Thrace and
Marmara
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The Roman province of Trakya (Thrace) is separated
from the rest of Turkey by the Bosphorus, the Sea of
Marmara and the Dardenelle Straits. Edirne, lying
close to the borders of Greece and Bulgaria, is best
known for the masterpieces of local architect Mimar
Sinan, with wonderful examples from the Ottoman
Empire. |
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The area is also famous for the lush rolling fields,
filled with vineyards and sunflowers grown for their
seeds and oil. The cities in this region are
Balikesir, Bilecik, Bursa, Canakkale, Edirne,
Istanbul, Kirklareli, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Tekirdag and
Yalova. The Marmara region has a turbulent past. In
481 BC the second Persian War, the Persian King
Xerxes made a bridge of boats over the Dardanelle
Straits between Abydos and Sestos. |
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In the same location is the infamous love affair of
Leander and Hera, who were buried in the waters of
the strait. And it was here that Mustafa Kemal won
the first big victory against enemy forces in World
War I, and the war graves and battlegrounds of
Gelibolu are visited by thousands of tourists every
year. |
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The lively city of Izmit with its fruit orchards and
vegetable gardens is now an industrial centre, and
nearby Hereke is famous for its carpets. To the
south is Iznik, renowned during Ottoman times for
its glazed tiles which adorned the mosques and
tombs, and its great Byzantine city walls.
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Bursa, the land of silk, was the first capital city
of the Ottoman Empire and birthplace of modern
Turkish culture. The mosques, like Yesil Came and
Ulu Cami, are some of the most important and
beautiful in the country. The country's first ski
resort was built on the mountain of Uludag, lying to
the south of the city.
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Tekirdag, with beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture
and broad beaches, is known for its vineyards and wine
festivals.
To the north is Gonen with its famous thermal springs, and
the commercial port of Bandirma which is the biggest in the
Marmara sea after Istanbul. Near the city and by Lake Manyas
is Kuscenneti (Bird Heaven) National Park with 239 species
of birds, many of which migrate from Europe and Asia during
the summer, and fly south before the winter.
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Istanbul “There, God and human, nature and art are
together, they have created such a perfect place
that it is valuable to see." Lamartine’s famous
poetic line reveals his love for Istanbul,
describing the embracing of two continents, with one
arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe.
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Istanbul, once known as the capital of capital cities, has
many unique features. It is the only city in the world to
straddle two continents, and the only one to have been a
capital during two consecutive empires - Christian and
Islamic. Once capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul still
remains the commercial, historical and cultural pulse of
Turkey, and its beauty lies in its ability to embrace its
contradictions. Ancient and modern, religious and secular,
Asia and Europe, mystical and earthly all co-exist here.
Its variety is one of Istanbul’s greatest attractions: The
ancient mosques, palaces, museums and bazaars reflect its
diverse history. The thriving shopping area of Taksim buzzes
with life and entertainment. And the serene beauty of the
Bosphorus, Princes Islands and parks bring a touch of peace
to the otherwise chaotic metropolis. |
