Turkey is a magnificent land — the cradle of civilization — comprising immense natural beauty, diverse geography, unique historical and archeological sites, enchanting cultural treasures and friendly people who are proud of their country’s tradition of hospitality and generosity.
The country — a dynamic nation that links Europe and Asia, East and West, ancient and modern — has much to offer visitors, the reason why 28 million international guests visit Turkey
each year. For most, that visit starts in Istanbul, one
of the most distinguished cities of the world, a bustling home to 12 million people.Dating back to the earliest ages and once known as Constantinople, Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents; the Bosphorous (Istanbul Strait) links the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, separating Europe from Asia, the West from the East.
Although Ankara is now the country’s capital city, Istanbul — an imperial capital for 1,500 years — is the Turkish center of art and culture and the heart of the national economy. It features ancient Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman palaces, mosques, churches, monasteries, monuments, walls and ruins at almost every turn. The city is a modern metropolis offering a blend of eastern and western cultures and history.
Turkey covers a land area about the size of Texas with a population of 78 million. Governmentally, modern Turkey is pro-democracy and working to progress toward a true democracy. Many regard Turkey as an important democratic model in an increasingly unstable region of the world. The country is 99 percent Muslim, mostly members of the Sunni sect, but prides itself in its strong secularist principles.
To visitors, the entire country, a repository of civilizations, may resemble an open-air museum. The amount of historical and archeological wealth within its borders is truly immense. The land is dotted with historic sites, shrines, monuments and tombs connected to a variety of faiths, customs and political beliefs. Turkey is home to 10 World Heritage Sites.
Those privileged to have visited Turkey know it is a fascinating place filled with exceptional wonders.
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