Heritage

The inheritance of Anatolia: monuments, traditions, crafts and customs handed down through the centuries.

Divrigi: Turkish Province of Sivas

One of the earliest Turkish principalities in Anatolia, the Mengucek rulers bore the titles of sah and melik (shah and king respectively).…
Blue Dreams in Green Galore: Gocek

As your plane circles down towards Dalaman, you realize that the view from your porthole has changed from sky blue to pine…
An Ancient Center of Prophecy: Didyma’s Temple of Apollo

The town of Didim is one of the prettiest in Turkey’s southwestern province of Aydin. As you enter the seaside town an…
A 700-Year-Old Village: Cumalikizik

In the northern foothills of Mount Uludag, 15 km from Bursa, is the picturesque village of Cumalikizik. Set amongst chestnut and fig…
The Oldest Map of the World: Catalhoyuk Cave Painting

Date: 6200 BCLocation: Konya, Turkey The human activity of graphically translating one’s perception of his world is now generally recognized as a…
Discovering the Wonders of Birgi

Once you have made the acquaintance of provincial Turkey, you will be hooked. You will fall asleep dreaming of Asia Minor’s hidden…
Enjoy the Moroccan Summer

Summer is warm in Marrakech, but there are ways to get around the heat – and with most properties in low season,…
Beykoz

Whether you travel to Beykoz by boat down the Bosphorus or by road, the distinctive atmosphere of this outlying district of Istanbul…
Beysehir Lake National Park

An expanse of pale blue is the first impression as Lake Beysehir comes into sight. Then when you wander along the shore,…
Turkish Birds in Danger

Small Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Pygmeus) They prefer areas having watery surroundings. They live in a mild climate and sweet, salty and bitter waters.…
Turkey’s National Shadow Theater: Hacivat & Karagoz

(Turkish: Black Eyes, or Gypsy), type of Turkish shadow play, named for its stock hero, Karagoz. The comical plays are improvised from…
The History of Istanbul

History Timeline of Istanbul Pre-Historic Era 7000 BC Neolithic fishing settlements in Kadikoy, Pendik & Yarimburgaz. Byzantium 660 BC – 196 AD…
Butterfly Valley in Fethiye

Butterfly Valley opens onto a cove near Fethiye on Turkey’s southwest coast. This deep steep-sided valley has a floor of approximately ten…
Safranbolu in the Depth of Life

Whenever I decide to write an article about Safranbolu, which occupies such an important place in my life, something always seems to…
Philately in Turkey

Postage stamps are one of the most important ways of broadcasting a country’s image. Carried by letters from their country of the…
Why You Should Not Miss the Moroccan Storytellers

If you know that luxury comes as a result of a combination of simplicity and uniqueness, we can offer you a private…
A Turkish Drink for Winter Nights: Boza

A sound echoing in the streets reminds us of cold winter nights in our childhood. With their familiar call of ‘Boza!’ street…
Turkish Flag & the National Anthem

As the Turkish Republic was founded on the heritage of the Ottoman Empire, many things from that time such as the Turkish…
Turkish Baklava

Of all Turkey’s delicious sweet confections, the most famous one is baklava. This exquisitely flavored pastry has been made in Anatolia for…
The Bitter Coffee of Southeastern Turkey: Mirra

If any aroma were especially associated with the East it would be that of coffee. In coffee a journey westwards over the…
Turkish Language

Before going deep down in its history and alphabet; the standard blow-your-mind for the Turkish Language example is: Afyonkarahisarlilastiramadiklarimizdanmisiniz? (45 characters) which…
Mountaineering in Turkey

A glance at a topographical map of Turkey reveals that this is a country of mountains. Rising from all four directions, mountains…
The Noah’s Pudding: Asure

Asure has venerable associations, being ascribed to the times of Noah’s Flood. It is said to have been invented after the Ark…
Malatya Gold: The Apricots

When the 17th-century Turkish writer Evliya Celebi, who traveled throughout the Ottoman Empire recording everything he saw, visited Malatya he remarked upon…