MARMARA REGION

*****GÖNEN,which is 45 kilometres from Bandırma and it takes about 3 hours to İstanbul by bus + seabus.Gönen is famous for its THERMAL-BATHS and modern THERMAL-BATH HOTELS.It has splendid park with swans and terebinth trees.
This town is the place where the famous TURKISH STORY WRITER,Ömer Seyfettin ,was born.
DENİZKENT,A VILLAGE WITH AN ATTRACTIVE BEACH,IS 28 KILOMETRES FROM GÖNEN.
There is also a natural mountain thermal bath.It takes 15 minutes to Gönen by bus.*****

ERDEK is a town to the South of the KAPIDAĞ PENINSULA 
which is a NATURAL BEACH,FULL OF TOURISTS DURING SUMMER.
Bays,beaches, and fruit trees are intermingled with villages around Kapıdağ,such as OCAKLAR and NARLI.NARLI,especially is a true example of natural beauty.People in this area earn their living from FISHING and the CULTIVATION of OLIVE TREES.

Of the islands around Kapıdağ,AVŞA(TURKELI) is famous for its GRAPES and MARMARA ISLAND for its MARBLE MINES.
ERDEK has got a nice harbour,a quay, cafes, a modern hotels and motels.

AYVALIK is a town in Balıkesir province,and famous for its olive trees and soap industry.
It is situated on a bay,surrunded by hills covered with olive trees and pines.Places worth seeing are the island scattered around the harbour ,the coast covered in olive trees.SARMISAKLI BEACH and a hill called ŞEYTAN SOFRASI(table of the devil). 

BURSA is a very old,big city on the skirts of ULUDAĞ, famous for its healing thermal –baths and gren meadows.In winter,the hotels at ULUDAĞ are full of tourists.Bursa is a city of historical importance ,famous for its mosgues and tombs,famous for their valuable tiles,were built in 1419 by Murat II,Yıldırım Bayezid’s son.
ULU CAMİ(MOSGUE) is a beautiful multi-domed Turkish İslamic piece of architecture.Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire,is full of numerous historical pieces of architecture.Bursa is also famous for its “İskender Kebab” and İnegöl,a town belonging to Bursa,is famous for its meatballs.
There are two automobile factories in Bursa as well as various other industries.
Another interesting place in Bursa is the tomb of “HACİVAT and KARAGÖZ”,the two characters of CLASSICAL TURKISH SHADOW”,who had once lived in Bursa.

İzmit,a harbour city,was founded in 262 BC and thus the city and its surroundings are full of traces of ancient times.
The train passes through the city centre and the shopping area.This interesting view and the hunting house of Sultan Abdülaziz ,as well as the city aqueducts,are places worth seeing.
İzmit is famous for its thread-like sweet,”pişmaniye”,popular amoung children.İzmit,centre of Kocaeli,is a city of trade ,rafineries and heavy industry.
KARAMÜRSEL is a SUMMER RESORT 35 kilometres from İZMİT.This small town was named after the first OTTOMAN admiral Karamürsel Pahsa.The menucipality runs beaches and camping places.KARAMÜRSEL is an ideal place FOR HOLIDAY.
DEĞİRMENDERE,famous for its hazelnuts is very close to KARAMÜRSEL and its long BAY is a NATURAL BEACH.
GÖLCÜK,famous for its dockyard,is on this route.
YALOVA is connected to İstanbul by sea transport.The main income of YALOVA agriculture and the manufacture of gren –houses-Yalova is also fam connected to İstanbul by sea transport.The main income of YALOVA agriculture and the manufacture of gren –houses-Yalova is also famous for its thermal baths.
Another place of touristic interest is ÇINARCIK which is 18 kilometres from Yalova and it is famous as a summer resort .
The known history of Yalova goes back as far as 3000 BC.

You can take a peaceful trip on a motor –boat among the island and around the natural beauties of the coast.Also in AYVALIK,there are clean hotels and motels as well as restaurants where delicious fish is served. 

Çanakkale is sited on both sides of the Dardanelles which connects the Aegean sea with the Sea of Marmara.One side of the Dardanelles is Europe,the other Asia.
Natural beauty and history are intermingled in Çanakkale.With the victory of Çanakkale during the First World War ,Turkish power was made known to the whole world once again.Mehmetçik monument can be see in GELİBOLU.
On the Anotolian side of Çanakkale ,there are the ruins of an ancient city,TROY,where the Trojan War ,which is recounted in the poems of ancient times ,took place.
The defeated brings a horse asa gift to the victorious and the GREEKS thus enter the city.THE SOLDIERS HIDDEN İN THE WOODEN HORSE PUT THE UNSUSPECTING TROJANS,WHO ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME ,TO THE SWORD.In gift shops ,nick-nacks of the horse of Troy can be found in various sizes.
ÇANAKKALE IS A CITY OF TOURISTIC IMPORTANCE WITH ITS NATURAL AND HISTORICAL BEAUTIES.
INTEPE woods is another place to be seen in ÇANAKKALE.The museum , in which stones ,terracota objects and metalware from ROMAN TIMES are exhibited,can also be visited.
ÇAN is famous for its healing thermal –baths.

