two of which were Halicarnassos and Cnidos. These two cities later on became an active trade centre and seaport of Anatolia specializing in handicrafts.

In 138 BC Attalos the 3rd King of Pergamon, whose predecessors had ruled Caria for 90 years, ceded Physkos to Rome and the city was ruled from Rhodes by Roman generals. The city became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1425, and the castle was built in 1521 AD for use in a planned assault upon Rhodes. The Ottoman Sultan at the time, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, changed the name of the town to Mimaras, which then became Marmaris according to historian Evliya Celebi.

A local rumor has it that the reason for the change of name to Mimaras was that Süleyman, on returning from his expedition to Rhodes, disliked the castle and said “Mimar as!”, which means “Hang the architect!”. Unfortunately there is no evidence to support this amusing story.
Castle

According to the historian Herodotus, there has been a castle in Marmaris since 3000 BC. During the Hellenistic Age Caria was invaded by Alexander the Great and the castle was besieged. The 600 inhabitants of the town realized that they had no chance against the invading army and burned their valuables in the castle before escaping to the hills with their women and children. The invaders knowing the strategic value of the castle, repaired the destroyed sections to house a few hundred soldiers before the main army returned home.

The 17th century writer Evliya Celebi mentions the castle, which was rebuilt by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 1522 when he invaded Rhodes.

Since 1979, renovation work has been continuing at the castle, in order to restore it back to original condition. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the castle has been converted into a museum. There are seven galleries, of which the largest is being used as an exhibition hall and the courtyard is decorated with seasonal flowers.

"The Land of Eternal Blue" 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 I, and the just-as-skilled Artemisia II as well as artists like Leachares and Shepas.

Bodrum experienced the dominance of various civilizations throughout the history such as Persians,Mecedonians,Roman Empire and Byzantines. Byzantines lost their power in Anatolian region after they were defeated by the Seljuk Ruler Alpaslan at Malazgirt in 1071. Rhodian knights had constructed the present Bodrum castle and established theirrule over the region. Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent on his military expedition to Rhodes conquered Bodrum together with Rhodes and added them to the territory of Ottoman Empire.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace was built by Sultan Mehmed II after he conquered Constantinople in 1453. The first palace constructed by him at the site of the Istanbul University, soon proved inadequate to meet the demands of Sultan`s administration. Thus, he ordered another palace to be constructed at the site of the Byzantine acropolis, with the Golden Horn, the Seraglio and the Sea of Marmara encircling it.

The palace was walled off from the city to provide the necessary security and privacy. The Topkapi Palace was not only the residence of the Sultans, it was also the administrative center from where all the judicial and executive functions were carried out. Later it also became a seat of art and culture.

Over the centuries, the palace underwent many changes with additions being made to the original structure. Parts of the palace building were often destroyed due to fire or earthquakes and constant restoration work took place. Each Sultan that repaired a portion of the Topkapi Palace did it according to his own style or the architectural style prevalent at the time. It has thus evolved to its present form over the centuries and some of the older construction can only be seen in the earlier paintings or miniatures. The last building was added by Sultan Abdulmecid who later abandoned it to live in the newly constructed palace on the Bosphorus.

Today the Topkapi Palace is still a remarkable sight with its minarets, turrets and domes. It covers an enormous area of 173 acres which houses garden courtyards, kitchens, armory, workshops, baths, offices, halls and residential areas. Once it was a small city where thousands of people lived. In 1923, it was renovated once again to convert it to a museum that has today become one of Istanbul`s most popular sights.

Maiden Tower

Istanbul's city pictures almost always include "Kiz Kulesi". "Kiz Kulesi" is called in English Maiden's Tower or Leander's Tower. The Maiden's Tower is located on a small islet at a very short distance from the shores of the district "Uskudar" in the Asian side of the city. It can be seen from Topkapi Palace , Dolmabahce Palace and many other interesting places of Istanbul.

According to a Turkish legend a princess was locked up in the tower by her father because of a prophecy. The prophecy alerted him saying that his daughter would die by the bite of a snake. The father wanted to protect the princess and put her in the Maiden's tower. Unfortunately at the end of the story, the princess dies by the snake that was brought to the islet in a basket of grapes.

