Van City Guide

Van City Guide

Taking place at the Eastern Anatolia Region, Van is bounded by Iran Country at east and by Van Lake at west. The city is a tourist place through its cultural and natural beauties, its transportation facilities and its four season climate conditions. The city is famous with its Van Cat.

Tourist Attractions

With a history tracing back to 5000 B.C., Van was the capital of Urartu in the hisory. There has been a significant settlement area throughout the history as a consequence of rising on the historical Silk Road. In addition to its cultural and historical aspects, the scenic and natural beauties available in the city transform it into a natural heaven.

Archeological tourism is fairly developed at Van. A great deal of castles are available within the borders of the city. Van Castle at the centrum is one of the alluring ones left from Urartus. Cavustepe Castle at Çavuştepe is a glorious structure from 1960s. Agarti, Ayanis, Kef, Below and Above Zifistan, Hiset, Kalecik, Muradiye, Yoncatepe, Mukus Castles and more are existed in the city. You should experience these historical artifacts.

Tilkitepe, Karagunduz and Dilkaya Tumuluses are the main constructions from the historical heritage of the city. Karagunduz Mound at Karagunduz Village turns up as an island at the coast of Ercek Lake.

Van Museum, Kizlaragasi Cave, Altintepe, Menusa Water Carrier and Meher Kapi, Pagan Kaya Nisi and Anali Kiz Open-air Sanctuaries are just some of the other historical structures that you should not miss. Also, many historical churches, mosques, madrasahes, Turkish bathes and public houses are existed in the city. Ulu Mosque, Kayacelebi Mosque, Husrev Pasa Mosque, Horhor Mosque, Akdamar Church, Seven Church, Yanal Church, Husrev Pasha Madrasah, Hasan Bey Madrasah, Husrev Bey Madrasah, Van Cifte Hamam (Turkish Bath), Hosap Ickale Hamam and Hosap Bey Public House are just some examples. You will live the history itself when traveling these places.

The city is breemed over with innumerable rivers. lakes and streams. Van Lake giving its name to the city is the biggest lake in Turkey and the 5th biggest one in Europe. Bendihami Stream, Hosap Stream, Catak Stream, Karasu Stream, Memedik Sream, Ercek Lake, Akgol Lake, Sultan Lake, Kazli Lake and Muradiye Cascade are among the natural benefactions at Van.

Culture & Entertainment

Silver working and kilim (rug) making are the fundamental features of the city culture.

Mountain and nature troop is a potential entertainment alternative for you. Van Suphan Mountain, the centrum, the cost of Van Lake, Carpanol Island, Akdamar Island, Aladag, Tendurek Mountain, Sonrada Mountain, Manda Mountain and more are the favorable places for fabulous troops.

The city forests being accesible easily via the developed roads are appropriate for joyous campings.

Angling is possible at Van Lake and at the streams existed in Catak district.

There are magnificent bird paradises in Van that you will want to see. Van Lake is one of the main location harboring different kind of birds. Carpanak Island, Ahlat Rushy, Donemec Delta, Karasu Delta are some of the bird places at Van Lake. Another bird heaven is Ercek Lake.

The city is feasible for hunting tourism throughout the four seasons. Quite different kinds of animals are existed in the city for hunting. When visiting Van you should not forget to go for hunting.

Food & Drink

You should absolutely eat the delicious Van fish being available in Van Lake. Especially, the city is famous for its breakfast culture. There are a great deal of breakfast lounges placed at the city center. In additon to the local tastes such as murtuga, cacik, ilitme, eksili, senseger, you will find a wealthy breakfast table at these lounges.

Soups: Ayran asi, bulgur asi, kurutlu eriste asi, watery eriste soups...

Breakfasts: Corek ici, kavut, murtuga, ilitme, cheese with plant...

Dishes: Quince, cilbir, eskili, helise, kurutlu kofte, mihla, keledos, mihla, sile...

Shopping

Souvenirs, ornaments and silver constitute the basic tourist shopping culture of the city. Kilims (rugs) peculiar to Van are world wide famous. You can find all kinds of carpets, kilims, ornaments in the galleries placed at the city center.