We are now in Tekirdağ,alongside the sea of MARMARA,which is a touristic city.Tekirdağ is leading city in TURKEY for the cultivation of sunflowers, and the whole area is an ideal place for hunting.
NAMIK KEMAL,the famous TURKISH patriotic poet,was born in this city;his tombs is in Bolayır.
ŞARKÖY and MÜREFTE are famous for their WINE and large BEACHES.
Our Marmara Region tour is thus over.


İSTANBUL
The Galata Bridge joins the two banks of the inlet foreigners call the “Golden Horn”.It is crowded at all hours of the day.This bridge was built in 1845.
In whichever direction you look from here,you will see minarets and mosques rising up to the sky.Looking towards the Bosphorus,you can see the bridge which links Asia and Europe.
The Byzantine Emperor Zeno the First had the Galata Tower built.Later the Genoese took it over. They used it as an observation post for watching the harbour and Byzantium.
This tower was used as a fire watching tower after the Turks took İstanbul.And now it is a place for sightseeing where TOURISTS COME TO SIT AND HAVE MEALS.
The Galata Tower is also famous for another reason.The Turkish Scientist Hazerfan Ahmet Çelebi flew from this tower to Üsküdar by attaching wings to his arms.
It is very pleasant watching İstanbul,its harbour ,The Çamlıca Hills on the opposite shore and the Bosphorus through the small Windows of this tower.
DOLMABAHÇE PALACE was built in 1853.Turkish sultans lived here.There are 18 halls and 200 rooms in this palace.The walls of the halls are decorated with beautiful paintings of FRench and ıtalian painters.
In the palace ,there is a chandelier weighing 4,5 tons with 750 lamps on it.This beautiful chandelier was a present from Queen Victoria of England.
THE TOWER OF THE MAIDEN is at the sea of Marmara etrance of the Bosphorus.It is built on a rock rising above the sea.It was built of wood in the year 410 BC.
There is a legend about this tower.
A prophet prophesied that the daughter ofd the Byzantine Emporer would die by bite of a snake .The Emperor hid his daughter in his daughter in this tower which he had built in the middle of the sea.One day a basket,bit the girl.The girl died.
Today,the tower of the Maiden is a lighthouse guiding the way for ships.
ISTANBUL is a city of flower.We can see the evidence of this in the garden of Yıldız Palace and in Emirgan Park.
The Pink Villa in Emirgan Park is open to tourists.Again in Emirgan Park, there is the Yellow Villa.This also attract the attention of trourists.
Tourists especially admire the Pink Pavillion in Yıldız Park,which is painted pink and open to the public.
In Sarayburnu,there is a picnic area under the centuries –old trees,called GÜLHANE PARK ,with a zoo and an aquarium in it.

Now, we are at Sultanahmet Square.There are so many tourists…A mosque which fills the tourists with admiration stands in front of us with its six minarets.Sultanahmet Mosque was finished in 1616 and opened to the public.The name of its architect is Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa.The mosque is also called the “Blue Mosque” because of the blue tiles inside.
At the opposite end of the square stands the Ayasofya museum.this museum was built by the Byzantine Emperor in the year 337 as a church.
It was converted into a mosque after the Turks took İstanbul.Ayasofya served as a mosque for centuries and today it is a museum.

In the middle of Sultanahmet Park stands an upright stone.This stone was brought from Egypt.
Next to Ayasofya there is also a history museum.The otoman Empire was governed from this palace.In this museum you can see what life in the Otoman Era was like.

KAPALI ÇARŞI is a very important bazar where tourists shop.It was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1461.
The bazaar has eight gates.
There are jevellers,antique dealers,furniture shops and carpet shops in it. Tourists are drawnn here because it is a popular trade centre where everything can be found.
During the hot summer days,KAPALI ÇARŞI is a very cool place.
There are four islands near İstanbul in the Sea of Marmara.The largest of these is BÜYÜKADA.
People visit these islands on hot summer days for picnics and swimming.
Covered with pine trees,BÜYÜKADA is a beautiful sight.Riding on donkeys along its earth roads is great fun.
Boats departing from the Galata Bridge visit these islands all day long.
The other three islands,KINALIADA,HEYBELİADA;BURGAZADA are also exceptionally beautiful places.

THE BOSPHORUS BRIDGE of İatanbul joins the two continents,Asia and Europe.It lies between Beylerbeyi and Ortaköy.You can also walk across it.It is height is 65 metres and its lenght is 1560 metres.It is the fourth largest bridge in the world.
People crossing over look at the exceptional view of the Bosphorus and the shores ornamented with villas and palaces.Then they turn their gaze away from the gren hills towards the sea of Marmara in the South.
Confronted with this beauty which holds you breathless ,you can not keep yourself from saying.
“İstanbul,how beautiful you are”.

