Turkey Turkey at the Crossroads of Cultures - Pre-Reservation
Turkey is ancient and modern, Westernized and Oriental, religious and secular, wondrous and ordinary, familiar and exotic. It is a unique country: a rich, layered, and magical world full of history, culture, gastronomy, humanity, and commerce, increasingly Europeanized yet, notwithstanding the über-cosmopolitan Istanbul, still unspoiled and innocent. This is a geographic and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, boasting more Greek ruins than Greece, more Roman archaeological sites than all of Italy, and, in Antalya alone, more beach resorts than all the coast of Spain. Turkey is also a major custodian of sacred sites revered by Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, and of invaluable artifacts of early Greek civilization, Byzantine majesty, and Ottoman supremacy. Visiting Turkey is like stepping into a treasure trove where East meets West in a captivating fusion of history, culture, and natural beauty. From the bustling streets of Istanbul, where ancient mosques stand alongside modern cafes, to the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, with its fairy chimneys and underground cities, the white travertine terraces filled with thermal waters and the ancient remains of the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis in Pamukkale and the Turquoise Coast, with its sun-kissed beaches and the ancient ruins of biblical cities of Ephesus or Aphrodisias whispering tales of civilizations past, Turkey offers a diverse tapestry of experiences with every moment imbued with a sense of wonder and adventure. |