Trabzon City Guide

Trabzon City Guide

With a history tracing back to 2000 B.C., Trabzon is the most significant city, considering historical, social and cultural accumulations, of Eastern Black Sea Region. As a consequence of being on the part of the historical Silk Road connecting Europe and Asia, the city harbored Milletians, Romans, Byzantine, Persians and Comnenos throughout the history.

Tourist Attractions

Historical monasteries and churches are more than anything in Trabzon.

Sumela Monastery (Virgin Mary Monastery) located on a steep rocky cliff at Altindere Village takes place 300 meter above the valley. Sumela Monastery is mainly consisted of stone church, kitchen, student rooms, guesthouse, library and holy temple. You arrive to the entrance of the monastery through a clinging and long stairway. You should not miss this dreamy and historical structure.

Church of Haghia Sophia used as museum was constructed between 1238 and 1263. The most magnificent part of the church is the one where Adam and Eve are depicted on a frieze. The museum will captivate you. Vazelon Monastery, Saint Anna Church, Yenicuma Mosque, Santa Maria Church, Ortahisar Mosque, Irena Tower, Kaymakli Monastery and Kizlar (Theokephastros) Monastery are the other historical artifacts that you should visit.

Ataturk Villa at Soguksu, Cevdet Sunay Museum at Atakoy and Trabzon Museum at Zeytinlik Street are the main museums within the borders of the city.

Calkoy Cave at 5 km south of Duzkoy district is another historical structure, which should be seen. It is placed 1050 m high from sea level.

Uzungol Lake located at Caykara district, 99 km away from the Centrum is a famous natural benefaction of Trabzon. The lake surrounded by spruces is a kind of natural dam lake formed through the landslide to close the Haldizen stream. Many Lakes are available at Trabzon. Cakirgol, Sera and Balikli Lakes are the other popular ones. You should experience them before leaving the city.

Culture & Entertainment

Handicraft and folk dance first recur to the mind when stating the city culture.

Heybe saddle bag (a kind of woven bag), wicker work (making baskets from hazelnut sticks), kazazlik, Surmene knife, churn, kesan (handmade clothes), belt, socks, telkari, coppersmith, handmade wooden spoons are the basic handicraft examples.

The combination of Horon which is a kind of folk dance special to the city and kemence (a stringed instrument having three wires) constitute the folk culture of Trabzon.

The flora of Trabzon is magnificent enough to charm you. The city has a rich geography from forests, different kinds of plants and green natural scenes to the wild life. You will be able to find a great deal of plants and animals in the city. You will live the joy of being nested with the nature. 2500 kinds of general plants and 440 kinds of special to the city plants are available here. Wolves, pigs, birds, foxes and more animals are existed and give the facility of hunting.

Food & Drink

Trabzon is famous with its hamsi (anchovy). Corn, cabbage, hamsi (anchovy), bean, potato, pita and pickle are the main ingredients of the rich and limitless culinary culture of the city. Akcaabat district is famous with its kofte (meatball). You should not forget to taste it.

Main authentic foods: Corn sarma (wrapping), cabbage sarma with meat, icli tava, pita with hamsi, pazi burma, pilaf with hamsi, kuymak, water pastry, yufka sweet, laz pastry, gulya, roasted pickle, roasted cabbage, kaygana, corn soup, isirgan soup, pilaf with hamsi, corn sarma with meat, Trabzon kebab, zumur, hosmeli, muglama, borani and many more are the popular examples from the city cuisine.

Shopping

Kemeralti and Coppersmiths Bazaars are the main shopping places of Trabzon. You can buy most of the local handmade goods and handicrafts from these areas.

At the center of the city, you will encounter many antique shops.

Tekirdag City Guide

Tekirdag City Guide

Surrounded by Silivri and Çatalca districst of İstanbul from the east; Vize, Lüleburgaz, Babaeski and Pehlivanköy districts of Kırklareli from the north, and Marmara Sea and Gelibolu district of Çanakkale from the south; Tekirdağ has a 1.5 kilometer shore to the Black Sea. The metropolitan population of the city is approximately 142 thousand. Numerous festivals are organized in the city and its surrounding districts during the first week of June every year.