AEGEAN REGION

FOÇA is a town near İZMİR.Its history stretches back to the 7th century BC.It is said that the town was first built by the Athenians and Phokis ,at the mouth of river Hermos ,and was an important centre of Western Anatolia during the primary age.It was taken by the Otoman Turks in 1455.
Foça is now a holiday town,famous for its clear SEA and SAND.There are tombs left from ancient times,carved into the ROCKS IN THE HILLS.
There is also a small holiday village in MERSİNAKİ nearby.
THE RUINS OF EPHESUS,77 kilometres from İZMİR,stand as a monument to the year 1400 BC.Not far from these ruins is the HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY,WHICH IS VISITED BY THOUSAND S OF CHRISTIAN PILGRIMS,EVERY YEAR.
KUŞADASI,the holiday resort of EPHESUS,95 kilometres from İZMİR,was called NEOPOLIS in ancient times.
Places of interest include an old caravanserai and an interesting beauty BATH WHICH USES A SPECIAL MUD.

KUŞADASI,50 kilometres from AYDIN,is heaven for amateur fishermen.In KUŞADASI there are many hotels and BEACHES OF NATURAL BEAUTY.
BODRUM is a holiday town of MUĞLA province and is situated on a peninsula,its stone houses painted white and narrow stres decorated with flowers dangling from the Windows.
An ANCIENT TOWER stands at the end of a small peninsula which houses a museum.One part of thew museum is for historical exhibit.The other part is a very interesting MARINE MUSEUM.
BODRUM dates from the 12th century B.C.THE TOMB OF ARTEMISIA,ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD CAN BE FOUND THERE.THERE IS A FOUNTAIN FROM WHICH APHRODITE IS SAID TO HAVE DRUNK.
BODRUM,is a Turkish paradise ,especially during the summer,with its beaches,yatching marina,small restaurants and delicious fish.
MARMARİS is a holiday resort in MUĞLA situated on bay on the Mediterrannean.The region is very good for hunting and fishing.there is also a very famous wood of sedar trees.
MARMARİS is port looks like a lake as it is surrounded by mountains.The tower,Günnücek PICNIC AREA and Alkaya CAVE are interesting places to visit.
DATÇA is a town,in the middle of DATÇa PENINSULA,famous for olives and oranges.To the North of Datça there was once a city,called KNIDOS.There,the world famous STATUE OF AFRODITE was discovered.
Today,Datça is a holiday resort with beautiful BEACHES and HOSPITABLE PEOPLE.
DENİZLİ is named so because of the thermal baths there.PAMUKKALE,22 kilometres from DENİZLİ,ia an incredible sight.
Also there,are ruins at Hieropolis,which many tourists visit.
DENİZLİ today is a centre of trade and TOURISM.Cotton weaving on looms in BULDAN and BABADAĞ is very famous.
We are now in AFYON, a city which had an important role during the TURKISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE.There is a monument commemorating the war.
A very famous WOODEN MOSQUE,Ulu cami,built on FORTY POLES,is an interesting work of architecture in AFYON.
GECİK THERMAL BATHS,17 kilometres from AFYON are famous for their healing waters.Also in AFYON are the worl-reknowned mineral water springs.
The city is a major junction for both roads and railways.
ISPARTA is known as the loom and rose garden of TURKEY,because of its fame carpet weaving,rose cultivation and rosewater, handvowen carpets and rosewater are exported to many countries.
The area posseses rich rosources of sulphur.
The history of Isparta goes back to the Hitites.The Broken Minaret and a fountain called “Yılan Kıran” are interesting Works of art left from the old times.In the Library,there is a very rich collection of coins.

The town of EĞRİDİR is situated by EĞRİDİR LAKE which is the fourth biggest lake in Turkiye.The lake is a holiday resort and has many motels around it.
Winter sports are possible on DAVRAS mountain where there is a cable car.
35 kilometres away from Eğridir is an interesting geological ZİNDAN CAVE.