The Leander's Tower is the other name you will come across for the same place. There is a legend which has taken place in the city of Abydos in the straight of Dardanelles but somehow mistakenly related to the Maiden's Tower. Leander tried to see his lover Hero and attempted to cross the straight and drowns.

In the 12th century, the emperor Manuel Comnenus has built a small fortress where the tower is located. He wanted to tie a chain to close the Bosphorus. The other end of the chain was tied to Tower of Mangana.

Until today the tower is used as a lighthouse, semaphore station, quarantine, customs control area, and home for retired naval officers. The building that you can see today dates back to 18th century.

Hagia Sopia

Hagia Sophia
Third on the site to bear the name, the existing Haghia Sophia ('Divine Wisdom') was dedicated on 26 December AD 537 by Emperor Justinian. He had come to power less than a century after the fall of Rome and was eager to prove his capital a worthy successor to imperial glory. Approached by a grand colonnaded avenue beginning at the city gates, Justinian's cathedral towered over all else and was topped by the largest dome ever constructed a record it held until the Romans reclaimed their pride just over a thousand years later with Michelangelo's dome for St Peter's (1590). In the meantime, Justinian's dome took on almost fabled status. It was of such thin material, wrote the chroniclers of old, that the hundreds of candles hung high within would cause it to glow at night like a great golden beacon, visible to ships far out on the Marmara Sea.
Adding to the wonder, the church served as a vast reliquary housing a pilgrim's delight of biblical treasures, including fragments of the True Cross, the Virgin's veils, the lance that pierced Jesus' side, St Thomas's doubting finger and a large assortment of other saintly limbs, skulls and clippings.
All of this was lost in 1204 when adventurers and freebooters on Western Christendom's Fourth Crusade, raised to liberate Jerusalem and the Holy Lands, decided they would be equally content with a treasure-grabbing raid on the luxurious capital of their Eastern brethren. At Haghia Sophia they ripped the place apart, carrying off everything they could, and added insult to thievery by infamously placing a prostitute on the imperial throne.
Further destruction was narrowly avoided in 1453, when the Ottoman Turk armies, led by Mehmet II, breached the walls of Constantinople and put its Byzantine defenders to flight. Those taking refuge in the church were slaughtered, but the conquering sultan was supposed to have rounded on a looting soldier he found hacking at the marble floors, telling him: 'The gold is thine, the building mine.' Haghia Sophia was spared but it was lost to Christianity. The following Friday after the conquest it resounded to the chant, 'There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his Prophet,' as the church became a mosque.
To the basilica were added four minarets from which to deliver the Muslim call to prayer. The construction of these was staggered and only two are matching. In 1317 a series of unsightly buttresses was deemed necessary when the church seemed in danger of collapse. These aside, what you see today is essentially the church as it was in Justinian's time.
At the death of the Ottoman Empire, with plans afoot to partition Istanbul along national lines, both the Greeks (on behalf of the Eastern Church) and the Italians (on behalf of the Western Church) lobbied for Haghia Sophia to be handed over to them, and in Britain a St Sophia Redemption Committee was formed. The Ottoman government posted soldiers in the mosque with machine guns to thwart any attempt at a Christian coup. An expedient solution was effected by the leaders of the new Turkish republic in 1934, who deconsecrated the building and declared it a museum. It's an action that still evokes controversy, with Islamists periodically calling for its restoration as a mosque. Comparing the pristine state of neighbouring historical mosques with the shabby peeling state of Haghia Sophia, you have to wonder if they don't have a point.

Open daily between 09:00-19:30 except Mondays. Admission $11
Sultanahmet Meydani, 34400
Tel: (0212) 522 17 50 - 522 09 89

Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace was designed to deny the overwhelming evidence of Ottoman military and financial decline in the mid-19th century. But when Sultan Abdül Mecit's architects concocted this dripping-with-wealth, Ottoman-European palace, it did more to precipitate the empire's bankruptcy than to dispel rumours of it. Your eyes will boggle at the feat of excess.

The word "Dolmabahce" in English means "The filled garden". Because the Dolmabahce Palace is founded upon a reclaimed area by filling up the sea. It's a beautiful 19th century palace right by the Bosphorus, on the waterfront. It's in baroque and rococo style and very French. Many people think that it is a small model of the palace of Versailles in Paris, France. It can be visited with a tour guide of the palace as a group. Open everyday from 9:30-17:00 except Monday and Thursday.

