In 1958, the famous photojournalist Ara Güler, while lost on the roads of Geyre village in Aydın, stumbled upon a mesmerizing ancient city from the Roman era. This is the intriguing discovery story that introduced Aphrodisias Ancient City to the world, along with a practical visitor guide. Ara Güler and the Accidental Discovery Ara Güler had gone to the region …
If you ever feel overwhelmed by Istanbul’s endless traffic and crowds, just know that peace is only a ferry ride away. Welcome to the Princes’ Islands;a charming archipelago in the Sea of Marmara where cars are banned, time slows down, and every street feels like a postcard. Whether you’re a local looking for a weekend getaway or a traveler hoping …
Located on Serdar-ı Ekrem Street near Şişhane, the Crimean Memorial English Church stands on land that was once a Greek Orthodox cemetery. Sultan Abdülmecit granted the land to the British to commemorate the Crimean War. The foundation was laid on October 19, 1858, and the church was inaugurated on October 22, 1868, with the British ambassador Lord Stratford de Redcliffe …
While a visit to the hammam; where one bathes with the help of a tellak (male attendant) or natır (female attendant); is no longer a regular part of daily life for most modern Turks, these steamy bathhouses remain deeply symbolic in Turkish culture. With their kurna (marble basins), heated göbek taşı (central massage stone), wooden clogs, copper bowls, peştemals (bath …
Nail Çakırhan was born in 1910 in the Ula district of Muğla, Turkey. His father traced their lineage back twelve generations through gravestones and discovered that their roots extended to Arabia. Çakırhan believed that his ancestors may have descended from Janissaries who passed through Ula during Suleiman the Magnificent’s 1522 Rhodes campaign and decided to settle in the area. When …
When we think of global pop sensations, we rarely expect a Turkish singer to dominate the Latin American charts. Yet in the late 1990s, Tarkan, Turkey’s pop icon, did just that, bridging continents, languages, and cultures with a single hit. From Istanbul to International Fame Born Tarkan Tevetoğlu in 1972 in Germany, Tarkan moved to Turkey in his teens and …
Endemic plants are species that grow naturally in a specific region and nowhere else in the world. Thanks to its geographical diversity and climate variety, Turkey is one of the countries with the highest number of endemic plants in the world. The country hosts approximately 12,000 plant species, around 3,000 of which are endemic. In this article, you will discover …
Istanbul, as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, had grown into a densely populated city. Wars, migrations, and the concentration of soldiers and bureaucrats significantly increased the demand for bread, making the establishment of bread factories a necessity. Bread is one of the oldest, most fundamental, and essential food items known to humanity. During the Ottoman period, the need for …
With its thousands of legends, Istanbul is one of the most talked-about cities among world travelers. And the Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi) is among the first places that come to mind when Istanbul is mentioned. This elegant tower, located 200 meters off the Asian shores of the city, directly opposite Üsküdar, remains a mystery in many ways; why and when …
Despite the fast pace of modern life and the rise of apartment living, Diyarbakır has preserved a unique and deeply rooted pigeon-keeping culture. Thousands in the city continue to care for pigeons they lovingly call their “silent confidants.” Diyarbakır Pigeon Hotels: A Shelter in the City As apartment life restricts keeping birds at home, pigeon enthusiasts rent space in “pigeon …