Eskişehir City Guide: Eskişehir City Guide
As one of the important centers of Anatolia, Eskişehir has also a good position. It has a cold and snowy climate and does not get much rainfall during the summer.
Edirne City Guide: Edirne City Guide
As one of the important places of historical times, Edirne offers many beautiful things for visitors. Having been the capital of the Ottoman Empire for years, it borders on Greece and Bulgaria. Established on a large plain area, Edirne ranked at one time as one of the seven largest cities of Europe.
Burdur City Guide: Burdur City Guide
As a Mediterranean city, Burdur is located within the area named Lakes Region. It has natural borders such as the Boncuk Mountains on the extensions of Toros, Katrancık Mountain, Elmalı Mountain, Kuyucak, and Dedegöl Mountains to the east, Burdur Lake and Karakuş Mountain in the north, and Acıgöl and Eşeler Mountains in the west. Surrounded by Antalya, Muğla, Denizli, Isparta, …
The Famous Water Springs of Istanbul
The Importance of Water in Istanbul’s Urban History Water is one of the primary indicators of whether a place has evolved into a proper city. Throughout history, settlements have typically formed near water sources. Though Istanbul lacks significant rivers, its unique geography necessitated innovative solutions to water supply. For centuries, water was brought to the city via aqueducts from as …
Istanbul’s Grand, Unfinished Register: Encyclopedia of Istanbul
Few works in Turkish cultural history blur the boundary between scholarship and personal obsession as vividly as Reşad Ekrem Koçu’s İstanbul Ansiklopedisi (Encyclopedia of Istanbul). Begun in 1944 and left unfinished three decades later, the encyclopedia was envisioned as a definitive record of the city but grew into something far more eccentric: a mosaic of forgotten trades, neighborhood stories, eccentric …
The Mystery of the Maiden’s Tower with All Its Legends
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 …
Deyrulzafaran Monastery: A Living Sanctuary in Mardin
Overlooking the vast Mesopotamian plain from just 4 kilometers east of Mardin, Deyrulzafaran Monastery stands as one of the oldest and most revered Syriac Christian sites in the world. Also known as the Saffron Monastery (from the Turkish “Safran”), this extraordinary spiritual complex is not only a religious pilgrimage site but also a powerful symbol of cultural resilience. Originally constructed …
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 …
Origins of Turkish Foods: Etymology Atlas
The origin of famous Turkish foods is an indispensable topic at international “food nights” where there is at least one Turk present… For example, if there is döner on the table, a Turk, a Greek, and an Arab will each claim that this dish originally belongs to their own culture (not even citing Germans who recently joined the race!). The …
20 Lesser-Known Ancient Cities You Must See in Türkiye
Türkiye is home to countless archaeological sites from different historical periods. While some sites like Ephesus, Göbeklitepe, and Hierapolis are widely known, other ancient cities in Türkiye remain relatively obscure despite their incredible beauty and historical significance. Below, we present a list of these lesser-known archaeological treasures, hoping that one day, you too will explore these hidden paradises. 1. Termessos …