The Divine City in a Canopy of Green. The French poet Henri de Regnier described Bursa, Turkey’s fifth largest city, which is located on the skirts of Uludağ and surrounded by forests and canopies of green, as a “divine city”. According to Karacaoğlan, Bursa with its roses, violets, scenic beauty and historical edifices is like a “gateway to desire”.

Bursa, which was selected by UNESCO as the city which preserves its environment in the most original manner in Europe, is a place where nature, history, greenery and architecture are unified in an environment of beautiful harmony. Koza Square in the city reflects one of the most beautiful examples of this wholeness. The mosques around Koza Square, the Koza Han (Inn), the restored old houses, historical plane trees and surrounding cafes, covered bazaars and fountains impart in one, a great admiration. Bursa, famous for its silk, towels and thermal baths, is also a large industrial city. The automotive and textile industries are particularly highly developed.

Uludağ National Park, an ideal center for winter sports with its modern facilities, is located to the south of the city in an area which has many structures dating from the Ottoman Period. İznik Lake, to the northeast of Bursa is a region of great beauty. The lake is surrounded by forests and vineyards. İznik, which was an important settlement during the Byzantine and Roman periods, preserved this trait during the Ottoman Period. The most beautiful examples of ceramic art in the world were made in İznik by Ottoman ceramic masters. Çekirge is the thermal springs center of Bursa.

Balıkesir, one of the most important provinces of the Marmara Region, is surrounded by the Marmara Sea in the north and the Aegean Sea in the west. Bandırma, the largest settlement of Balıkesir on the Marmara coast, is the second largest port in Marmara Sea after İstanbul. Erdek, to the northwest of Bandırma, is known for its beaches and the historical structures in Belkıs (Kyzikos). The Marmara, Avşa, and Paşalimanı islands, which are accessible via Erdek, attract visitors due to their scenic beauty, beaches and delicious wines. Kuş Cenneti (Bird Paradise) National Park is located in the vicinity of Manyas Lake, south of Bandırma. Every year approximately 3 million birds of 239 species visit the Bird Paradise.

The Aegean shores of the Balıkesir province are located around Edremit Bay. Edremit Bay is rich with natural and historical assets and all its shores are covered with olive trees. This is the reason why these shores are referred to as the “Olive Riviera.” According to mythology, the first beauty contest in the world was held on Kaz (Ida) Mountain and Paris, the son of the Trojan King lived on this mountain. The French, who wanted to protect and preserve aesthetic values, referred to world history and mythology and chose to name their capital after Paris of Anatolia.

Akçay, Altınoluk, Ören and Ayvalık, famous for their scenic beauty and extensive beaches, are favorite holiday resorts in the vicinity of Edremit. There are 22 islands of various sizes in close proximity to Ayvalık’s beautiful undulating shoreline. A panoramic view of this scenic wonder is afforded from a location called the Şeytan Sofrası (Devil’s Table). The Çamlık and Alibey (Cunda) islands, besides their quaintness
and beauty, are famous for their restaurants serving delicious and different seafood specialties.

The Sakarya River flows through the center of the lands of the Bilecik Province, which was an important province in Ottoman history. The foundations of the Ottoman Empire were laid here. The town of Söğüt, famous for its ceramics, is 30 km. to the west of Bilecik. It is here that the Kayı tribe, one of the ancient Turkish tribes and the ancestors of the Ottomans, chose to settle, and therefore the town has great significance in history.

Uludağ - BURSA

The Southern Marmara. The Çanakkale, Balıkesir, and Bilecik provinces are located at the south of the Marmara Sea. Çanakkale was founded on the eastern shore, at the narrowest passage of the Çanakkale Strait, which is an important sea passage. The Çimenlik and Kilitbahir Citadels, which date back to the 15^th century, add exceptional beauty to the strait. The Çanakkale Monument of the Fallen (Çanakkale Şehitleri Anıtı), which is 42 m. high, was erected at the southern end of the National Park in memory of the 500,000 soldiers who fell in battle on the Çanakkale battle field during the First World War. There are also British and French monuments in the vicinity. The Anzac Monument, on which Atatürk’s speech about the Çanakkale Battles is written, is located at Anzac Bay on the Arıburnu Coast where the Anzac soldiers landed. This speech is one of the everlasting documents of universal humanism.

