Search Results for: Black Sea Region

Black Sea Chronicles: Exploring Eastern Black Sea Traditions, People & Dialects

Written history documentaries bring light to extant ethnic origins of the Eastern Black Sea origins. In the archaic age, the cultural structure of the Eastern Black Sea was expressed by the term “kolhi” After about 1,000 years had passed, in the Byzantine period, the “Lazi” terminology took over. In history, these names were represented not only as tribes but also …

Traditional Turkish Folk Dances

One of the most colorful and dynamic reflections of Turkish culture is undoubtedly traditional folk dances. These dances are not merely aesthetic performances; they are cultural heritage elements that reflect the lifestyle, history, nature, and social structure of each region. This rich dance tradition, collected from all corners of Anatolia, is passed down from generation to generation, contributing to the …

Fog-Dispelling Ritual Kuçkucura: The Tradition of the Highlands

While people across the country are turning to rain prayers in response to drought, in the highlands of Turkey’s Eastern Black Sea region, locals perform an old ritual called “Kuçkucura” to chase away fog and call for sunshine. One of the still-practiced traditions of the Eastern Black Sea is the fog-dispelling prayer; Kuçkucura. In his 1945 book Collections from the …

Turkish Cheese: From the Heart of Anatolia to the World

Turkey’s rich culinary heritage is filled with distinctive flavors, and cheese holds a special place among them. Whether it’s served on breakfast tables or used as a core ingredient in traditional dishes, cheese is woven into the fabric of Turkish food culture. Thanks to the country’s deep-rooted livestock traditions and regional diversity, a wide array of cheeses; each with unique …

Turkish Bread: A Heritage of Turkey

If you ever visited Turkey, you know that bread is a key component of in Turkish cuisine. Bread has always held a central place in Anatolian and Ottoman societies; cutting across all social layers, from the humble peasant to the imperial sultan. Beyond sustenance, it symbolizes loyalty, gratitude, sacred bond, and self‑reliance. The Turkish language reflects this depth with idioms …

Ilgaz Mountain National Park

Ilgaz Mountain and its surrounding region, designated a national park in 1976, is the highest point in the Western Black Sea Region. This natural wonder is renowned for its year-round recreational appeal. Situated between Kastamonu and Çankırı, and accessed through a mountain pass at 1,875 meters altitude, Ilgaz forms a 50 km circular massif. The national park not only boasts …

Amasra Travel Guide

Located in the Western Black Sea region and a charming and beautiful district of Bartın province, Amasra has been attracting a significant number of domestic and foreign tourists recently. According to archaeological excavations, Amasra’s history dates back 3,000 years. Around the 13th century, the city was dominated by the Genoese and later taken over by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1460 …

Exploring Turkey’s Islamic Treasures: Historic Mosques & Timeless Artifacts

One of the most fertile geographies for Islamic tourism is Anatolia, especially during the month of Ramadan, where you can make different plans for Islamic sightseeing tours. We have identified different routes related to Islamic artifacts, mosques, and shrines that you can see in Anatolia, both during and not during Ramadan.