Holidayhomes in Turkey
Turkey has a European and an Asian part which is separated by the Bosphorus. Turkey has a rich cultural history with wonderful artistic treasures. However, it is also known as a holiday destination. The country is very suitable for "beach and sun" vacations, although plenty of other natural treasures can be found in this diverse country. On October 29, 1923 Turkey was declared a Republic with a president - Moustafa Kemal (Ataturk). He strove to develop Turkey into a modern state. The Sultan was replaced by a Western-style parliament. The city of Sultan (Istanbul) was replaced by Ankara is the capital of the country.
The west coast of Turkey borders the Aegean Sea and is characterized by a rugged coastline with many bays. Kusadasi is the largest tourist resort in this region. In the surroundings you will find beautiful excursion destinations such as [the ruins of] Ephesus which was an important ancient Greek-Roman city. Pamukkale ("cotton castle"), with its white limestone terraces, and the city of Hierapolis are other popular tourist sites. The Aegean Riviera on the southern coast of Turkey is a real sunny destination. Marmaris, Bodrum and Fethiya are the main resorts. In Bodrum you can even scuba dive. The Turkish Riviera is situated on the Mediterranean Sea and includes the major resorts of Alanya, Antalya, Kemer and Side. Antalya is a beautiful old port city. Here you will find Hadrian's Gate dating from 130AD. There are also several other significant ruins in the area.
Thrace is the European part of Turkey. This is where you will find Istanbul, the former capital and main tourist destination. Landmarks include the Haghia Sophia (first a church, then a mosque, now a museum), the blue mosque with its six minarets, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and of course, Turkish baths. Anatolia is the hinterland of Turkey and is characterized by an eroded moonscape. The capital, Ankara, is located here. This city has several interesting sites including the archaeological museum, the mausoleum of Ataturk and a citadel. Eastern Anatolia is dominated by the Taurus Mountains which contain Turkey's highest peak Mount Ararat (5137m).