İZMİR
İzmir is an important centre of TOURISM and trade for the Aegeon region.The CLOCK TOWER in Konak Square is the symbol of this city.
BOATS SAILING FROM KONAK to KARŞIYAKA and BACK,connect the two parts of the city across the bay.
The monument of Hasan Tahsin Bey,who first fired on enemy soldiers in İzmir during the Turkish War of Independence,is also in this square together with the old Government Building.
Konak Square is a busy shopping and transport centre of the city.
While walking along the quay,one can not help admiring the national beauties of İzmir.The monument of Atatürk and the TOURIST HOTELS around it are worth seeing.
KORDONBOYU,which the enemy soldiers had burnt and levelled while leaving the city during the war,is now a promenade with modern buildings.Palm trees along KORDONBOYU add to the beauty of this scenery.
İzmir harbour is an important export centre for TURKIYE.Turkish agricultural and indistrial products are shipped to other countries from there.
KÜLTÜR PARK is a recreation centre in İZMİR.Also in this park is the İzmir International Fair that serves as a centre for trading and tourism activities.The fair is open from 20th August to 20th September every year and is a marketing place for TURKISH and foreign products of about 20 participant countries.
Famous Turkish musicians,actors and theatre groups also join the fair with concerts and performances.İzmir becomes a recreation centre for the Aegean region during this fair.
KADİFEKALE is also well-known in İzmir.It is a tower built on a hill from where the whole city can be seen in all its beauty.Within the tower walls,there are tea gardens for tourists.
KEMERALTI is a busy shopping centre where almost everything can be bought.It is very crowded especially during busy periods of domestic tourism.
Numerous clothes shops,shoeshops,confectioners ,restaurants,fishmongers and other small shops are always full of customers.
Boats from KONAK to KARŞIYAKA carry passengers all day long. It is impossible not to admire the natural beauty of the city sitting on deck.
Also for TOURISTS,there are SPECIAL BOAT TRIPS,taking them around the bay where the city waterfront is an incredible sight of natural beauty.
KARŞIYAKA has developed very quickly during the last few years and has become a big modern city.Tea gardens along the quay serve as places where TOURISTS CAN SIT AND REST WHILE WATCHING THE VIEW OF THE OPPOSITE COAST.
City tours in horse drawn coaches always attract tourists.People coming to KARŞIYAKA visit the tomb of Atatürk’s mother,Zübeyde Hanım.
EPHESUS is the most interesting place to visit in İzmir.the ruins of this ancient city with its stone streets where St.PAUL once walked,are stil standing.You can walk in these streets ,see the theatre built to hold 25.000 people and the Library of Celsus.During 2nd century ,this city was the most important trade and cultural centre in the Mediterrenean and the Middle East,with its population of 300.000
The House of the VIRGIN MARY is also in İzmir,7 kilometres from SELÇUK.this house was built in 1st century and the VIRGIN MARY is belived to have died there.
The Christian world visiting this holy house creates a high tourism potential for this place.
Another place of importance for the tourist is ÇEŞME ,80 kilometres from İzmir.This town has developed as a hıliday resort and tourist centre with its SEA,BEACHES and THERMAL BATHS.

MEDITERRANEAN REGION
FETRHIYE, the TELMESSOS& of ancient times, is a city on the coast,165 kilometres from Muğla.The coast of FETHİYE bay has changed since ancient times.The alluvial deposits brought by the rivers have pushed the cities back from the coast.Apart from this,the gradual sinking of the land into the sea means some famous sarcophagi are now in the sea.
The FETHİYE MUSEUM of ARCHEOLOGY,built in 1965,has an interesting display of finds from ancient times.Its natural beaches ,and historic ruins such as the Lycian tombs carved in the rocks dating back to the ancient times,add to the touristic importance of FETHİYE.
ÖLÜ DENİZ(Dead SEA),near Fethiye is a natural wonder worth seeing.
KAŞ is a beautiful little sea-side town,221 kilometres from ANTALYA.It has fields full of olive trees and gardens with orange and tangerine trees.
This town is built on a small bay , on the South coast of the TEKE peninsula.It is an interesting Turkish town with its natural beauties and small fishermen’s tea garden.
FİNİKE is another small sea-side town,76 kilometres from KAŞ.The snow capped “ELMALI” mountains standing behind the town,the flatroofed hoses and the chance to watch the sunset in a place of great natural beauty all make it a town worth visiting.
ANTALYA,built on the slopes of the TOROS MOUNTAINS,is a beautiful city with its own harbour.Its potential for tourism increases day by day.
The city was founded by Attalus II,the king of Pergamum in 2nd century B.C.
It was a site of Roman and Selçuk civilizations.It is a fascinating city with its historical background and natural beauties.
The ruins of BELKIS (ASPENDOS) and its theatre,Manavgat and Düden waterfalls,KONYAALTI and KARPUZKALDIRAN beaches,the ruins of PERGE ,Kemer holiday village ,orange groves and greenhouses are worth visiting and seeing.
The city park,with its palm trees and flowers,is a beauty of nature.
There are restaurants and tea gardens where people rest following a tiring day.
ALANYA is a beautiful city with its natuaral scenic beauty along the coast,sea-side restaurants ,lemon and orange groves and hospitable inhibitants.
DAMLATAŞ is a famous 6000 year-old cave with interesting colourful jeological forms in orange and yellow.There is also a famous tower on a high hill.ALANYA also has a shipyard built by Keykubat I.The city has a beautiful harbour ,casinos and shops for TOURISTS along the coast,and modern HOTELS and MOTELS.It is an important centre for tourism in TURKEY with its increasing number of tourist beds.
ANAMUR is built on the slopes of a mountain in Southern Anatolia and is famous for its BANANA GARDENS.
The city has a tower dating from the middle ages and it has been called “Mahmuriye” since Selçuk and Karamanlı Empires.
TAŞUCU is famous for its sunny BEACHES and its harbour..The city is a popular place for TOURISTS and its potential for TOURISM is ever increasing.
From TAŞUCU there are sea-bus trips to CYPRUS.Looking from TAŞUCU you can see SEKA installation in all its splendour.
In every city on the Mediterrenean coast it is possible to find pretty little shops selling sea-products,sponges and sea-shells which are particularly popular with tourists.
SİLİFKE,full of lemon,orange and banana groves, is a pretty town built on the banks of the GÖKSU RIVER.It is located at the crossroads of the Mersin-antalya,and Konya-Karaman-mut –Silifke highways.
The most interesting places to see are the two caves called “CENNEt(heaven) and CEHENNEM(Hell).CEHENNEM is a deep,wide pit,whereas CENNET is an underground valley into which the curious visitor may descend by a narrow,step staircase to the ruins of a church and a cool,dark corridors.
On the way to MERSİN,there are various historical ruins, two of which are cities left from the Roman Empire .On the same road ,just opposite the city called KORYKOS ,satands KIZKALESİ(maiden Tower) with its 8 turrets,on a small island.
MERSİN was under FRENCH occupation between 1918-1922 Since independance the city has developed a great deal.Today,it is one of the biggest and most important sea-side cities.Its port is an important transit centre for goods.ındustrial products of European countries are transported to the Middle East from this port.
Together with being a commercial gateway to the Adana plains,it also serves Middle and Eastern Anatolia.this active trade has aided the development of industry in MERSİN.
In MERSİN,there are factories producing flour,oil, margarine,soap,cotton,thread and textiles,as well as repair plants and petroleum refinery.
In the city,there is a large and beautiful park with many palm trees.Many famous artists and theatre groups are drawn to MERSİN during the FASHION FAIR.
The city of İSKENDERUN was built by Alexander the Great after his victory over Darius.It became Turkish on 23 july 1939 and was then named İSKENDERUN.the Anamur mountains stand behind the city.
A huge iron and steel factory of great importance for TURKEY is situated here.