Ancient cities extend from north to south, to the northwest of Çanakkale. The historical, ancient city of Troy where King Priam, Hector, Paris and beautiful Helen referred to in Homer’s epic, “The Iliad”, once lived, and which is famous for its large, wooden Trojan horse, is located 30 km. southwest of Çanakkale. Homer, the great ancient bard was an Anatolian. Further to the south of Troy, are the cities of Neandreia, Alexandria, Troas, Chryse and Assos. Behramkale (Assos in history), is also a holiday center where intellectuals gather. The Temple of Athena at the Assos Acropolis, which is at an altitude of 248 m. above sea level, was constructed in the 6^th century B.C.

Sunflower Fields and Vineyards as Far as the Eye Can See. The fertile lands of Thrace, which form the northwestern part of Turkey on the continent of Europe, are generally covered with sunflower fields and vineyards. A foreigner traveling from Europe and entering the city of Edirne, Turkey’s western gate, first is attracted to the Selimiye  Mosque,   a  masterpiece  of  Turkish  architecture.

BALIKESİR, famous for its horse drawn buggies.

The mosques, caravanserais, bazaars, bridges and other unique examples of Ottoman architecture in Edirne are worth seeing. Edirne, which is like an open-air museum of Ottoman architecture, was one of the seven largest cities in Europe in the 18^th century and served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire for approximately a century. The traditional Kırkpınar wrestling competitions are held every year at the beginning of summer in an area of this city called Sarayiçi.

Tekirdağ province, which hosts beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture and extensive beaches, is located in eastern Thrace. It is also well known for its vineyards and wine festivals. Şarköy and Mürefte to the west of Tekirdağ, besides being important wine manufacturing centers, are also important holiday resorts.

Kırklareli, which is rich in terms of history and nature, is the largest province of Turkey in Europe. It has extensive forests, and its fruit orchards are an important source of income. İğneada and Kıyıköy, on the shores of the Black Sea, are known for their fine-sand beaches. The Kırklar Şehitliği (the Monument of Forty Martyrs), which has 18 columns, was constructed in memory of the 40 raiders who lost their lives when the city was conquered. This monument is the symbol of the city.

Kocaeli - Sakarya and the Grave of Hannibal. The city of Kocaeli is connected to İstanbul via a highway. It is an industrial center surrounded by fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. There are many historical works dating back to the Ottoman Period in the city center and environs. During the Roman Period it was known as “Nicomedeia”. The town of Hereke in the vicinity of the city is famous for its carpet weaving.

The town of Gebze, which is located on the northern shores of the Marmara Sea, has a rich history and the grave of the famous Carthaginian commander Hannibal is located here. Sakarya is also an industrial city with its extensive plains of fertile agricultural lands. Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins are grown on these lands, which are enriched by the alluvia of the Sakarya River. In ancient times, the people of this region were known for their beauty, which was believed to be due to these fertile lands. Sabina, the wife of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, whose beauty was legendary, grew up in this region and later  went to  Rome  as  a  bride.

Temple of Athena, Behramkale - ÇANAKKALE

The Trojan Horse - ÇANAKKALE

İstanbul: A World City.

Mosques, churches, synagogues, palaces, city walls, museums, parks, seaside mansions and the Bosphorus with its mesmerizing beauty are associated with İstanbul, the queen of cities. The unique Haliç Bay (the Golden Horn), a horn-shaped bay which is one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world is a port of this city. Small bays and woods, green slopes and all kinds of other scenic wonders of the world are an integral part of the city. The Bosphorus and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges remind one of a necklace… İstanbul is a city of synthesis, which in an atmosphere of tolerance, unites the culture, art and religion of the East and the West, at the crossing of two separate continents. It is the meeting point of Europe and Asia…

“There, God and human beings, nature and art, created such a perfect place on earth which is well worth seeing,” said the famous French author Lamartine about this unique city.

It is Turkey’s largest and most prominent city in terms of its population, location, economy, trade, wealth and culture. One third of the country’s manufacturing industry output and almost half of the income tax paid to the state come from this   city   and   its   environs.  It  is  the  country’s   largest

Rumelia Fortress - İSTANBUL

Topkapı Palace - İSTANBUL

export port, the starting point of Turkey’s waterways, the most important center from which airways connect Turkey to other countries of the world. The majority of the capital, banks, influential holdings and companies, educational and health institutions are located in this city.

The history of the city, qualified as the “Capital of Empires,” dates back to ancient times. The city was founded by the Megaras in 658 B.C. and was named Byzantium after their commander Byzas.

