About Turkey

Turkey is a rectangular shapped peninsular seated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe.  This Asian Gateway is a land so diverse and fought over it may well be the worlds most contested country to date.

Littered with ancient history in every corner, you will find castles & forts, temples & palaces and, follow traders footsteps along the Silk Road. Here is a land of Byzantine Masterpieces, Babylonian Kings, The birthplace of prophets, the battlefields of Alexander the Great, Homers Iliad & the battle for Troy and of course the Ottoman Empire that spanned six centruries and helped shape the world as we know it today.

In fact, it is here in Turkey that archeologists have unearthed the oldest site in the world known to man. It is widely believed to be the site described in the bible as 'The Garden of Eden' and, whether you are religious or not, there is no doubt that "Gobeklitepe" in the province of Sanli Urfa is the cradle of civilisation at some twelve thousand years old!

After weaving such complex layers of history, what remains is a rich and awe inspiring legacy of architecture, antiquity and sites of worship where todays visitors can ponder ancient times and wander open eyed at such fascinating remains.

Not only is Turkey one of the most important countries historically, but it is achingly beautiful with long stretches of golden sand, crystal clear waters, purple mountain ranges and countryside covered in olive groves and pine forests where fresh herbs and wild asparagus grow in abundance. Its volcanic heritage has left behind thermal springs with healing properties that are visited each year as tourists seek comfort from their ailments. The most famous of them all can be found at Pammukale, so renowned that even Cleopatra came to bathe in it's calcified pools.

The Turks are a passionate race and this is apparent when it comes to food. This is a country where food is closely interwoven with the very fabric of society itself.

With its fertile lands, Turkey is autonomous in its farming and its produce is predominately organic and plentiful meaning that fresh local produce is at the heart of its cooking culture. Eating is considered a social event with a 'more the merrier' attitude and Turks take great delight in sharing a meal. From the basic of mezzes to the rich soups, spicey pilav's and mouthwatering bulgars, the Turks eat with gusto and they will expect you to join them.

It is a food lovers paradise that draws its cullinary influences from all corners of the Ottoman Empire, resulting in a cuisine varied and full of flavour that will leave your mouth watering in anticipation for the next visit.

Todays Turkey is based on the vision of one "Mustaf Kemal" or "Ataturk" as he is more commonly known. A military hero at the Dardanelles in 1915, who went on to become the founder of the Turkish Republic in 1928 having led his nation to full independence and putting an end to the Ottomon Empire. Ataturk set in motion a cultural revolution forming not only a modern dress, changing the alphabet from Arabic to Latin, and giving women the vote but, he also formed a secular democracy empowering  the people with an audacious step toward to the west.

"I look to the world with an open heart full of pure feelings and friendship" Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 1933

Those are sentiments you will find echoed by the modern day Turk as you wander through this incredibly beautiful and hospitable country.