Along the coast there are small houses,gardens,restaurants and parks.Along the sea-front runs the palm and date-palm lined Atatürk Boulevard.iskenderun has been a modern Turkish city form ay years.





The fourth biggest city in Turkiye,ADANA is situated between the banks of the Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers just above the place where they flow into the sea.The land around ADANA is of two main types;mountaineous areas and plains.
The mountaineous areas are situated on the northern and eastern sides of the city.To the noerth of the city ,lie the TOROST MOUNTAINS(The Central Toros).One of the most fertile areas of TURKIYE,ÇUKUROVA,is in the province of ADANA., and the first steps in mechanized agriculture in Turkiye were taken in ÇUKUROVA.ADANA is the most important centres of modern agriculture.The main source of income in the region is cotton growing there are also lemon,orange,Sevile orange fig and promegranate orchards to be seen as weel as wheat,barley and sugar cane fields.
ADANA is also a centre of trade and industry.The main industry is textiles and cotton fibre.
Vegatable oil ,tobacco processing,flour and timber are also important industrial concerns,as are foundaries and machinery repair workshops.ADANA is one of our modern cities with its business centre,beautiful villas,wide boulevards.
HATAY is situated on the eastern Metiterranean Coast.The cty centre is is called ANTAKYA,thus Hatay is also called ANTAKYA.Hatay became a Turkish city in 1939 with the National Assembly’s decision to change it from the independent state it had been before the war of independence.
In the first of half of the 1st century A.D.,those who accepted the religion of Jesus Crhrist were for the first time called “CHRISTIANS”in Antakya.St.Peter ‘s church is believed to have been the first Christian church in the world and is also one of the most important places of pilgrimage in the Catholic world.
The Amanos mountains lay along the coast of Hatay.BELEN is the most important mountain pass for the region.
Agriculture is the source of income in Hatay.More than half the agricultural land is reserved fır the growing of grain.The fields left are for citrus fruits.Hatay is also famous for lemon and orange production.
Industry is developing day by day in Hatay.There are many big factories and plants around the İskenderun bay in Hatay.
KAHRAMANMARAŞ.















