turkey travel guide

Amasra "The eye of the world"

2009-02-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

Amasra ‘The eye of the world’

Reputedly, when Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmet the Conqueror) conquered Amasra, which is located on the shores of Black Sea, taking it from the hands of the Genoese, he arrived at the spot that is now called Bakacak Hill and asked his lala (educator), “Lala, could this be the Çeşm-i Cihan (eye of the world)?”
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We don’t know what his lala’s response was, but we do know that Fatih Sultan praised this lovely coastal city on the Black Sea, Amasra. It is a place where the sea embraces the green. Excitement fills your heart when you arrive at Bartın, the closest town to Amasra, and you can’t wait to get to your final destination.
“It is 17 kilometers from Bartın to Amasra,” says the driver. But the road curving among the verdant, picturesque hills seems endless. As you approach the coast, the Kuş Kayası (bird rock) monument comes into view. The monument, four kilometers from Amasra, was built as a resting place along the road during the Roman Empire. The memorial fountain, next to the monument, has been weathered by time and the elements.
Once you climb the hill and turn the last corner, time seems to freeze for a few seconds and you lose yourself in the endless view of the sea. You are jolted back to reality upon entering the city center. Concrete buildings surround you on all sides. But wandering down any of Amasra’s side streets, you can easily escape back to the deep blue sea. If you visit downtown Amasra early in the morning, the cafes at the Küçük Liman, which is one of the two sea inlets to the west, will brew a strong cup of tea for you. Despite the less than dazzling appearance of the cafes, the breakfast of fresh bread, honey, butter, cucumber, tomato, cheese, eggs and tea makes you quickly forget the surroundings.
Amasra is surrounded by low and rather flat-topped hills in the east and west; these hills are increasingly rocky as you approach the shore. Boztepe, Küçüktepe and Çıraköy are the major hills of the city.
As for weather, Amasra receives rain in all seasons, as is typical for the Black Sea region. The winters are fairly temperate and the summers are comfortably cool. It is normally quite rainy in spring and windy days are common in autumn. So whatever time of year you visit, it is a good idea to bring a coat to keep you warm and dry.
Amasra is also known as the pioneer in Turkey of camping and guesthouses, which first sprung up in the 1940s. The Büyük Liman harbor on the eastern side of Amasra has a public beach where you can enjoy the refreshing waters of the Black Sea during the summer.
Don’t take just a day trip
The artisans of Amasra have been complaining about the crowd and the day trippers visiting the city. Traffic is very congested and it is difficult to find accommodation during July and August.
Coal deposits are the primary source of income for Amasra. Thousands of people earn their living from the mines. Amasra Castle, built during the Roman Empire, was refurbished by the Genoese and the Ottomans and is one of the town’s must-sees. The iç kale (inner castle) area is called the Genoese castle. The Genoese turned the inner castle into a palace and built a main door with a Genoese coat of arms on it that provides passage into the main palace. The door is reached via a winding set of steps.
The Amasra Museum and the Little Church Chapel at the city center and the Bedesten are other places you should visit. The Bedesten, one-and-a-half kilometers from the beach at the south of Amasra, is believed to be a Roman provincial palace. Purportedly, the palace began to be called Bedesten (a market where art objects, jewelry, etc. are sold) after people started to use it as trading center at the beginning of the second century.
Let’s not forget the Fatih Mosque. The mosque, located in Amasra castle, was built as a Byzantine church in the ninth century. It was turned into mosque when Fatih Sultan conquered Amasra in 1460. One of the striking features of the mosque is that the speaker still performs the usual Friday khutba (sermon) with a sword at his waist. The original sword was stolen but officers found a replica and continued the tradition. There is also the Çekiciler bazaar where you can find a variety of souvenirs and handmade products such as woodwork, hand-woven textiles and embroidered canvas.
If you decide to spend the night in Çeşm-i Cihan, after touring the city, you should head to the Küçük Liman to watch the sunset. The sun, disappearing over the waters of the Black Sea, is a sight that will draw you back to this place time and again.
[QUICK TIPS]
What to eat
The Canlı Balık Restaurant in Küçük Liman is the oldest eatery in Amasra. The restaurant’s popularity has already reached beyond the borders of the district. Don’t miss the restaurant’s famous salad. If you would like dessert after your meal, we recommend the yogurt and honey. Tel.: (378) 315 2606
How to get there
In order to get to Amasra, one must go to Bartın. The bus trip takes four-and-a-half hours from Ankara and seven hours from İstanbul. There are regular bus routes between Bartın and Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Trabzon, Bursa and Antalya. The distance between Bartın and Amasra is 17 kilometers and there is a minibus between the two every 30 minutes; the journey takes approximately 20 minutes.
Where to stay
It is easy to find accommodation in the district outside of July and August. In addition to its 1,500 bed hotel capacity, there are also more than 100 guesthouses.
The Amasra Hotel, Amastris Hotel, AOTML Hotel, Hotel Bedesten, Belvü Palace and Büyük Liman Hotel are good choices.

The Tail End Beyond Amasra

2009-02-06T13:21:00.001-08:00

Beyond Amasra, the Black Sea gets prosaic. The area of Zonguldak is Turkey's principal coalmining region. The city itself is a surprisingly neat and attractive one, but the only noteworthy feature of the environs is the mines which extend for hundreds of miles into the bowels of the earth. Underneath, thousands of coal-blackened miners work in a night marish setting directly borrowed from 19th century Newcastle. Tours down the mine shafts into the underground tunnels may be arranged through the State Coal Company (TKI) offices in Zonguldak.For those with an even greater interest in the realm of darkness, the region also offers some of the most spectacular natural caves in Turkey. The Cumayanı Cave, near Çatalağzı town, is considered a speleologist's delight. Its ten-kilometer length can be explored by inflatable raft. More accessible for the layman is the Gökgöl Cave, near Üzülmez Village, which has remarkable elephant-tusxstalactites.Eregli is the Heracleia Pontica of antiquity, where the philosopher Heracleides first postulated that the earth revolved around its axis in 24 hours. The name of the town refers to an episode in the Argonaut legend where Heracles cries in anguish over his friend Hylas who has been abducted by lovesick nymphs. So Virgil in the Sixth Georgic:"His adjungit Hylan nautae quo fonte relictumClamassent. ut litus HYLA, HYLA, omne sonare t."Ereğli now boasts the largest steelworks of the whole near east.Further west, at Akçakoca start the endless sandy beaches that attract weekenders and property speculators from Istanbul. There are a few scattered points of interest, but the poetry of the Black Sea is no longer there. The traveler's imagination recoils, and hastens back to the landscape of Trabzon for another excursion into the remote marvels of the Pontic coast