Tourist Attractions

Şarköy is reached through the road that bears south at the 48th kilometer of the Tekirdağ Malkara highway. Eriklice, Mürefte, and Hoşköy come right after. Approximately 30 vineyards –including five large scale ones- are located around Mürefte. Grape harvest, when grapes are picked from the vineyards, is between August and October. Some vineyards organize wine tours around this time. The Wine Museum is also worth a visit. Shopping during the tour is an option, however if you are organizing the tour yourself rather than participating in one, it is advisable to look up all the stops in advance.

Hoşköy; The beach which stretches from Eriklice, Kalamış, Mürefte, Hoşköy, Gaziköy, and Uçmakdere is known as the “wine beach”. It used to be a Byzantine metropolitan with numerous monasteries. The wine and olive produce of the area used to be transported via ships. It is approximately 100 kilometers away from Tekirdağ. Hoşköy is a town on the shore that is famous for Melen wines.
Kastro; Located north of Tekirdağ, it is very interesting with its 2.5 kilometer long beach. In this little bay where Bahçeköy river flows into the Black Sea, you can set up tents during summer time. There is also a restaurant on the river bank.

Uçmakdere; an old Greek villlage where refugees from Thessaloniki and surrounding areas settled during the population exchange. Companies organizing trekking trips include this area for its wooden houses and mesmerizing nature. You can reach Uçmakdere by turning from the Tekirdağ Şarköy highway past Barbaros and Kumbağ. Yeniköy, Hoşköy, and Mürefte are also located on this road.

The historical Hora Lighthouse was built under the orders of Sultan Abdülmecit in the Hoşköy district of Şarköy in 1861. It has been operated by the same family since then. 

Culture & Entertainment

Tekirdağ Museum is located downtown. In the museum; stone pieces such as steles, commemorative steles, statues, and figurines from Perinthos (Marmara Ereğlisi), Heraion (Karaevlialtı), Byzanthe (Barbaros), Apri (Kermeyan) and other ruin sites within the borders of Tekirdağ and findings from Naip Tumulus are on display. In addition, pieces from prehistoric times to the Byzantine era are on display. The front yard of the museum is adorned with Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architectural pieces, sarcophagi, tombstones, tablets, pillars, statues, milestones, and reliefs.

Rakoczi Museum is the house where the Hungarian Prince Francis II Rakoczi lived between 1720 and 1735. It was restored into its original state in 1932 by the Hungarian government and made into a museum. Historical pieces from the era and the prince’s personal items are on display here.

Namık Kemal House was built in 1840 using the same model as old Tekirdağ houses in commemoration of the poet’s memory. His poems and ethnographical items are on display.

Rüstem Pasha Mosque, located in Ertuğrul neighborhood, was built under the orders of Rüstem Pasha who was the son-in-law of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.The marble fountain in the courtyard is covered by pentagonic roof coated with lead.

The Old Mosque, another mosque located in Ertuğrul neighborhood, was built in 1830 under the order of Ahmet Ağa of Tekirdağ who was the minister of agriculture at the time.

The octagonal fountain in front of the mosque is adorned with curtain motifs. The hexagonal altar-niche has an oyster motif. 

Food & Drink

Tekirdağ meatballs, without a doubt, is at the top of the list of tastes to try. You can find it on Hüseyin Pehlivan Street, very close to where the Museum of Archeology is located. Seafood restaurants are another spot to try the other specialty food of the area. The sea coast definitely is the right place for this experience. The downtown area, on the other hand, is great for some snacks or fast food.

Desserts that Balkan immigrants have brought with them; cheese halva –also known as höşmerim- should be tried. Kemalpasha dessert, also known as Hayrabolu dessert in the area, is another recommendation.

Tekirdag is know as home of famous Turkish Drink Raki.Tekirdağ Rakisi is famous for its characteristic flavor, believed to be due to the artesian waters of Çorlu used in its production. Tekirdağ Rakısı is 45% ABV and has 1.7 grams of anise per liter.

Shopping

Handcrafted rugs and bag are available in the town of Karacakılavuz, located approximately 20 km northeast of Tekirdağ. Locals of the area continue to keep these Yörük (nomadic) traditions alive through making these beautiful items. Outlets around Çorlu are another spot for shopping. These areas welcome visitors from not only Tekirdağ but also neighboring cities.