CENTRAL ANATOLIA ANKARA
ANKARA is a capital city of TURKIYE.ATATÜRK’S Mauleum is also in Ankara.Atatürk’s body was taken from the Etnografya Museum to the mausoleum on 10th November 1953,fifteen years after his death.From then on ,the Turkish Nation have visited their great leader at his mausoleum.
ULUS Square is one of Ankara’s popular shopping centres and is busy all day long.In this square there is a statue of Atatürk riding on a horse.Around it are the early Parliament Buildings of the Turkish Republic ,bank headquarters and a city bazaar. The old Parliament Buildings are now interesting museums that are worth seeing.
Very few old houses are stil standing in ANKARA and those which are can be found mostly in the districts of HACIBAYRAM and HACIDOĞAN and also inside tower walls.The houses have very valuable wooden carving on the ceilings and eaves.There are wide halls and dome shaped ceiling with coloured relief in the houses.
The MUSEUM OF ANATOLIAN CIVILILIZATIONS is very interesting as it exhibit s the products of many past civilizations which succeeded one another in Anatolia.
GENÇLİK PARK is a recreation centre in the middle of the city .It is crowded at all hours of the day.There is a lake in it where people can take to the water in rowing boats.Many tea gardens,restaurants and casinos are built around the lake.
There is also a fun fair ,especialıy enjoyed by children.a tiny train takes children around the park.
Some important centres around the park are the railway station,the coach station,sport halls and opera houses.
The city water supplied from ÇUBUK DAMS which are built on the ÇUBUK RİVER,on the way to the airport.In the dam area ,there are parks for picnics,tea gardens and casinos.
The KURTBOĞAZI DAM was built to supplement the water supply as the ÇUBUK DAMS became insufficient for the growing city.Around this dam too,there are b extensive picnic areas.
ATATÜRK ORMAN ÇİFTLİĞİ(ATATÜRK FARM) is another recreation area established on the order of aTatürk in 1925.apart from being a gren area with parks ,tea gardens and zoo,the farm facilities with the recently added milk and beeer fazctories also introduce new agricultural techniques.On the centenary of Atatürk’s birth,a house was built on the farm grounds,resembling Atatürk’s house in Selanik.
The zoo in the farm is visited by children and adults who come to see the lions,tigers,snakes,lizards,bears,wolves,foxes, wild birds,wild goats,monkeys,elephants,penguins,giraffes,rhinoceroses and many other animals.Moves are being made for more species to be added to the zoo.
There are picnic areas and tea gardens for tired visitors to rest at the end of their trip in the zoo.
ANKARA city centre has lately developed mostly in in KIZILAY,KAVAKLIDERE and ÇANKAYA districts,with wide streets,high buildings,modern shopes,embasies and cinemas.
KUĞULU PARK in KAVAKLIDERE is a small recreation area with children’s play grounds.
Visitors coming to ANKARA and the citizen s of ANKARA themselves like ÇANKAYA very much.From there they can view the city spread below in the day time or at night,in all its beauty.
The President’s Residence,Botanical Garden and Foreign Visitors’ Pavillşion are places worth seeing on Çankaya hill.
Today,ANKARA is a modern capital that has been created by the TURKS

SOUTH-EAST ANATOLIA

GAZİANTEP,which was formely “ayıntab”,is the seventh biggest city in TURKIYE.There are numereous historical Works of art in GAZİANTEP,which is especially famous for its castles and mosques.The buildings in the old city are usually made of stone with stone with flat roof.yet in recent years modern buildings have also been built along wide streets.
GAZİANTEP is the hometown of the pistacchio and along with this one can also see fruit gardens,vegetables fields,olive groves and vine yards.
TODAY,GAZİANTEP is a lively trade and industrial centre.there is a cement factory and also textile,cotton fibre,leather,shoe,oil and soap factories in the city ,where metal work,especially copper,machine repairs and wine making are in the process of development.Trade in agriculture produce and animal livestock keeps the trade in the city which is also famous for its sweets.
The history of ADIYAMAN,which is in the southeast of TURKIYE goes back quite a long way.ADIYAMAN is believed to have been named in the Middle ages when it was an important centre.ADIYAMAN is one of the most attractive places in Turkiye from the archeological point of view;There are the “PERRE” caves in the village of Piron,to the North of the city centre,the GERGER and SAMSAT castles overlooking the mountain pass,along river FIRAT.CENDERE KÖPRÜSÜ is another interesting place.The most important monument in the area is MOUNT NEMRUT which was built in the shape of a sharp hill as the grave for Kommagene kings,The front side of which is decorated with large sculptures of heads.
The best time to visit the ruin of MOUNT NEMRUT,which are especially interesting for foreign tourists ,is the summer months and usually a car or a jeep is rented from ADIYAMAN.on the top of the 2150 metre montain ,there are temples dating back to 2000 years,built for the Commagene king Antiochus I.around the temple,that is built on 3 terraces,are sculptures of the king,the gods and those of lions and eagles,all of which are as high as a s storey building.The heads have falşlen off due to earthquakes and climatic changes.
Industry in Adıyaman is not of great importance where the main source of income is agriculture and animal husbandry.Within the city experimental drilling is being carried out.
The small legendary lake,Halilürrahman Havuzu with its fish believed to be sacred by the inhabitants of URFA,is the m ain place of interest.The mosque next to the pool with the same name was built in the 17th century.
URFA KALESİ is situated on a hill called Damlacık.FIRFIRLI KİLİSE(church) in the west of the city,the cave where the prophet ABRAHAM was born and the other historical remains in HARRAN are the other places worth seeing.
Although “HARRAN OVASI” is potentially a very fertile plain near URFA,insufficient rainfall affects its fertility.However ,the HARRAN PLAIN will be well irrigated as soon as the ATATÜRK DAM is completed.This should occur within the next few years.In this way the yield will increase and benefit the country’s economy.
The main source of income is agriculture and animal husbandry.
DİYARBAKIR is another city in the SOUT-EAST of TURKIYE near URFA.The city walls are the most noteworthy aspect of the city.The older city is surrounded by the strongest and biggest walls in ANATOLIA.The new part of the city is located outside the walls,and developing towards North.
ULU CAMİ(mosque) which has a minaret standing on four columns.SEFA MOSQUE,Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque and Hatuniye Thelogical School are other famous place s of interest in Diyarbakır.MALABADİ KÖPRÜSÜ is one of the most famous BRIDGES which has featured in many folk songs.
DİYARBAKIR has always been an important trading centre ,but recently DİYARBAKIR has been developping industrially.The oil deposits around DİYARBAKIR have made the city more important to the TURKISH ECONOMY.
Like other South-easternn Anatolian cities the main sources of income are agriculture and animal husbandry.In the fields especially over the last few years there have been many technical improvements in farming methods.
The most well-known agricultural product is the famous collosalDİYARBAKIR WATER MELON.
MARDİN is donated to the Otoman Empire by its inhabitants in Yavuz Sultan Selim’s period.The citadel,decorated with Artuklu Period ornamental elements has a length of 800 metres and width of 20-30 metres.Unfortunately only some part of the city walls are well preserved.MARDİN’s Mosques,ancient theological schools are famous.FİRDEVS KÖŞKÜ just in the middle of the city,is a pavilion in a large garden with high liwans and a good sample of local architectural style.
MARDİN is a lively trade centre for agricultural products.