When one enters the palace area, the first thing to see is the beautiful French style gardens. After having a lovely walk by the Bosphorus, one reaches the main building. The palace was constructed between 1842-1853 by one of the Ottoman Sultans, Sultan Abdulmecid. The architect was a famous Armenian architect, Nikogos Balyan. The palace reflects the European and more "modern" side of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace after its construction was finished and never went back to Topkapi Palace which hosted them nearly 4 centuries.

Before one enters into the main palace building, should wear blue nylons over shoes due to keep The Grand Hall the palace clean. After wearing them, one faces with a huge entrance hall with beautiful French Baccarat crystal chandelliers. The palace altogether is decorated with French Baccarat and Czech Bohemian crystal chandelliers.The entrance hall is the hall where the visitors were used to welcomed. This part is the official part (Selamlik) of the Palace that was only open to the men. The women and the children lived in a different part called "the Harem". The Sultan's bedrooms were also in the Harem Part. The founder of Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk died in this palace in 1938 of sirosis disease. He actually lived in Ankara, Turkey's capital, but he used to come to Istanbul quite often and Dolmabahce Palace was his residence when he visited Istanbul. His room is also in the Harem Part of the Palace. There are many portraits in the palace by famous artists, like Aivazosvky of Russia. It's a very ornate palace with its 285 rooms, 43 large halls and 6 Turkish baths. The large old carpets on the floor are Hereke Carpets which were exclusively woven for the palaces. Some rooms have a great parquet floor with three different woods inlaid into each other by using no nails. Many of the palace fabrics and the curtains were also coming from Hereke, a small town 50 miles,70 kms. to the east of Istanbul. The palace fabrics today were replaced by new ones which are very similar to the original ones.

Hours: Tue-Wed & Fri-Sun 9:00am-3:00pm

Istanbul the of Civilizations 1

Byzantium was originally settled by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas.

After siding with Pescennius Niger against the victorious Septimius Severus the city was besieged by Rome and suffered extensive damage in AD 196. Byzantium was rebuilt by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus and quickly regained its previous prosperity.

Byzantine Empire

The location of Byzantium attracted Constantine the Great and in 330 he refounded it as Nova Roma, or Constantinoupolis after himself after a prophetic dream was said to have identified the location of the city. The name Nova Roma never came into common use. The Eastern Roman Empire which had its capital in Constantinople from then until the conquest of the empire in 1453, has often been called the Byzantine Empire or Byzantium by modern scholars.

The combination of imperialism and location would play an important role as the crossing point between two continents (Europe and Asia), and later a magnet for Africa and others as well, in terms of commerce, culture, diplomacy, and strategy. At a strategic position, Constantinoupolis was able to control the route between Asia and Europe, as well as the passage from the Mediterranean Sea to the Efxinos Pontos (Black Sea).

Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire. In Byzantine times the Greeks called Constantinople i Poli ("The City"), since it was the centre of the Greek world and for most of the Byzantine period, the largest city in Europe. It was captured and sacked by the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and then re-captured by Nicaean forces under the command of Michael VIII Palaeologus in 1261.

With the fall of Rome and the Western Roman Empire, the name of the city was changed to Constantinople and became the sole capital of what historians now call the Byzantine Empire. This empire was distinctly Greek in culture, and became the centre of Greek Orthodox Christianity after an earlier split with Rome, and was adorned with many magnificent churches, including Hagia Sophia, once the world's largest cathedral. The seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, remains.

Throne of Gods "Nemrut"

NEMRUT Nemrut: Throne of the Gods The Nemrut is a mountain of the Taurus Range. From a height of 2,206 metres it dominates the entire landscape. From whatever side you approach it, its distinctive peak can be seen. The mountain is only accessible during the summer months. The rest of the year it is covered by snow and ice. The last priest of Kommagene probably left the sanctuary on Mount Nemrut in 72 A.D., after the rebelling King Antiochos IV had lost the war with Rome. For almost two thousand years, only the wailing of the wind disturbed the rest of the three kings who are buried here. The builder of the sanctuary, King Antiochos, wanted it not only to be his Hierothesion, but also the centre of his new religion. This religion had to unite in a peaceful fashion, the Persian Parthian world with the Greek Roman world. From the top of Mount Nemrut his new religion would radiate over the whole world. Three terraces were built on the mountain. The East, West and North Terrace. To make these terraces large enough, the builders of Kommagene had to cut away almost the whole mountains top. For the East Terrace alone 1,500 cubic metres of solid rock had to be cut away. On the West Terrace, you can see from a ten metre high rock face, left of the summit, what an enormous undertaking it must have been. The burial mound (tumulus), which covers the top of Mount Nemrut, was built from the innumerable pieces of angular and sharp stones thus produced. The tumulus has a height of 50 metres and at the base a diameter of 150 metres. An ancient processional way surrounds the tumulus.

