TURKEY

Officially REPUBLIC OF TURKEY, Turkish TÜRKIYE CUMHURIYETI, country that occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia and partly in Europe Through its history it has acted as both a barrier and a bridge between the two continents
Turkey is among the larger countries of the Middle East, in terms of territory and population, and its land area of 300,948 square miles (779,452 square kilometres) is greater than that of any European state Nearly all of the country is in Asia, comprising the oblong peninsula of Asia Minor, known also as Anatolia (Anadolu) The remainder--Turkish Thrace (Trakya)--lies in the extreme southeastern part of Europe, a tiny remnant of an empire that once extended over much of the Balkans

Turkey, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is synonymous of both Asia Minor and Anatolia which are the melting pot of western civilization Here were born or extended numerous great civilizations which have left their marks through ancient sites full of archaeological wonders, through prestigious cities, or through great names and events of history of which I will only quote a few examples:Troy, the mythological city of Homer the legendary poet that seven ancient Greek cities, including Smyrna (Izmir), claimed to have been his birthplace; Herodotus, the Father of History, lived in Halicarnassus famous for the Mausoleum which was destroyed by the Frankish knights and which was, with the Temple of Artemision, one of the Seven Wonders of the World; Phocea which gave its name to the city of Marseille in France; the Phrygians who are the origin of Marianne's red cap which is the symbol of liberty and the French Republic;Sardis, where wealthy King Croesus' gold-bearing Pactolos stream flows; Pergamum, where parchment was invented; Zile, where Julius Caesar said these famous succint words " Veni, Vidi, Vici"; cherries, named after Cerasus (Giresun) a city on the Black Sea Coast, were intoduced to Europe by the Roman general and gourmet Lucullus; Antioch, where the Jewish disciples of Jesus were called "christians" here for the first time; Tarsus, the birthplace of St Paul who wrote the famous Epistles to the Galatians and to the Ephesians; St Nicholas, bishop of Myra, who is the origin of Santa Claus; for a same city, three names that make one dream: Byzantium, which became Constantinople the capital of the first Christian Empire under Emperor Constantine the Great and where Emperor Justinian erected imposing Haghia Sophia, and İstanbul, the city of the mosques, palaces and fabulous treasures, sultans and mysterious harems.

Atatürk who made Turkey a modern and the first secular Moslem country, where women were granted the right to vote in 1930 and to run as a candidate in 1934, a long time before some European countries.
Turkey has an imposing nature and sites such as the unique landscapes of Cappadocia or Pamukkale. Turkey means the sun, the sea and its beautiful beaches, leisure and sports that are other sources of joy and pleasure. Turkey is also the warm hospitality of the people, a delicious cuisine and so many other things that will make you live privilegiate moments.

I invite you to come and turn the pages of the great history and civilizations, archaeology, nature and discovery book formed by Turkey.
Turkey awaits you and wide opens its doors behind which you will discover the many facets of a country which is still ill-known and which should be judged at its real value Each one of you will find the perfect way or the ideal place for a cultural holiday or simply for relaxation and change of scenery
Do not hesitate any longer Do come, you are most welcome!