Amasra

2009-02-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

Amasra is a historical seaport built on a peninsula. For centuries there have been two bays and two islands that have welcomed mariners from across the seas. And five hills, each more beautiful than the last. Looking down from Boztepe (or Sandy Hill) is one of the most spectacular scenes ever to be seen. The night-lights and the evening shadows are a subtle invitation to follow the road from the center of town over the historical bridge. One of the most beautiful towns on the Black Sea coast, was called Sesamos in ancient times, when it was founded by the Miletians in the sixth century B.C. it stands on a peninsula split by two inlets. The eastern side enjoys a reputation for good swimming. On the rocky promontory rise the ramparts of the Byzantine citadel, inside of which is an old church, now the Fatih Mosque. The necropolis dates from the Roman period. Remnants from Amasra’s entire history are displayed in the Archaeology Museum. You can purchase a hand carved wood souvenir on Cekiciler street. Continuing eastward along the coast, you arrive at Cakraz, a typical fishing village with excellent beaches, friendly accommodations and restaurants. The winding road between Cakraz and Inebolu has steep mountainsides and offers a spectacular panoramic view. Amasra is mostly a fishing town. The townspeople for centuries have always loved the sea and fish and the town has been a favored port in the stormy Black Sea. The fishermen have remained at port awaiting the end of the storm and during the severe winter months the houses of Amasra have harbored fishermen for whole six-month seasons as they awaited the coming of spring. The sea and fish continued to play an important role in the development of contemporary tourism in the area. The boarding houses in the town are run by the townspeople. The people of Amasra opened their houses to tourists long before the first hotel or boarding house was built to accommodate visitors. It has been felt as an obligation to establish a museum in Amasra, as this city is a centre of archaic settlement and rich in terms of historical monuments. Many activities were carried out for long years under the leadership of the poet - author Tahir Karaoğuz to establish a museum in Amasra. The building was opened to visitors on January 30th, 1982 upon the completion of restoration work. The museum is on a single floor and has four exhibition halls, two of which are archaeological and two of which are ethnographic halls. Most of the monuments in the exhibition halls were collected from Amasra and its environs.(Ezop Travel) The salads from Amasra are famous, having up to thirty three ingredients depending on the time of year. The other famous dish is of course fish and squid. Typically fried, the portions are extremely generous, and with the excellent salad makes for a top flight rural eating experience. I would recommend restaurants that are busy with Turkish visitors over ones that look swanky. The museum is well worth a visit for 2ytl (a buck!), with exhibits labeled in a simple fashion for non-archeologists. Amasra has a superb welcoming feel that is very different from tourist areas (where people constantly bug you to buy stuff). Off the beaten track, and on the colder Black Sea, those looking for "booze and birds" don't show up here. The result is a relaxed town with extremely friendly people, a few good pubs and some decent restaurants.(PJL)

AMASRA

2009-02-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

AMASRA
One of the most beautiful towns on the Black Sea coast, was called Sesamos in ancient times, when it was founded by the Miletians in the sixth century B.C. it stands on a peninsula split by two inlets. The eastern side enjoys a reputation for good swimming. On the rocky promontry rise the ramparts of the Byzantine citadel, inside of which is an old church, now the Fatih Mosque. The necropolis dates from the Roman period. Remnants from Amasra’s entire history are displayed in the Archaeology Museum. You can purchase a handcarved wood souvenir on Cekiciler street. Continuing eastward along the coast, you arrive at Cakraz, a typical fishing village with excellent beaches, friendly accommodations and restaurants. The winding road between Cakraz and Inebolu has steep mountainsides and offers a spectular panoramic view.

Amasra is a pretty little town off by itself, set on a fortified promontory jutting northward into the Black Sea.
Because the coastal roads to east and west are not all that good, Amasra gets only a moderate number of summer visitors, keeping it pleasant and relatively undeveloped though the road from Ankara is quite nice thus most of its visitors are from Ankara.
You can come to Amasra for a night or two for seaside relaxation, explore the fortress, taste the delicious fish and salad and take a dip in the chilly Black Sea.
Bus and car are the only ways to get here. Intercity buses serve Bartin, the provincial capital 16 km (10 miles) to the south, from which you take a minibus to Amasra. The nearest airport is in Ankara, the nearest train station in Zonguldak.
By the way, don't confuse the Black Sea town of Amasra with the Central Anatolian mountain town of Amasya, 130 km (81 miles) south of Samsun.
In order to go to Amasra you should take the E-5 Istanbul Road and when you arrive to Gerede (half way to İstanbul) you should turn right and follow the signs to Bartın. In Bartın you will see the signs showing the way to Amasra.