All About Van

Van (Turkish: Van, Armenian Վան, Kurdish: Wan; from Armenian Van - village, settlement) is a city in eastern Turkey and the seat of Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's population in 2005 was 284,464. According to the Encyclopedia of the Orient, Kurds form the majority though no census based on ethnicity was ever held in Turkey.

History

Urartu

Under the ancient name of Tushpa, Van was the capital of the Urartian kingdom in the 9th century BC. Its ancient inhabitants called themselves Nairi. The early settlements are believed to have centered on the steep-sided bluff now known as Van Castle (Van Kalesi), close to the edge of Lake Van and a few kilometers west of the modern city. Here have been found Urartian cuneiform inscriptions dating to the 8th and 7th centuries BC.

From the Medes to the Sassanids

The region came under the control of the Medes in the early 7th century BC and later by Persians in the mid 6th century BC. In 331 BC, Van was conquered by Alexander the Great and after his death became part of the Seleucid Empire. By the early 2nd century BC it was part of the Kingdom of Armenia. It became an important center during the reign of the Armenian king, Tigranes II, who founded the city of Tigranakert in the 1st century BC. The Persian Sassanids finally gained control of the area in the 4th century AD.

The Byzantine Empire and Vaspurakan

The Byzantine Empire briefly held the region from 628 to 640, after which it was invaded by the Muslim Arabs, who consolidated their conquests as the province of Ermeniye. Decline in Arab power eventually allowed local Armenian rulers to re-emerge, with the Artsruni dynasty soon becoming the most powerful. Initially dependent on the rulers of the Kingdom of Ani, they declared their independence in 908, founding the kingdom of Vaspurakan. The kingdom had no specific capital: the court would move as the king transferred his residence from place to place, such as Van city, Vostan, Aghtamar, etc. In 1021 the last king of Vaspurakan, John-Senekerim Artsruni, ceded his entire kingdom to the Byzantine empire, who established the Vaspurakan theme on the former Artsruni territories.

The Seljuk Empire

Incursions by the Seljuk Turks into Vaspurakan started in the 1050s. After their victory in 1071 at the battle of Manzikert the entire region fell under their control. After them, local Muslim rulers emerged, such as the Ahlatshahs and the Ayyubids (1207). For a 20 year period Van was captured by the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate, until the 1240s when it was conquered by the Mongols. In the 14th century Van was captured by the Kara Koyunlu Turks and later the Timurids.

The Ottoman Empire

The first half of the 15th century saw the Van region become a land of conflict as it was disputed by two Powers, namely the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Safavid Empire. The Safavids captured Van in 1502. The Ottomans took the city in 1515 and held it for a short period. The Safavids took it again in 1520 and Ottomans gained final and definite control of the city in 1548. They first made Van into a sanjak dependent on the Erzurum eyalet, and later into a separate Van eyalet in about 1570.

World War I

The city's Armenian population was devastated during World War I by Ottoman troops as a part of the Armenian Genocide. According to some Turkish accounts, with Russian forces approaching Lake Van the regional administrator ordered the execution of five Armenian leaders and a revolt resulted in Van on April 20, 1915 against the Turks and in favor of the Russians. However, most historians agree that the Armenian residents, hoping to avoid the slaughter inflicted on the rural population of Van, defended themselves in the Armenian quarters of the city against the Turks. The anti-Turkish and pro-Russian sentiments were in the hopes of being rescued from Turkish massacres. The Russians finally relieved the Armenian defenders of Van in late May of 1915.