Sivas City Guide

Sivas City Guide

Located at the east of Central Anatolia Region, Sivas is, considering its area, the second biggest city of Turkey (Konya is the first). Rising at the spot bonding the Silk Road routes in Anatolia, the city is settled on a field starting from the high plateaus of Central Anatolia and extending as far as the mountainous and steep areas at the east. Sivas is famous with its Kangal Dog, a kind of dog peculiar to the city.

Tourist Attractions

Having historic artifacts, museums, scenic beauties, caves, madrasahes, hamams (Turkish bathes), plateaus, cupolas and tombs, Sivas has a great potential for tourism.

Sifaiye Madrasah, Cifte Minareli (two minarets) Madrasah, Gok Madrasah and Buruciye Madrasah all are historical significances at the center of the city. You will be amazed at these structures of 13th century.

Divrigi Ulu Mosque at Divrigi district is a beyond example masterpiece in the city. Cited in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the mosque was constructed in 1228. Do not leave the city without experiencing the artifact. Sivas Ulu Mosque, Sivas Kale (Castle) Mosque and Divrigi Kale Mosque are the examples among the other expressive mosques.

Sarissa City at Altinyayla District is one of the important settlement areas of the Hitit Empire. You can enter the city through 4 doors of the ramparts enclosing it.

Asik Veysel Museum is placed at Sarikisla district. Asik Veysel, one of the famous Turkish troubadours, was born at Sarikisla. The Museum was the home of the troubadour before his death. Also, Ataturk Congress and Ethnography Museum is the other important museum that you should not miss.

There are more than 50 caves at the Zara District. You should see this craftsman made structures.

The city is too generously behaved toward by the nature. Kangal Balikli Hot Spring, Kizilirmak River, Yesilirmak River Basin, Kelkit Stream, Tozanli Stream, Todorge Lake, Gurun Gokpınar Lake, Hafik Lake and more are the natural beauties of the city. Especially, Kangal Balikli Hot is famous with its fishes. Many tourists come and camp here.

Culture & Entertainment

Sivas has a pretty rich culture. Handicrafts, local dances and authentic music are well developed in the city.

Handloom (carpet, kilim, rug), knitting, making rawhide sandal, making silvery goods, making knife are important cultural reflections in Sivas. The city is famous, especially, with its carpets.

Endemic dances are diversified and beyond the measure of you.

Hunting, hill climbing, trekking, camping, water skiing, rafting, angling and skiing is pervasive at the city as a consequence of the climatic and geographic conditions.

There are lots of natural beauties harboring different kinds of birds and fishes. Kizilirmak delta, Todorge Lake, Palas Lake, Sultansazligi, Seyfe Lake and more a lot are examples from this kind of species. You should experience these areas.

Food & Drink

Sivas has fairly a rich culinary culture. The cuisine is mainly based on agricultural products. While you can find vegetables all time during the year vegetable foods present more alternatives in autumn. Soup stands in the first rank concerned with the popularity of the city dishes. Also, pastries and sweets of the city are rather popular.

Soups; Perkutan (flour, yogurt), pancar, kesme, tarhana, turnip, potato, noodle, lentil, wheat, dugulcek soups...

Meat Foods: Meat with vegetable, Sivas kebab, pehli, cirli meat, yaprak sarma (wrapping grape leaf around a bit of stuffing), cabbage sarma (wrapping cabbage leaf around a bit of stuffing), dolmas, meatballs (kadin budu kofte, sulu kofte, mirik kofte without meat, yahni, mihlama)...

Vegetables: Cabbage foods, potato tiritli, madimak (a kind of plant) foods...

Pastries: Water borek, koylu borek, yufka borek, tel borek, yarimca borek, dible...

Sweets: Baklava, date, tava date (pan date), sarigi burma, kadayif, hasude, paluze, karas, fig dolma, balli borek (honey pastry)...

Shopping

Carpets peculiar to the city, famous Sivas kilims, bric a bracs, handmade sockes, combes, knives, and silver goods all are the authentic commodities.