This historical peninsula, within city walls between the Marmara Sea and the Golden Horn, is like an open-air museum full of architectural monuments and art, bearing traces of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. The hills of the city are adorned with more than 500 mosques. Among these mosques, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque with its six minarets, built by Sultan Ahmet I in the 17^th century, is the symbol of İstanbul. The Süleymaniye Mosque, which is also one of the most beautiful and magnificent examples of architecture in İstanbul, was constructed by Mimar (Architect)
Sinan,   upon   the  order   of    Kanuni   Sultan    Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent) in the 16^th century. This mosque, in which architectural aesthetics reached its peak, is perched like a crown on the hills of the Golden Horn. The Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, dating back to the 16^th century, is the best illuminated mosque of İstanbul with a total of 161 stained glass windows.

Topkapı Palace, the residence of Sultans and political center of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, is located on a hill dominating the Bosphorus, the Marmara Sea and the Golden Horn. Today, the palace is a museum, and the world famous Chinese porcelains, thrones ornamented with gold and precious stones, the garments of the Sultans, jewelry, handwritten books and holy artifacts that are on display are interesting for people of different cultures and religions coming from all around the world. Another magnificent palace is the Dolmabahçe Palace which was built by Sultan Abdülmecit. It is surrounded by 56 columns and is famous for its ceremonial hall, illuminated by a 4.5 ton chandelier. Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, passed away in this palace on November 10, 1938.

The most magnificent architectural work of the Byzantine era in the city is the Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) Museum. The original Ayasofya was built by Emperor Constantine as a basilica in the 4^th century but was destroyed by a fire. Emperor Justinian rebuilt it in the 6^th century. The dome is 55 m. high and 31 m. wide. It is the oldest and the fourth largest dome in the world after the domes of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and the Duomo Cathedral in Milan. The Kariye Museum also displays beautiful examples of Byzantine art with its mosaics and frescoes. These frescoes, which date backto the 14^th century, influenced and guided the European Renaissance. The Yerebatan Cistern, with its 336 columns, constructed by the Byzantines in the 6^th century to meet the water needs of the city, is also worth seeing.

Besides these places of interest, there are many more museums and monuments in İstanbul. Among these are the İstanbul Archaeological Museum, the Atatürk Museum, the Sadberk Hanım Museum, the Mosaic Museum, the Museum of Industry, the Jewish Museum, the Tower of Leander (Kız Kulesi), the Galata Tower, the Roumelia and Anatolia Fortresses and the İstanbul City Walls.g

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge - İSTANBUL

The Kapalı Çarşı (Covered Bazaar), which dates back to the 15^th century and has 4,000 shops, is one of the places frequently visited by tourists. Jewelry, antiques, carpets, silver and copper souvenirs, leather and suede garments, woodcarvings and carvings with mother-of-pearl are available in this bazaar.

Furthermore, it is possible to find every type of spice at the Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Bazaar). The edifice which houses the bazaar was commissioned by Hatice Sultan in the 17^th century.

Selimiye Mosque - EDİRNE

İstanbul is also a modern center for shopping. Along with shopping malls, such as the Ataköy Galleria, Akmerkez, the Capitol, the Carousel and CarrefourSA, Profilo, Kule and Kule Çarşı; İstiklal, Rumeli and Bağdat Avenues are the most distinguished shopping areas of the city.

İstanbul is also among the prominent cultural centers in the world with its various music and cinema festivals, theaters, operas, ballets, concerts, international symposia, conferences and competitions. “The International Culture and Art Festival”, organized every year in June and July, hosts famous artists from all over the world.

The Bosphorus and the islands of İstanbul, which also host important international sports organizations, are ideal for sailing. The city, which also has an improved potential for yacht tourism, is an international yachting center. The Ataköy Marina at the European side, as well as, Kalamış and Fenerbahçe marinas at the Asian side provide cheap but high quality facilities for yachtsmen.

Kilyos and Şile are holiday resorts near İstanbul which are known for their beaches. Polonezköy (Polish Village) is a village where Polish immigrants came and settled in the 19^th century, it is surrounded by forests and a perfect choice for vacationers. The Belgrade Forest, which is a national park, is known as the “lungs” of İstanbul. The Atatürk Arboretum and the aqueducts built during the Ottoman period, which are located in this forest, are also worth seeing. There are expansive areas suitable for playing golf in Silivri and Kemer.

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