In August, a victory over the Russian army allowed the Ottoman army to retake Van. In September of 1915 the Russians forced the Turks out of Van for the second time. Russian forces began to leave the area after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and by April 1918 it was recaptured by the Ottoman army. However, the end of World War I forced the Ottoman army to surrender its claim to Van.

Turkish War of Independence and Republic

At the Treaty of Sèvres, the Entente Powers decided to cede the city to the Democratic Republic of Armenia. Turkish revolutionaries, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk rejected the terms of the treaty and instead waged the Turkish War of Independence. By 1920, Van fell under Turkish control again and its remaining Armenian inhabitants were expelled. With the Treaty of Lausanne and Treaty of Kars, Treaty of Sèvres was annulled, and Van remained officially under Turkish sovereignty.



By the end of the war, the town of Van was empty and in ruins. The new city was rebuilt after the war a few kilometers east of the ancient citadel, which is now known as Van Castle (Van Kalesi). The city lies at about 1,750 metres (5,570 ft) above sea level. In the 1950s, the new city suffered from a devastating earthquake.

Van today

Van cat, Van, Turkey 1973, showing different coloured eyes

A number of sources affirm that Lake Van shelters a monster (Monster of Lake Van-Van Gölü Canavarı). A 4-meter high statue has been erected in its honor.The modern city is located on the plain extending from the Lake Van, at a distance of 5 kilometers from the lake shore.



It has often been called "The Pearl of the East" because of the beauty of its surrounding landscape. An old Armenian proverb in the same sense is "Van in this world, paradise in the next". This phrase has been slightly modified in Turkish as dünyada Van, ahirette iman or "Van for this world, faith for the next".



The city is home to Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi (Van 100th Year University) and recently came to headlines in Turkey for two highly publicized investigations initiated by the Prosecutor of Van, one of which was focused on accusations against the university rector, Prof. Yücel Aşkın, who was kept in custody for a time.



In culinary terms, as some cities in Turkey became renowned for their like kebap culture or else, Van has distinguished itself with its breakfast culture.



The Turkish Van and Van Kedisi (Van Cat) are breeds of cat native to this town and named after it. The Turkish Van cat is noted for having different coloured eyes and enjoying swimming and rain.



On March 22nd, 2008 riots broke out in Van as the Newruz celebrations turned violent. The riots consisted mostly of young adults throwing rocks at police. damage included many broken windows.

Famous people from Van

Mkrtich Avetisian, an Armenian journalist and political figure, one of the founders of Armenakan organization.

Mkrtich Khrimian, an Armenian writer, religious leader and the Catholicos of All Armenians (1892-1907).

Bedros Kapamacıyan, Ottoman Armenian mayor of Van assassinated by a Tashnak team on 10 December 1912.

Vahram Alazan, an Armenian poet, writer and public activist, the First Secretary of the Writers Union of Armenia from 1933 to 1936.

Münip Boya, Turkish deputy in the Ottoman parliament between 1914-1918 and in the Turkish Grand National Assembly between 1923-1927.

Ruhi Su, Turkish folk singer.

Arshile Gorky, an Armenian-American painter who had a seminal influence on Abstract Expressionism.

Panos Terlemezian, painter, a People's artist of Armenian SSR.

Aghasi Khanjian, the leader of Soviet Armenia from 1930 to 1936.

Vardan Ajemian, an Armenian theatral director and actor, People's Artist of the USSR.

Gurgen Mahari, an Armenian writer and poet.

Haig Patigian, an Armenian-American sculptor.

Nairi Zarian, a Soviet Armenian poet and writer.

Silva Kaputikyan's parents.

Armen Mandagunyan, a famous Armenian music composer who wrote the song VAN, in memory of his heritage.

Vankulu Mehmed Efendi, author of the first printed book in Turkish - a dictionary.

Transport

Van is connected with Tatvan 96km away by train ferry which avoids the need to build 250km of railway through difficult terrain. This will be replace when traffic increases sufficiently

Fethiye (Telmessos) A Place Must Be Seen

Fethiye is one of the most popular resorts due to its extreme loveliness. Set on a wide bay, strewn with many islands.

Fethiye is 135 kms southwest of Marmaris and has an outstanding and busy marina. The ancient name of the city is Telmessos and you will see a fortress on the hill overlooking the city which was built by Knights of Rhodes. Fethiye is known for its rock tombs carved into the faces of the cliffs by the Lycians. These are elaborately carved and an especially remarkable; one is the tomb of Amnytas dating from the 4th century BC built in Doric architectural style. It is worth well visiting. Other historical places in the city are the Sarcopaghi and the Fethiye Tower.

