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 …
Izmir, the pearl of the Aegean, is not only famous for its turquoise coastline and rich history but also for its vibrant calendar of festivals that celebrate art, music, food, and local traditions. From spring to winter, the city and its surrounding districts host a variety of events, some grand and international, others intimate and deeply rooted in local culture. …
One of the prominent figures in archaeological collaboration between Turkey and Japan, Japanese archaeologist Sachihiro Omura, passed away last month in Kırşehir. Living in Turkey since 1972 and serving as the excavation director at Kalehöyük since 1985, Omura passed away at Kaman State Hospital, where he had been admitted due to illness. According to some sources, Omura was born in …
Bozcaada is an island district of Çanakkale Province, located in the Aegean Sea. It is the third largest island in Turkey after Gökçeada and Marmara Island. Bozcaada is easily accessible from major cities like Istanbul, Izmir, and Bursa, making it a popular weekend getaway destination. A Brief History of Bozcaada With roots stretching back to the Trojan Wars, Bozcaada has …
History of Beer in the Ottoman Empire The history of beer in the Ottoman Empire can be traced back to the 19th century. Sultan Abdulhamid II ruled the empire from 1876 to 1909, a period marked by both modernization and increased centralization of power in the hands of the sultan. During his reign, Western cultural influences permeated various aspects of …
The Scandinavians (or Vikings) are not at all distant for Turks, especially for the people in Constantinople with tattooed, large bodies and fighter identities. Scandinavia, home of the Vikings, is the common name of countries in the cold north, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Scandinavia nurtures the film industry today with its stories and legends, …
Hagia Sophia has experienced many construction processes from past to present. The first construction was started by Emperor Constantius in the Byzantine period. After this was finished, Hagia Sophia was opened for worshiping. The building was built on the Temple of Artemis with the name Hagia Sophia; it was designed with a wooden roof and had traditional Latin architecture. When …
The history of bird houses goes way back. The construction of bird palaces and houses, which has been developing since the 15th century in accordance with classical Ottoman architecture, reached different aesthetic dimensions through the 19th century. In fact, the purpose of making bird palaces is to provide shelter to freely flying birds, to protect them from burning sun and …
The beautiful adornments of our red flag, the crescent and the star, are explained in many different ways. As famous poet Mehmet Akif addresses the Turkish red flag with the crescent and the star during the Turkish National Anthem, which is sung by the children with a lot of enthusiasm at ceremonies, many works today emphasize that the crescent and …
Combining truth and legend, with black eye patches and black skull flags, pirates are the fearful nightmares of sailors. Nowadays, pirates depicted in movies are barbarian haramis who seize the ships for the booty, especially in the open seas, and kill people mercilessly. However, the term Pirate in the Ottoman evokes many different meanings. Would it surprise you if we …