AMASRA

2009-02-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

AMASRA

Amasra is a historical seaport built on a peninsula. For centuries there have been two bays and two islands that have welcomed mariners from across the seas. And five hills, each more beautiful than the last. Looking down from Boztepe (or Sandy Hill) is one of the most spectacular scenes ever to be seen. The night-lights and the evening shadows are a subtle invitation to follow the road from the center of town over the historical bridge. One of the most beautiful towns on the Black Sea coast, was called Sesamos in ancient times, when it was founded by the Miletians in the sixth century B.C. it stands on a peninsula split by two inlets. The eastern side enjoys a reputation for good swimming. On the rocky promontry rise the ramparts of the Byzantine citadel, inside of which is an old church, now the Fatih Mosque. The necropolis dates from the Roman period. Remnants from Amasra?s entire history are displayed in the Archaeology Museum. You can purchase a handcarved wood souvenir on Cekiciler street. Continuing eastward along the coast, you arrive at Cakraz, a typical fishing village with excellent beaches, friendly accommodations and restaurants. The winding road between Cakraz and Inebolu has steep mountainsides and offers a spectular panoramic view.
Amasra is mostly a fishing town. The townspeople for centuries have always loved the sea and fish and the town has been a favored port in the stormy Black Sea. The fishermen have remained at port awaiting the end of the storm and during the severe winter months the houses of Amasra have harbored fishermen for whole six-month seasons as they awaited the coming of spring. The sea and fish continued to play an important role in the development of contemporary tourism in the area. The boarding-houses in the town are run by the townspeople. The people of Amasra opened their houses to tourists long before the first hotel or boarding-house was built to accommodate visitors. It has been felt as an obligation to establish a museum in Amasra, as this city is a centre of archaic settlement and rich in terms of historical monuments. Many activities were carried out for long years under the leadership of the poet - author Tahir Karao?z to establish a museum in Amasra. The building was opened to visitors on January 30th, 1982 upon the completion of restoration work. The museum is on a single floor and has 4 exhibition halls, 2 of which are archaeological and 2 of which are ethnographic halls. Most of the monuments in the exhibition halls were collected from Amasra and its environs.
No. 1 Archaeological Monument Hall: Small findings belonging to Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Eras are being exhibited in this hall. Earthenware and glass vessels for perfume and collecting tears, golden and bronze burial ornaments, various kinds of amphora and jugs recovered from the sea are also exhibited in this hall. There are also bronze statues, bracelets, fishing hooks, crucifixes, weapons, oil - lamps and vessels of the same period. Besides, golden, silver and bronze coins of Hellenistic, Rome and Byzantine Times are exhibited as well.
No. 2 Archaeological Monument Hall: This hall is wholly allocated to the marble monuments of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Genoese Eras. Statues, statue heads, grave steles, various embossed architectural objects are exhibited in this hall.
No. 1 Ethnographical Monument Hall: Small monuments of the Late Ottoman Period are exhibited in this hall. These monuments include copper kitchen vessels, weapons, writing sets, candlesticks, stamps, scales, ceramics, rings and vessels reflecting tree drawings, an art specific to the Amasra region.
No. 2 Ethnographic Monument Hall: Clothes reflecting the customary clothing of the region and silver ornaments belonging to Late Ottoman Period are exhibited in this hall. There are also bedding and bed covers, Korans, carpets, small bags and old wall clocks in this hall. In addition, a Mediterranean map dated 1852, printed in the printing press of the palace, is exhibited in the corridor of the museum. There are stone monuments of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Genoese Times in the garden of the museum.
History
Situated in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, the original city seems to have been called Sesamus, and it is mentioned by Homer in conjunction with Cytorus. Stephanus says that it was originally called Cromna; but in another place , where he repeats the statement, he adds, as it is said; but some say that Cromna is a small place in the territory of Amastris, which is the true account. The place derived its name Amastris from Amastris, the niece of the last Persian king Darius III, who was the wife of Dionysius, tyrant of Heraclea, and after his death the wife of Lysimachus. Four small Ionian colonies, Sesamus, Cytorus, Cromna, also mentioned in the Iliad , and Tium, were combined by Amastris, after her separation from Lysimachus5, to form the new community of Amastris, placed on a small river of the same name and occupying a peninsula. Tium, says Strabo, soon detached itself from the community, but the rest kept together, and Sesamus was the acropolis of Amastris. From this it appears that Amastris was really a confederation or union of three places, and that Sesamus was the name of the city on the peninsula. This may explain the fact that Mela mentions Sesamus and Cromna as cities of Paphlagonia, and does not mention Amastris.
The territory of Amastris produced a great quantity of boxwood, which grew on Mount Cytorus. Its tyrant Eumenes presented the city of Amastris to Ariobarzanes of Pontus in c. 265?260 BC rather than submit it to domination by Heraclea, and it remained in the Pontic kingdom until its capture by Lucius Lucullus in 70 BC in the second Mithridatic War. The younger Pliny, when he was governor of Bithynia and Pontus, describes Amastris, in a letter to Trajan, as a handsome city, with a very long open place (platea), on one side of which extended what was called a river, but in fact was a filthy, pestilent, open drain. Pliny obtained the emperor's permission to cover over this sewer. On a coin of the time of Trajan, Amastris has the title Metropolis. It continued to be a town of some note to the seventh century of our era.
The city was not abandoned in Byzantine Era, when the acropolis was trasformed in a fortress and the still surviving church was built. But it was in 1261 that Amastris regained part of its former importance; in that year the town was taken by the Italian city-state of Genoa in its bid to obtain sole control of the Black Sea trade. Genoese domination ended in 1460 when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II conquered the hole Anatolian shores of the Black Sea, forcing its inhabitants to move to Istanbul. The Greeks were replaced with Turkish villagers and the church became a mosque, the town losing most of its former importance.
Distances & Travel TimesAnkara: 310 km (193 miles) S, 6 hoursBartin: 16 km (10 miles) S, 25 minutesIstanbul: 374 km (232 miles) W, 7 hoursKastamonu: 197 km (122 miles) E, 4 hoursSafranbolu: 90 km (56 miles) S, 2 hoursSamsun: 480 km (298 miles) E, 9 hours by carSinop: 312 km (194 miles) E, 7 hours by car (no direct bus service)Zonguldak: 100 km (62 miles) W, 2 hours

Amasra

2009-02-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

Amasra is one of the most beautiful towns along the Black Sea coast poised on a peninsula split by two inlets. The site was first settled in the 12th century B.C. and named after the Persian Princess Amastris. After you leave Ankara and drive towards Bartın you will be accompanied, to one side, by a beautiful mountain panorama that marches along the road for miles. The northeast road will lead you to Amasra. There are two routes. One goes via Gerede-Mengen-Devrek and Bartın. The other is via Gerede-Karabük and Safranbolu. Because the coastal roads to the east and west are not well maintained, Amasra gets only a moderate number of summer visitors, keeping it pleasant and relatively undeveloped.
This cozy holiday district also has two islands, one of which is rowing distance in a small boat, while the other is connected to the main-land with a Roman vault used as a bridge.
There are various activities you can enjoy while in Amasra. First of all, you can rent a boat and explore the coastal environs. You can climb to the summit of the Rabbit Island where a population of gray, black and white rabbits, hop around the caves and enjoy the view of Amasra from the sea. Among the other sites are Fatih mosque - which was previously a church - the hamam and the theater. Remnants of Amasra's long and interesting history are displayed in the Amasra Museum. You can purchase hand-carved wood souvenirs on Çekiciler Street. Check of the toy helicopters fashioned from nutshells, the ships from seashells, and other curiosities from fish bones. Local craftsmen produce a "wish table" in the shape of a heart with a turtle model on for export to Italy. It is also a fisherman district and has several good fish restaurants with local produce. Canlı Balık and Çeşm-i Cihan are the most famous ones. Don't miss the fried mussels and salad.
Continuing eastward along the coast, you arrive at Cakraz, a typical fishing village with excellent beaches, friendly accommodations and restaurants. The winding road between Cakraz and İnebolu has steep mountainsides and offers a spectacular panoramic view. The eastern Amasra enjoys a reputation for good swimming besides Çakraz and Bozköy and Akkonak offer the best beaches.
Hotels and pensions are neat and cozy however the climate is a bit cool and bring something heavy with you.
Canlı Balık RestaurantKüçük Liman CaddesiTel: (378) 315 26 06

amasra

Amasra, Turkey

2009-02-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Amasra is a pretty little town off by itself, set on a fortified promontory jutting northward into the Black Sea.
Because the coastal roads to east and west are not all that good, Amasra gets only a moderate number of summer visitors, keeping it pleasant and relatively undeveloped.
If you visit the charming historic town of Safranbolu, come to Amasra (ah-MAHSS-rah, pop. 7000) for a night or two of seaside relaxation, explore the fortress, and take a dip in the chilly Black Sea.
Bus and car are the only ways to get here. Intercity buses serve Bartin, the provincial capital 16 km (10 miles) to the south, from which you take a minibus to Amasra. The nearest airport is at Ankara, the nearest train station at Zonguldak.
By the way, don't confuse the Black Sea town of Amasra with the Central Anatolian mountain town of Amasya, 130 km (81 miles) south of Samsun.
If you plan to head east from Amasra to Sinop (312 km, 194 miles) by car, allow most of the day for the trip along the narrow, winding road. Allow more than a day if you use the point-to-point local minibuses (there are no direct buses). It's probably faster--and certainly more comfortable--to take inland buses via Bartin and Kastamonu to Sinop.