The Beach and the Sovalye Island are real the destinations for those who like to enjoy the most beautiful sea. Belcegiz Bay is also good for such a visit and provides natural mountain scenery. The guest houses (pansiyon) here, will give you all the comfort you expect. The bay forms the dreamlike Belcegiz – Ölüdeniz (Blue Lagoon) known as “a paradise that God granted to Earth”, a very fine place with 3 kms of natural beach and crystal blue waters in enchanting surroundings. For camping, Belcegiz Beach is ideal, and for picnicking try the Kidiril Park, for sightseeing the Gemiler Islands with their Byzantine ruins among the pine trees are recommenced. At Koturumsu, a heaven like beauty awaits you, where you may reach only by boat. There are waterfalls flowing across valleys where thousands of butterflies, exhibiting tremendous shades of colors, fly amongst the pine forrst bordering of the lovely beach. Some of the other natural attractions are Katranci Bay, Gunluk (Kusuk Kargi) Bay, Oyuktepe, Göcek with its harbor and marina. Lately, paragliding from Baba mountain became one of the most popular sports and it gives magnificent views for people flying over this great beach lagoon

Around Fethiye, there are important ancient cities of the Lycians. To the southeast of Fethiye lies Xanthos at Kinik village, an important capital of Lycians. Its setting is naturally adorned while Letoon, by Kumluova village and close to Xanthos, is also interesting. Letoon was a cult center during the Lycian period and remains can be seen of temples dedicated to Leto, Artemis and Apollo. Patara by Ovagelmis, Pinara by Minare, Tlos by Doger, Cadianda by Yesil Üzümlü, Sidyma by Dodurga, Karmilassos by Kaya, Pydnai by Kavadere, Araxa by Ören, Lydoe by Kapidag, Lissa and Arsada by Kayadibi, and Daedela by Inlice are other significant sites to visit in the environs of Fethiye. There are also many camping and picnicking facilities around Fethiye

Selge and Side 's History

SIDE
Side is reached by turning south 3 km. before Manavgat on the Antalya-Alanya highway. The exact date of its founding is not known. In the language of Anatolia Side means Pomegranate. From inscriptions it appears that Side dates back to the Hittite Period. The city was constructed on a peninsula and was a Hellenistic and Roman town, protected by city and sea walls. Ones attention is particularly drawn to the city gates and walls, as well as many remains of aqueducts which brought water from the foothills of the Taurus Mountains and the surrounding country. The old baths have been restored and turned into a museum, in which are exhibited some of the statues and art treasures found in Side.
One of its most important buildings is its 15,000 spectator theater. The difference between this Roman theater and other antique theaters in the region is that it is not built against a hillside. The 2 storey theater, built on a series of arches, is 20 m. high. The orchestra and the stage are in a state of ruin. Rainwater canals run under the theater. Side has colonnaded streets, a triumphal arch, a harbor, baths, fountains, cisterns, aquaducts, temples and an agora.

SELGE
Selge is in the north of Manavgat, on the Antalya-Alanya highway, where the Selge signpost will be seen, after which it is a further 55 km. The road is good until Koprulu Canyon, but for the last 12 km. after the ancient bridge, a jeep-type vehicle is recommended. It is particularly beautiful in the area of the Koprulu Canyon. Built at 950 m. above sea level, Selge was a Psidia mountain settlement. The best preserved building is the theater, and the city walls, the tower, the cisterns, the stadium and the necropolis are worth seeing.

Antalya a Heaven in the Earth

Antalya Turkey's principal holiday resort in the Mediterranean region (ancient Pamphylia)is an attractive city with shady palm-lined boulevards a prize-winning marina on the Mediterranean. In the picturesque old quarter Kaleici narrow winding streets and old wooden houses abut the ancient city walls.