EASTERN ANATOLIA REGION
KARS became a city of TURKIYE following the KARS AGREEMENT signed on 13 October 1921.

The city is rich with historical work of art .ŞEYTAN KALESİ(The Devil’s Tower),built 3000 BC,and KARS TOWER built by the Seljuks in the 12th century are are two exaamples.
Very close to the tower there is also a church built in the 10th century ,which now serves as a museum.
Other places worth visiting are the Kümbet Mosque and Pahsa Konağı which is a concrete building where the famous Turkish port Namık Kemal lived and wrote his first poems.The SİLK ROUTE of ancient times used to pass about 46 kilometres to the east of the city.
The city of AĞRI is famous for the mountain there,which stands in the northeast of the city .It is the highest mountain in TURKIYE,5165 metres at the peak,and it is believed that NOAH’s BOAT LANDED THERE during the Flood.Snow is always present on the top four seasons of the year.
Karaköse ,the city centre,is interesting with low houses.Şehirler Anıtı(The Monument of Martyrs) has an interesting appearance among the locust and willow trees,which grow along the strees.
As historical works of art ,İshakpaşa Mosque and Palace are worth seeing.Acoording to the script on the Harem door,this mosque was built in 1784.
Another intersting place in AĞRI is the deep pit caused by a meteor,about 70-80 years ago.This pit is between the Gürbulak frontier gate and Sarıçavuş village.The natural beauty to be seen at dawn from the iir sivar hill of Ağrı mountain is marwellous. 

ERZURUM is the biggest city in Eastern anatolia and played an important role during the Byzantine era,when it was named”Theodosipolis”.The walls of the Byzantine Tower are stil standing in a very good condition.
In ERZURUM it is also possible to see Works of art left from the SELJUKS.ULU CAMİ(Mosque) and ÇİFTE MİNARELİ MEDRESE with its two minarets are examples.The two minarets of this medrese are covered with colour tiles.Just behind the medrese there is the HATUNİYE TOMB with its increadible beauty,built in 1255.SULTAN EMİR TOMB with its three domes is another work of art.
A highway through a beautiful mountaineous land scape leads to İNİS BOĞAZI,where there is a winter sport s centre,6 kilometers from ERZURUM.
OLTU,famous for its tower and PASİNLER,famous for its THERMAL BATHS are towns of the province which are worth visiting.