Amasra

2009-02-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

Amasra (anticamente chiamata Amastris) è una piccola città portuale sulla costa anatolica del Mar Nero; conta circa 7000 abitanti e fa parte della Provincia di Bartın, in Turchia. La città è oggi apprezzata per le sue spiagge e per il paesaggio naturale, che hanno reso il turismo l'attività principale dei suoi abitanti.
Indice[nascondi]
1 Storia
2 Curiosità
3 Bibliografia
4 Note
//

Storia [modifica]
Situata nell'antica regione della Paflagonia, il suo nome originale sembra sia stato Sesamo, ed è menzionata da Omero [1] insieme alla città di Citoro. Stefano di Bisanzio [2] dice che originariamente la città si chiamava Cromna; ma in un'altra frase [3], dove ripete l'affermazione, aggiunge che alcuni sostengono che Cromna sia solamente una piccola località nel territorio di Amastris. Una testimonianza simile viene riportata anche da Omero, nell'Iliade [4].
Il territorio di Amastris in antichità produceva una grande quantità di legno di bosso, che cresceva sul monte Citoro.
Il nome della città deriva da quello della principessa Amastris, nipote di Dario III, ultimo imperatore persiano della dinastia achemenide, che fu dapprima moglie di Dionisio, tiranno di Eraclea Pontica, e dopo la sua morte fu moglie di Lisimaco, uno dei Diadochi. Amastris, dopo la sua separazione da Lisimaco[5], unì quattro piccole colonie ioniche (cioè Tium, Sesamo, Citoro e Cromna – anche quest'ultima mezionata nell'Iliade [6]) per formare la nuova comunità di Amastris, situata lungo un piccolo fiume dello stesso nome e su di una penisola[7]. Tium, dice Strabone, si staccò ben presto dalla comunità, ma le altre cittadine restarono unite, e Sesamo divenne l'acropoli di Amastris. Si suppone quindi che Amastris in realtà non fosse una città ma una confederazione o unione di tre località, e che Sesamo fosse il nome dell'insediamento nella penisola. Questa ipotesi può spiegare il fatto che Pomponio Mela [8] cita Sesamo e Cromna come città della Paflagonia, mentre non menziona Amastris[9].
Intorno al 265–260 a.C., Eumene, tiranno di Amastris, offrì la città a Ariobarzane del Ponto piuttosto che farla cadere sotto il dominio di Eraclea. Amastris rimase a far parte del regno del Ponto fino a quando fu conquistata da Lucio Licinio Lucullo nel 70 a.C. nel corso della seconda guerra mitridatica [10].
Plinio il Giovane, mentre era governatore di Bitinia e Ponto, in una lettera a Traiano [11], descrisse Amastris come una bella città, con un lungo viale (platea), fiancheggiato su un lato da un corso d'acqua, che in realtà era un canale di scolo sporco e nauseante; Plinio ottenne dall'imperatore il permesso di ricoprirlo. In una moneta del periodo di Traiano, Amastris è nominata con il titolo di Metropoli. Continuò ad essere una città di una certa importanza fino al VII secolo.
La città non venne abbandonata nel periodo bizantino, quando l'acropoli venne trasformata in una fortezza e la chiesa, tuttora esistente, venne costruita. Amastris ritornò ad essere un centro di una certa importanza nel 1261: in quell'anno la città fu conquistata dalla repubblica di Genova, nel tentativo di ottenere il monopolio dei commerci del Mar Nero. La dominazione genovese terminò nel 1460 quando il sultano ottomano Mehmed II conquistò le coste anatoliche del Mar Nero, costringendo i suoi abitanti a fuggire a Costantinopoli. I greci furono sostituiti da abitanti turchi, la chiesa fu trasformata in moschea e la città perse molta della sua precedente importanza.

Curiosità [modifica]
Amasra è gemellata con la cittadina italiana di Fontaniva grazie ad un Progetto, "Progetto Paflagonia", che identifica questa città come l'antica area citata da Omero, II libro dell'Iliade, versi 850-855, con il nome di Sesamo. Tra Fontaniva e Amasra è in atto un gemellaggio, esteso anche tra la Provincia di Bartin e la Provincia di Padova. Dal 2001 sono attivi una serie di contatti, scambi, visite, rapporti commerciali, iniziative archeologiche e di restauro.

amasra

Amasra

2009-02-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

Amasra (auch. Sesamos, Amastris) ist eine Hafenstadt in der Provinz Bartın, Türkei. Der Tourismus ist die wichtigste Aktivität für die Einwohner.
Inhaltsverzeichnis[Verbergen]
1 Geographie
2 Geschichte
3 Bevölkerung
4 Stadtgliederung
5 Wirtschaft
6 Klima
7 Kultur und Sehenswürdigkeiten
8 Museum
9 Tourismus
10 Bekannte Persönlichkeiten
11 Medien
//

Geographie [Bearbeiten]
Amasra liegt auf einer Halbinsel, deren flachem Übergang zum Festland, sowie auf der Insel Büyük Ada (dt. Große Insel, die durch eine von den Römern erbaute Brücke mit dem Stadtgebiet verbunden ist. Der Stadt vorgelagert liegt eine unbewohnte weitere Insel, die „Kanincheninsel“ (Tavşan adası). Der Blick von dieser Halbinsel aus zeigt die zerstörte byzantinische Zitadelle und die Stadtmauer.

Geschichte [Bearbeiten]
Die Herkunft des Namens Amasra stammt von der persischen Adligen Amastris († 284 v. Chr.), einer Tochter des Oxyathres, des Bruders des Dareios III.. Durch eine Fusion der vier Orte Sesamos, Kytoros, Kromna und Tios gründete die persische Fürstin 300 v. Chr. die nach ihr benannte Stadt Amastris an der Küste Paphlagoniens. Dort dürfte sie gelebt haben und prägte Münzen mit der Inschrift Königin Amastris. Als die Söhne der Amastris alt genug waren, übernahmen sie unter der Oberherrschaft ihrer Mutter die Regierung, aber bald gab es zwischen ihnen Missstimmung. Angeblich wurde Amastris 284 v. Chr. auf Anstiften ihrer Söhne ertränkt.
Mythen zufolge sei die Stadt Amasra im Meer versunken und Mitte des 11. Jhd. n.Chr. wiederauferstanden. Im Jahre 1261 bekamen die Griechen von dem italienischen Stadtstaat von Genua Genueser Kolonien die alleinige Kontrolle über den Schwarzmeer-Handel. Das Genuesische Kolonialreich endete 1461, als das Osmanische Reich unter Führung von Sultan Mehmed II. die Stadt und das gesamte anatolische Ufer des Schwarzen Meeres eroberte und in der Stadt Amasra wohlhabend residierte.
In der heutigen Zeit zählt Amasra zu den Provinzen an der Schwarzmeerküste.