Since its founding in the second century B.C. by Attalus II a king of Pergamon who named the city Attaleai after himself Antalya has been continuously inhabited. The Roman Byzantines and Seljuks in turn occupied the city before it came under Ottoman rule. The elegant fluted minaret of the Yivli Minareli Mosque in the center of the city built by the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubat in the 13th century has become the Antalya's symbol. The Karatay Medrese (theological college) in the Kaleici district from the same period exemplifies the best of Seljuk stone carvings. The two most important Ottoman mosques in the city are the 16th century Murat Pasa Mosque remarkable for its tile decoration the 18th century Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque. Neighboring the marina the attractive late 19th century Iskele Mosque is built of cut stone and set on four pillars over a natural spring. The Hidirlik Kulesi (tower) was probably originally constructed as a lighthouse in the second century. Today a church the Kesik Minaret Mosque attests to the city's long history in its succession of Roman Byzantine Seljuk and Ottoman renovations. When Emperor Hadrian visited Antalya in 130 A.D. a beautifully decorated three arched gate was built into the city walls in his honor.

Near the marina the two towers flanking the gate and other sections of the walls still stand. The clock tower in Kalekapisi Square was also part of the old city's fortifications.

On March 29th 2006 Total Solar Eclipse has been seen in Antalya as well at 13:54pm local time.

Nature
The region around Antalya offers sights of astonishing natural beauty as well as awesome historical remains. You can walk behind the cascade a thrilling experience at the Upper Düden Waterfalls 14 km northeast of Antalya. On the way to Lara Beach the Lower Düden Waterfalls plunge straight into the sea. The nearby rest area offers an excellent view of the falls; the view is even more spectacular from the sea. Kursunlu Waterfalls and Nilüfer Lake both 18 km from Antalya are two more places of superb natural beauty.

The sandy Lara Beach lies about 12 km to the east. Closer to Antalya but to the west the long pebbled Konyaalti Beach offers a view of the breathtaking mountain range. A little further the Bey Dagi (Olympos) National Park and Topcam Beach provide more splendid vistas. There are camping grounds at the north end of the park should you decide to linger amid the natural beauty. For a panoramic view of the area drive to the holiday complex on top of the Tünektepe Hill.


Saklikent 50 km from Antalya is an ideal winter sports resort on the northern slopes of Bakirli Mountain at an altitude of 1750-1900 meters. In March and April you can ski in the morning eat a delicious lunch of fresh fish at Antalya's marina and sunbath swim or wind surf in the afternoon. The wildlife (deer and mountain goat) in Düzlercami Park north of Antalya are under a conservation program. On the way you can stop at the astonishing 115 meter deep Güver Canyon. In the eastern side of Can Mountain 30 km from Antalya the Karain Cave which dates from the Paleolithic Age (50000 B.C.) is the site of the oldest settlement in Turkey. Although the little museum at the entrance displays some of the finds most of the artifacts are housed in various museums throughout Turkey. The ruins of the city of Termessos set inside Güllük Dagi a national park northwest of Antalya is perched on a 1050 meter high plateau on the west face of Güllük Mountain (Solymos). A nature and wildlife museum is found at the park entrance.

Canakkale is a city of culture and history.Its history goes back to 5000 years ago. It is not only famous for its history but Gallipoli National Park is also worth to see this beatifull cite of Turkey. Canakkale has a very important place in Turkish history. At the same time it is important for ancient Greek history because of the Troian War happened once in that place.

Today many tourist come from all over the world to see this region and want to witness such important historical events in its homeland. Çanakkale, an important place of settlement, since the Early Bronze Age, has not only joined Europe, with Anatolia but also the Mediterranean with the Black Sea. The Çanakkale Straits have been one of the Passages providing connection between the seas after the Bosporus. For this reason, it has a very rich history today. Its geographical Iocation helped the people Iiving here dominate the neighboring peoples at the time economically and military. However, this strategic region attracted the others. They came to settle or occupy it by force. In both cases, they caused cultural relations between the peoples. In addition to this, Çanakkale being a trading centre where the cultures intertwined each other greatly. This cultural exchange Iasted centuries at intervals. As a result, a mosaic of cultures emerged in this Iand. During the reign of Mehmet the Conqueror, Kilitbahir Castle near Sestos at the narrows on the Europen side, and Çanak Castle near Abydos on the Asian side of the Straits were built. Today's name of Provincial town was named after Çanak Castle.

What to buy in Canakkale?

You can buy ancient hadncrafts,ceramics and local clothes in Canakkale.