MUş is a city built in the 6th century and named after the Urartu King “MUŞET”.The famous MALAZGİRT WAR(1071) between Sultan Alparslan and Byzantines took place in Muş where the the town of MALAZGİRT is now standing.1599 metres above sea-level and on the left of River Murat.Malazgirt is 127 kilometres from KARAKÖSE.
ZİYARET YAYLASI(The Valley to Visit) is a picnic area and is named so because of the tomb there.This place,together with the ruins of a tower ,a caravanserai,Aslanhane,Alaadin Mosque and Hacı Şeref Mosque the minarets of which is made of coloured stones-left from the SELJUKS and Ulu cami(mosque) are places and Works of art worth seeing.
The city of VAN is called so because it is built near Lake VAN,the biggest lake in TURKIYE.Van played an important role in history during the URARTU era.The view from the tower of VAN is wonderful,but one needs to climb 1000 stairs to reach the top.Inside the tower walls ,there are interesting vaults,samples of the Turkish architecture of the Middle Ages.Following the footsteps up some rocks,one can reach the magnificient URARTU TOWER.On the way to the tower there are cuneiform scripts as oaths of faithfulness to King Xeres.
In the old city there are many mosques and mu7sums left from the Seljuks and ottomans, whereas in the new city there is a small musun of archeology.Some ruins around the lake and a church on the small AKDAMAR ISLAND in the lake are worth seeing.
VAN is famous for its whgite cATS who have one blue and one gren eye.
ERZİNCAN is importantcity of TURKIYE and its built on a fertile plain.After the earthquake in 1939,it was rebuilt as a modern city.The city was called “Erzingan” by the Turks in the 11th century and it is famous for its mosques,namely Ulu Cami,Kurşunlu camii,Çadırcı cami and its towers-Urartu Tower on altıntepe hill.an other Architectural work of art left from the Urartus and worth mentioning is the Temple of Apadana.
GİRVELİK WATERFALLS,39 kilometres from the city and the woods around it add to the natural beauty of the area.The place serves as a recreation area.10-14 kilometres from here are the EKŞİSU mineral springs and Lake Kaynıyan.
BİNGÖL is a city built in a mountaineous area with dense woods.The city has recently been spreading up the slope of the Çapakçukur walley where it was once centered.
The name Bingöl,meaning thousand lakes, is thought to be derived from the many tiny glacial lakes around the mountain.
The thermal baths called KÖS HAMAMLARI are about 25 kilometers from the city and famous for theirv healing water especially for rheumatism.
Sebitarias Tower built in the Middle ages and the thermal baths are interesting places to visit in Bingöl.
Due to the mountaineous character of the land there,HAKKARİ was not a popular city until recent times.The population growth rate in the city is very low.Arabic geographers called the city “Hakkariye” and the citizens “Hakkaris”.

It was a ruined city when taken by the Turks on 22nd April 1918.even today,most of the houses are made of sundried brick and have flat roofs.During recent years ,newly built governmental offices have changed the appearance of the city.
A tower of the Middle ages dominates the city and there is a beautiful Medrese near it.Around the city there are THERMAL BATHS and some ruined temples.
TUNCELİ,a city on the Elazığ-Erzurum highway,is surrounded by high mountains.The rivers there are full of speckled trout ,and the sharp rocks add to the natural beauty of the city.

PERTEK TOWER walls stand 31 kilometers along the main road anda re stil in good condition.
BİTLİS is a small but prety city in the dry Eastern Anatolia.Because it is near near the River Bitlis,The city was built in a gren area,in contrast to the surrounding land.
The whole city can be seen from Bitlis Tower which was built on a step slope during the Byzantine era.Around the tower walls are interesting old districts with flat –roofed houses.Small bridges over the Bitlis River connect these districts to one another.
ŞEREFHAN MEDRESSE,Ulu Cami(mosque) built in the 12th century.Gökmeydanı Mosque built by the Seljuks and Şerefiye Mosque built in the 16th century are historical architectural sights in the city.

TATVAN and AHLAT are two towns of BİTLİS on the side of Lake Van and the best examples of Turkish tomb architecture are in Ahlat.
ELAZIĞ is a city built in the 19th century in place of the old city Harput.It is in a fertile valley on the slope of a mountain.
5 kilometers to the North of the city there are ruins of Harput city tower and some some interesting mosques.

The city attracts attentioı because of its orderly plan.Each street of the market is for shops of a particular craft.Shomakers,copersmiths and cloth-sellers have different street for their shops.The laker of KEBAN DAM, built on the river FIRAT,is 50 kilometers from Elazığ.
MALATYA is a recently built lively city of TURKIYE,situated on a fertile plain on the rear slope s of the TOROS MOUNTAINS,which hold water reserves of the area.MALATYA is known as an old settlement area and some mounds are evidence supporting this belief.
Next to the museum,there is a market with shops selling only copperwork.

In MALATYA one can visit two ancient towns.One is ASLANTEPE,7 kilometers from the city centre.This town served as the capital for the small Hittite state during the 2nd century and was called “MILID”.The other town is Eski (Old)Malatya, 19 kilometers from the city and was called “MELITENE” in the old days.There,one can see some ruins from the BYZANTINE invasion and Ulu Cami,built in 1247 in the city centre is a beautiful example of Seljuk Mosque architecture .
Other historical Works of art in the city are ULU CAMİ(mosque) and the Caranserai.
When MALATYA is mentioned , one always thinks of APRICOTS.The southern parth of the MALATYA valley is full of apricot trees.