Bevölkerung [Bearbeiten]
Ethnien:
Etwa 60 % sind Türken, 35 % Armenier und 5 % Sonstige.
Einwohner:
Die Einwohnerzahl beträgt ungefähr 16.200, davon leben 6.800 in der Innenstadt und 9.800 Menschen in Dörfern.
Religion:
Obwohl nach offiziellen Statistiken beinahe 99 % der türkischen Bevölkerung Muslime sind, leben in Amasra nur etwa 55% Muslime. 30 % gehören dem Christentum an und 15% sind Ungläubige.

Stadtgliederung [Bearbeiten]
Bartın ist eine Provinz der Türkei am Schwarzen Meer. Ihre Hauptstadt ist die Stadt Bartın. Folgende Landkreise der Provinz Bartın sind untergliedert :
Amasra
Bartın
Kurucaşile
Ulus

Wirtschaft [Bearbeiten]
Beschäftigung
{{{2}}}, 40%40%
Bauer
{{{2}}}, 40%40%
Zeche
{{{2}}}, 15%15%
Fischer
{{{2}}}, 5%5%
Beamte

Klima [Bearbeiten]
Klimatabelle ( 2007 ) Die Stadt hat mildes, feuchtes Seeklima. Die durchschnittliche Jahrestemperatur liegt bei 19 °C. Der wärmste Monat ist der Juli mit durchschnittlich 34 °C, der kälteste der Januar mit 6 °C im Mittel. Der Winter ist durch wechselhaftes Wetter bestimmt: Es gibt frühlingshafte Sonnentage, häufig Regen und Kälteeinbrüche, häufig auch Schneefälle. Die jährliche Niederschlagsmenge beträgt 425mm.

Kultur und Sehenswürdigkeiten [Bearbeiten]

Sonnenuntergang in Amasra
Amasra war ein antikes Siedlungszentrum, deswegen gibt es in der Stadt viele Sehenswürdigkeiten.
Die sich an der Zitadelle befindende Fatih Moschee wurde restauriert und ehemals eine christliche Kirche. Sehenswürdigkeiten sind auch das Hamam und das Theater.
Aufgrund der zahlreichen historischen Werke und Funde verschiedener Ethnien und Kulturen, wie die aus hellenistischer, römischer, byzantinischer und osmanischer Zeit ist zu vermuten, dass die Stadt reich gewesen sein muss. Um diese Werke zu bewahren wurde ein archäologisches Museum eingerichtet.
Eine etwas untypische Einkaufsstrasse ist die Çekiciler sokaği, dort werden viele holzgeschnitzte Zier- und Gebrauchsgegenstände von Verkäufern und Künstlern angeboten und ins Ausland exportiert.
Landschaftlich zwischen bis ans Meer reichenden Bergen und Buchten gelegen, eignen sich besonders die Sandstrände im Osten der Stadt zum Baden. Dort erstrecken sich die Çakraz-, Bozköy- und Akkonak-Strände. An der Meeresküste gibt es zahlreiche Fischrestaurants. Die bekanntesten davon sind Canlı Balık und Çeşm-i Cihan. Angeboten werden dort frische Fischgerichte, Bratmuscheln oder Salat.

Museum [Bearbeiten]
Aufgrund seiner Vergangenheit als antiker Siedlungsort und seiner Reichhaltigkeit an historischen Werken wurde ein Museum eröffnent. Im Jahre 1955 wurde das erste Museum eröffnet, das aus einem kleinen Saal im Gemeindegebäude bestand. Am 30. Januar 1982 konnte dieses Gebäude als Museum für die Besucher eröffnet werden. Das Museum besteht aus einem Stockwerk, in dem sich vier Ausstellungssäle befinden. Die Ausstellungsstücke des Museums stammen großteils aus Amasra und Umgebung.
In allen Sälen befinden sich Werke und Funde aus der hellenistischen, römischen, byzantinischen, genuesischen und osmanischen Periode.
1. Archäologischer Saal: Hier befinden sich in den Gräbmälern gefundene Ton- und Glasgefäße, Tränenflaschen, Ziergegenstände aus Gold und Bronze sowie verschiedenste aus dem Meer geborgene Amphoren. Ausgestellt werden bronzenen Statue, Kreuze, Waffen sowie Gold-, Silber- und Bronzemünzen.
2. Archäologischer Saal: Dieser Saal ist Marmorwerken der hellenistischen, römischen und byzantinischen Periode gewidmet. Statuen, Büsten, Grabteile sowie Teile architektonischer Werke können hier besichtigt werden.
1. Ethnographischer Saal: In diesem Saal werden kleine Ausstellungsstücke der späten osmanischen Periode vorgestellt. Darunter befinden sich bronzene Küchengefäße, Waffen, Schreibgeräte, Kerzenhalter, Stempel, Keramiken und Ringe sowie Gefäße, die die besondere Holzschnitzkunst Amasras betonen.
2. Ethnographischer Saal: In diesem Saal befinden sich Bekleidungsstücke und Ziergegenstände aus Silber, die die Gewohnheiten der Region in der späten widerspiegeln. Ebenso werden Bett- und Polsterüberwürfe, Koran-Beispiele, Teppiche, Beutel sowie antike Wanduhren ausgestellt. Auf dem Korridor des Museums befindet sich eine Mittelmeer-Landkarte aus dem Jahre 1852, die in der Druckerei des Serails hergestellt wurde. Außerdem werden im Garten des Museums Werke aus Stein aus der o.g. Periode aufgestellt.

Tourismus [Bearbeiten]
Amasra ist eines der meistbesuchten Zentren des nationalen und internationalen Städtetourismus. Seit dem Jahr 2003 stieg die Anzahl der Übernachtungen, Gäste, der neugebauten Hotels und deren Bettenkapazitäten überdurchschnittlich an. Der Rekord lag im Jahre 2007, als der Musiker und Schauspieler Barış Akarsu im Sommer in der Hafenstadt Amasra beerdigt wurde. Die Beamten gingen von mehr als 250.000 Besuchern im Sommer aus, die für die Beerdigung anreisten. Aus Griechenland, Armenien, Zypern und Deutschland kamen viele Touristen.

Bekannte Persönlichkeiten [Bearbeiten]
Barış Akarsu, Musiker und Schauspieler

Medien [Bearbeiten]
Ayrılık
2007 begann die Produktion eines Filmes in Amasra. Aufgrund geringer Einschaltquoten wurde die Produktion eingestellt. Es basiert auf eine wahre Begebenheit in den 70er Jahren. Der Sohn einer türkischen Familie verliebt sich in ein Mädchen aus einer armenischen Familie. Die armenische Familie ist strikt gegen die Beziehung, da das Verhältnis beider Ethnien bis heute belastet ist. Deshalb beschloss das glückliche Paar nach Istanbul zu fliehen. Um das Paar endgültig auseinander bringen zu können, wird der Junge von einer Untergrundorganisation verfolgt und später per Schiff nach Armenien gebracht und dort inhaftiert und jahrelang misshandelt. Nach seiner Freilassung macht er sich auf die Suche nach seiner Freundin samt Kind. Jedoch ohne Erfolg, das Mädchen war in dem Glauben umgezogen, dass ihr Freund bereits gestorben sei.
Weitere Filmproduktionen, die in Amasra praktiziert wurden:
gönderilmemiş mektuplar ( übers. nicht versendete Briefe )
gülbeyaz ( übers. Weiße Rose )
fikrimin ince gülü ( ung. übers. Die schmale Rose meiner Idee )
Von „http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amasra“

amasra

Amasra

2009-02-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

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Sunset in Amasra

The town of Amasra
Amasra (pop. 7000; anciently called Amastris) is a small Black Sea port town in the Bartın Province, Turkey. The town is today much appreciated for its beaches and natural setting, which has made tourism the most important activity for its inhabitants.
Amasra has two islands: the bigger one is called Büyük ada (Great Island) while the smaller one is called Tavsan adası (Rabbit Island).
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Features
3 References
4 Notes
//

[edit] History
Situated in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, the original city seems to have been called Sesamus, and it is mentioned by Homer [1] in conjunction with Cytorus. Stephanus [2] says that it was originally called Cromna; but in another place,[3] where he repeats the statement, he adds, as it is said; but some say that Cromna is a small place in the territory of Amastris, which is the true account. The place derived its name Amastris from Amastris, the niece of the last Persian king Darius III, who was the wife of Dionysius, tyrant of Heraclea, and after his death the wife of Lysimachus. Four small Ionian colonies, Sesamus, Cytorus, Cromna, also mentioned in the Iliad,[4] and Tium, were combined by Amastris, after her separation from Lysimachus,[5] to form the new community of Amastris, placed on a small river of the same name and occupying a peninsula.[6] Tium, says Strabo, soon detached itself from the community, but the rest kept together, and Sesamus was the acropolis of Amastris. From this it appears that Amastris was really a confederation or union of three places, and that Sesamus was the name of the city on the peninsula. This may explain the fact that Mela [7] mentions Sesamus and Cromna as cities of Paphlagonia, and does not mention Amastris.[8]
The territory of Amastris produced a great quantity of boxwood, which grew on Mount Cytorus. Its tyrant Eumenes presented the city of Amastris to Ariobarzanes of Pontus in c. 265–260 BC rather than submit it to domination by Heraclea, and it remained in the Pontic kingdom until its capture by Lucius Lucullus in 70 BC in the second Mithridatic War.[9] The younger Pliny, when he was governor of Bithynia and Pontus, describes Amastris, in a letter to Trajan,[10] as a handsome city, with a very long open place (platea), on one side of which extended what was called a river, but in fact was a filthy, pestilent, open drain. Pliny obtained the emperor's permission to cover over this sewer. On a coin of the time of Trajan, Amastris has the title Metropolis. It continued to be a town of some note to the seventh century of our era.
The city was not abandoned in Byzantine Era, when the acropolis was transformed into a fortress and the still surviving church was built. It was sacked by the Rus during the First Russo-Byzantine War in the 830s. But it was in 1261 that Amastris regained part of its former importance; in that year the town was taken by the Italian city-state of Genoa in its bid to obtain sole control of the Black Sea trade. Genoese domination ended in 1460 when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II conquered the whole Anatolian shores of the Black Sea, forcing its inhabitants to move to Istanbul. The Greeks were replaced with Turkish villagers and the church became a mosque, the town losing most of its former importance.

kaynak: amasra

BARTIN - İnkumu Beach

2008-02-25T11:13:00.000-08:00

Bartin's Beach: Inkumu
Coast of Inkumu is 15 km away from centre of Bartin and it is in the North .It is a unique tourism attraction which is in Bati Karadeniz region.Sea shore whose length is 3km is full of green pine forests,sand and bright sea.Foreign and domestic tourists are attracted by this tourism town because of its natural beauties and its clean sea so tourism improves highly in every year.

They who live in Bartin will not be miserable in the pensions after they go to Mediterran coast like other people.They will not be stuck in the trafic jam and wait for hours like the other people.Although people in Bartin say that everywhere is full of concrete,Inkumu is sweet and beautiful.We hope there will not be any more buildings.Inkumu is a clean town.

BARTIN - Amasra About

2008-02-25T11:10:00.000-08:00

Amasra about which is said that it was founded 12. Century BC takes its name from the Persian princess Amastris. The new city that was founded by Amastris is as beautiful as the tourism attractions in the South with its unique coast,two bays and two islands.We are in Amasra which was liken to a sleeping princess.As approaching the city, you see a attractive landscape. A marvellous beauty and an interesant atmosphere which makes the other coasts and the cities jealous meets you. Landscape which promises a pleasant holiday and cannot be seen in one look makes you excited.So you say yourself i am really glad that i have come there, here can be done every activity and because of this you feel sad…We are in Amasra which is a sweet town of Bati Karadeniz region.Amasra which once upon a time was a tourism attraction is happy because of regaining its old reputation.Tour buses, families who comes by their own cars…Blacksea is serene like a blue lake and the other places are all gren

Amasra is stil a tourism attraction with Bird Stone Monument (Kus Kayasi Aniti) which is unique in Anatolia, Covered Bazaar (Bedesten) which was probably built for the the Roman government palace, Roman bridge which was built in the reign of the Roman emperor,Claudius, Rabbit Island (Tavsan Adasi) in which there are the ruins of the church, Fatih Mosque which was built 9. Century ,Iç Kale Mosque, Turkish Bath, theatre, caves.

Habitation is densely populated in the city centre.Some of the houses are in the forest.Most of the houses are made of Stone , wood and reinforced concrete.Historical houses even make their own history with the other buildings in the castle.Because Amasra has got a profound history,old buildings ar even more important.So it is the nostalgy city of the people who want to live the past again.History and the natural beauties are altogether.Amasra marina is being restored so that passenger ships and yachts can approach and stop over.

BARTIN Information about Bartin

2008-02-25T11:07:00.000-08:00

Bartin has got a shoreline whose length is 59km in Black Sea and it also has got mountains covered with forests whose heights are under 200m,marvellous green coasts and plateaus.Bartin has got a shoreline whose length is 59 km in Black Sea.It has got mountains covered with coasts in which you can see every kind of green and plateaus

The title “Bartin Houses” which is the subject of our research should not make you misunderstand, Bartin houses have not got in common with especially Safranbolu and Yoruk houses which have got the traditional habitation. Traditional habitation is ruined, it has got only buildings which have got 2 or 3 flats have and only saved their frontage.We can see traditional Stone-made rarely.Other iner localities of the houses have changed very much because of the neccessities about uses and most of them have lost their originality.

marmaris turkey travel

2008-01-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

Marmaris sits on a slumming bay protected by steep pine-forested mountains. Sultan Süleyman the magnificent built the town’s tiny castle before invading Rhodes in 1522 but little else remains of the quiet fishing village of yesteryear Modern Marmaris is a large toqn and one of Turkey’s main resorts, receiving over a million visitors each year. It boasts excellent services entertainment and shopping as well as several large marinas including the 750-berth netsel marina one of the largest in the eastern Mediterranean . Marmaris is surrounded by beautiful countryside with plenty of options for excursions . Although the baches in the town aren’t good the nearby suburb of Icmeler has a stretch of sandy beach with water sports and other activities in season. Icmeler’s promenade is backed by large hotels , behind which ara a grid of touristy shops , restaurants , villas and small apartment. In Contrast to other parts of town the area is near with good roads , carefully kept communal gardens and a well-developed infrastructure.

There is very little new land available for development in Marmaris. Prices look set to continue rising in the face of strong demand from both domestic and foreign buyers. The town centre is dominated from by re-sale apartments mostly over 5 years old. Close to the main concentration of restaurants shopping and nightlife basic two-bedroom apartments start from 35,000. The tiny old stone houses around the castle range from 75,000 to over 125,000 depending on location and condition. The suburb of Armutalan is popular with wealthy Turks and counts a former Turkish president Kenan evren as one of its seasonal residents. The area has villas and new complexes with prices for a three-bedroom apartments from 65,000 – 75,000 or a new four-bedroom house with a pool from 140,000. The new suburb of Beldibi has cheaper property and good transport links to the centre. Prices in Icmeler are higher due to strong foreign and domestic demand. Expect to pay from 150,000 for a new four-bedroom villa over 95,000.

kemer travel

2008-01-20T06:16:00.000-08:00

Kemer is a state planned resort of hotels and apartment complexes 35 km southwest of Antalya. Built since the 1980s the town center is well laid-out but lacks atmosphere. It has good facilities, including a modern marina , shops and several beaches , with a Blue Flag awarded stretch in the town itself.
The towns mountainous hinterland , much of it preserved within the Beydaglari National Park is exceptionally beautiful and has some excellent walking. The Lycian Way long distance footpath passes close to the town. Nearby sights include the remains of Phaselis , an important ancient city visited by Alexander the Great.
Kemer is popular with Russian , British tourists , although most of the areas property buyers come from Germany, British buyers are concentrated in the smaller resort of Camyuva , 5 km south of the town center. Kemer has a supermarket and private medical facilities. Regular public minibuses link the resort to Antalya , which in under an hour away by car.

cesme travel

2008-01-20T06:14:00.000-08:00

Cesme is a small resort overlooking the Greek island of Chios 45 minutes from the city of Izmir. Many Turkish families have second-homes in the area and it has also become a fashionable holiday spot for young people from Istanbul and Ankara . Despite its domestic appeal , few foreigner visit or buy property.
In the town , a large Genoese castle stands over the harbour , from where ferries leave for Chios and ports in Italy. Ilica 5 km east of the center , has the areas best beach , while nearby Alacati , formerly a small village of stone houses is popular with windsurfers . There are several marines in the area , as well as a hot spring and thermal centre.
There are more beaches beyond the fishing village of ciftlikkoy , which is a pleasant year-round Turkish community. In the opposite direction , dalyankoy has a harbour surrounded by fish restaurant. The local dining is varied ad the nightlife is lively during the summer months.

fethiye travel

2008-01-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

On a wide bay backed by mountains , Fethiye is a bustling town at the heart of one the mos popular areas for foreign buyers. As the administrative center for the nearby resorts of oludeniz , ovacik / hisaronu and calis , the local economy is dominated by tourism , but few tourists stay in the town itself. Fethiye has a large harbour as well as the 400 berth Ece Saray Marina. It has a pleasant atmosphere with shops and services stayin open year-round. Inland from a waterside promenade is a lively bazaar district , known as Paspatur. Other tourist attractions include an amphitheatre and Lycian tombs. There are supermarkets and a huge weekly market as well as two private hospitals with English-speaking staff.
Fethiye is close to tourist attractions , such as the Saklikent gorge and ancient Xanthos. The beaches at Oludeniz and Calis (see below) are even nearer , with regular minibus services to both.
This ancient town originally was occupied by Lycians, and then came the Carians, the Romans, and finally the Ottomans. Although, Telmessos (as was known in the antique times) perhaps had its origins during the Trojan War, but there are no evidence of this fact.
Fethiye is famous for boasting a stunning landscape of rocky cliffs and pine forests meeting with the turquoise sea, as well as golden beaches and exquisite remains of ancient civilizations. The main attractions of Fethiye are the rock tombs carved into the faces of the cliffs by the Lycians, the Lycian Sarcopaghi, the fortress and the roman theatre.
Around Fethiye there are fantastic places with ancient ruins of different periods of its history and lovely landscapes to enjoy. The Blue Lagoon (Ölüdeniz) offers beautiful scenery with golden beaches and crystal waters ideal for swimming and other water sports.

travel bodrum turkey

2008-01-20T06:03:00.000-08:00

WELLCOME TO TURKEY, LAND OF THE SUN ... GREAT TRAVEL, GREAT TIMES !

Bodrum counts approximately 30,000 inhabitants, and get about 500,000 tourists concerning itself in the High Season, after Istanbul and Antalya, Bodrum is the most popular Place in the Turkish Tourism.Bodrum is Located on a splendid bay of the Aegean coast of Turkey in the northwest of the Gulf of Gökova and less than 4 hours drive from the south of Izmir City. Bodrum, known in ancient times as Halicarnassus, was the birthplace of Herodotus and the site of King Mausolus's Tomb (4th century B.C.), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World....

Bodrum is the site of the ancient city of Halikarnassus, the location of the famous Mausoleum of Halikarnassus (built after 353 BCE) - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, the ancient monument was destroyed by earthquakes in the Middle Ages - some of the remnants can be seen in London's British Museum.

View of the castle and the marina
Modern Bodrum strangely seems to have two contrasting sides to it.
The east half of the town has a long thin but reasonable beach. Behind the beach lay all the bars restaurants and night clubs that are typical of Mediterranean resort towns. This means open fronted bars that do not come alive until 10pm when everybody goes out. As well as some nice beach fronted bars (e.g. cafe del mar being a reasonably chilled out and attractive bar, with attractive staff so that helps) it also has some terrible ones. Think the worst version of club 18-30s. It does have some reasonable clubs. Halikarnas being the obvious one as it is huge (4000 people). It also is mostly outdoors and hosts foam parties on regular occasions.
The other half of the town is the west side. This manly revolves around the harbour and yacht club. Here life is a little more sedate with shops catering mainly to those who have stepped of their boats. Expensive supermarkets with proper wine and olive oil as well as the obligatory Henley Hanson to be able to purchase your new jacket. There are a couple of nice restaurants if you look hard enough and some nice clothes shops

istanbul turkey travel

2008-01-20T05:49:00.000-08:00

Istanbul is one of the most important tourism spots of Turkey. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist oriented industries in the city, catering to both vacationers and visiting professionals. In २००६a total of 23,148,669 tourists visited Turkey, most of whom entered the country through the airports and seaports of Istanbul and Antalya.[47] The total number of tourists who entered Turkey through Atatürk International Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul reached 5,346,658, rising from 4,849,353 in 2005.[48]
Istanbul is also one of the world’s most exciting conference destinations and is an increasingly popular choice for the world’s leading international associations।[49] Istanbul’s conference appeal developed with three separate conference and exhibition areas: The Conference Valley (Istanbul Convention & Exhibition Center, Istanbul Hilton Convention & Exhibition Center, the Military Museum Cultural Center and the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall); The Airport & Exhibition District (150,000 m2 (1.6 m sq ft) of exhibition space around the CNR International Expo Center); and the Business & Financial District (with many distributed centers). These cluster areas feature a combination of accommodations, meeting facilities, and exhibition space. They can be used individually, or collectively through transportation with the Istanbul metro, and are linked together for accommodating events with 10,000 or more participants.

Art & Culture
See also: List of museums and monuments in Istanbul
Istanbul is becoming increasingly colorful in terms of its rich social, cultural, and commercial activities. While world famous pop stars fill stadiums, activities like opera, ballet and theater continue throughout the year. During seasonal festivals, world famous orchestras, chorale ensembles, concerts and jazz legends can be found often playing to a full house. The Istanbul International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in Europe, while the Istanbul Biennial is another major event of fine arts.

Pera Museum during the Rembrandt exhibition in 2006
Istanbul Modern, located on the Bosphorus with a magnificent view of the Seraglio Point, resembles Tate Modern in many ways and frequently hosts the exhibitions of renowned Turkish and foreign artists. Pera Museum and Sakıp Sabancı Museum have hosted the exhibitions of world famous artists like Picasso, Rodin, Rembrandt and many others, and are among the most important private museums in the city. The Rahmi M. Koç Museum on the Golden Horn is an industrial museum, largely inspired by the Henry Ford Museum in the United States. It exhibits historic industrial equipment such as cars and locomotives from the 1800s and early 1900s, as contains the late Roman and early Byzantine floor mosaics and wall ornaments of the Great Palace of Constantinople. The nearby Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, originwell as boats, submarines, aircraft, and other similar vintage machines from past epochs.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum, established in 1881, is one of the largest and most famous museums of its kind in the world. The museum contains more than 1,000,000 archaeological pieces from the Mediterranean basin, the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Istanbul Mosaic Museumally the Ibrahim Pasha Palace (1524) on Sultanahmet Square, displays a vast collection of items from various Islamic civilizations. Sadberk Hanım Museum on the Bosphorus contains a wide variety of artifacts, dating from the earliest Anatolian civilizations to the Ottomans.
Occasionally, in November, the Silahhane (Armory Hall) of Yıldız Palace hosts the Istanbul Antiques Fair, which brings together rare pieces of antiques from the Orient and Occident. The items are sold either directly, or through auction. The multi-storey Mecidiyeköy Antikacılar Çarşısı (Mecidiyeköy Antiques Bazaar) in the Mecidiyeköy quarter of Şişli is the largest antiques market in the city, while the Çukurcuma neighbourhood of Beyoğlu has rows of antiques shops in its streets. The Grand Bazaar, edificed between 1455-1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror and later enlarged in the 16th century during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent also has numerous antiques shops, along with shops selling jewels, carpets and other items of art and artisanship. Historic and rare books are found in the Sahaflar Çarşısı near Beyazıt Square, which was known as the Forum Tauri in the Roman period. It is one of the oldest book markets in the world, and has continuously been active in the same location since the late Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods.
A significant culture has been developed around what is known as a Turkish Bath (Hamam), the origins of which can be traced back to the ancient Roman Bath, which was a part of the Byzantine lifestyle and customs that were inherited first by the Seljuk Turks and later the Ottomans, who developed it into something more elaborate. It was a culture of leisure during the Ottoman period. The hamams in the Ottoman culture started out as structural elements serving as annexes to mosques, however quickly evolved into institutions and eventually with the works of the great Ottoman architect Sinan, into monumental structural complexes, the finest example being the Çemberlitaş Hamamı (1584) in Istanbul, located on the Çemberlitaş (Column of Constantine) Square.[64]
Live shows and concerts are hosted at a number of locations including historical sites such as the Hagia Irene, Rumeli Fortress, Yedikule Castle, the courtyard of Topkapı Palace, and Gülhane Park; as well as the Atatürk Cultural Center, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall and other open air and modern theater halls. For those who enjoy night life, there are many night clubs, pubs, restaurants and taverns with live music. The night clubs, restaurants and bars increase in number and move to open air spaces in the summer. The areas around Istiklal Avenue and Nişantaşı offer all sorts of cafés, restaurants, pubs and clubs as well as art galleries, theaters and cinemas.

2008-01-20T05:10:00.000-08:00

Tourism in Turkey is focused largely on a variety of archaeological and historical sites, and on seaside resorts along its Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. In the recent years, Turkey is also becoming a popular destination for the SPA and health care tourism.

Istanbul is one of the most important tourism spots of Turkey. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist oriented industries in the city, catering to both vacationers and visiting professionals.Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, has a number of major attractions derived from its huge historical status as capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. These include the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, the Dolmabahce Palace, the Galata Tower, the Grand Bazaar, and the Pera Palas. Istanbul has also recently became one of the biggest shopping centers of European region by hosting malls and shopping centers like Metrocity, Akmerkez and Cevahir Mall (which is the biggest mall in Europe and seventh largest shopping center in the world).

Beach vacations and Blue Cruise, particularly for Turkish city-dwellers and visitors from Western Europe, are also central to the Turkish tourism industry. Most beach resorts are located along the southwestern and southern Aegean coast, especially along the Mediterranean coast near Antalya. Antalya is also accepted as the tourism capital of Turkey. Major resort towns include Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kuşadası, Cesme, Didim and Alanya.

Major cultural and historical attractions elsewhere in the country include the sites of Ephesus, Troy, Pergamon, House of Virgin Mary, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Konya (where the poet Rumi had spent most of his life), Didyma, Church of Antioch, religious places in Mardin (such as Deyrülzafarân Monastery), and the ruined cities and landscapes of Cappadocia. (see List of Archaeological Sites Sorted by Country-Turkey)

Characteristics of Turkey's Tourists
Foreign tourists mainly come from the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and Japan, but tourists from Arab countries, Iran, the USA, France and Scandinavia are not uncommon. There seems to be a trend in which British tourists tend to go on holiday to Aegean resorts such as Bodrum or Marmaris, whilst German and Russian tourists almost exclusively go to resorts on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey (e.g. Antalya) and Japanese tourists mainly visit Istanbul and historical sites such as Ephesus (although in both cases, tourists from almost all over the world can be found in these places, Japanese tourists visit them in very large numbers

Statistics of Tourism in Turkey
Foreign tourist arrivals increased substantially in Turkey between 2002 and 2005, from 12.8 million to 21.2 million, which made Turkey a top-10 destination in the world for foreign visitors. 2005 revenues are US$17.5 billion which also made Turkey the top-10 biggest revenue owners in the world.