Ataturk Street is the main shopping place in the city. Most of the shopping centers are centralized here. Sifaiye Madrasah, Municipality Bazaar, Goldsmiths Market and Pasa Mosque are the other main shopping locations in Sivas.

Sirnak City Guide

Sirnak City Guide

The city of Şırnak, in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, is located on the border with Syria and Iraq. While the area of Şırnak goes back a long way historically, the history of the city center -on the other hand- which was built on the slopes of the Namaz Mountain is relatively more recent. When Şırnak became a province in 1990, this center also became more prominent. The name of the city, which is famous for the prophet Noah and the flood, is said to have derived from “the City of Noah” in relation to the legend as well. 

Tourist Attractions

In Şırnak, you can come by traces of numerous civilizations. The region has been under the reign of many dynasties and governments; which were founded in Mesopotamia, Iran, and Anatolia. Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, Persians, Alexander the Great, Romans, Byzantines, and Sassanids are only some of the civilizations that ruled the city in the pre-Islamic era. Şırnak, in the Islamic era, fell under the rule of the Umayyads, Abbasids, the Great Seljuk Empire, Artuqids, the Atabegs of Mosul, and the Ayyubids respectively. The Ottoman Empire took over the region by ending the rule of the Beys of Cizre in 1627.

According to the Islamic faith, the grave of the prophet Noah is believed to be located in Cizre; with the fact that Şırnak was called “Şehri Nuh (the City of Noah)” at one time and the fact that the ramparts of Cizre are shaped like a ship shown as proof of that. In the basement of Nuh Peygamber (Prophet Noah) Mosque, there is a five meter long sarcophagus that is said to belong to Prophet Noah. At the altar of the prayer site, which one comes up against after going down to the basement through narrow stairs, there is a motif in red and blue that was engraved on white stone.

According to the narrative; Noah, who was born 1742 years after the death of Adam, lived for approximately 950 years. He was 50 when he became a prophet and 500 when he built an ark as commanded by God when he could not get his people to listen to him. He got on board the ark with his wife and three sons by the names of Shem, Japheth, and Ham; his three daughters-in-law and a pair of every animal. An incessant rain that lasted forty days and forty nights flooded the Earth. The Earth was underwater for a total of 150 days. When the waters withdrew, Noah's Ark took ground on Mount Cudi.

Mount Cudi is located 18 kilometers southeast of Şırnak. It is impossible to go up Mount Judi, which is a significant place for both domestic and international tourism, with a vehicle. It is possible to go up on foot from a few locations. The most convenient route is the one that starts from the Griçolya site of the village of Kösreli (Hesana) in Silopi. The climb takes about 45 minutes. The 500 square meter plain below the summit is called Sefine (Ship) and is believed to be where Noah's Ark is located.

This spot is covered by a stone wall of one or two meters. In various sources, it is stated that this place is a place of worship that was built by the order of Noah and then after the expansion of Christianity, a church by the name of Deyrüc Cudi was built here.

Moving westward from Sefine, two cisterns made of stone and natural wells are seen. In the place called Çılmire, southeast of Sefine; various reliefs, stone sculptures, and an inscription that belongs to the Assyrian king Sennacherib (Sanherib) can be seen. The large cave located in close proximity to the summit also attracts the attention of travelers -domestic and international alike-with various animal reliefs.

Şırnak In One Day
You can tour the city center in the afternoon and go a little bit outside of the city in the early hours of the day. Mount Cudi ancient city and caves; Nuh Peygamber (Prophet Noah) Mosque and the Ulu Mosque in Cizre are among places worth seeing. Events you should not miss if you happen to come to Şırnak at the right time are the Nowruz Festival which takes place on March 21st, Culture-Spring Festival which takes place in the beginning of June, Lamb Shearing Festival which takes place in July in the district of Beytüşşebap, and Our İdil Festival in the first week of October.

City Tours and Transportation
You can tour the central regions in Şırnak by walking or renting a car. Additionally, it is possible to travel between districts and villages using minibuses and buses.

Nearby Locatıons
Silopi Nuh Nebi (Prophet Noah) Mosque and Madrasah is approximately 2 km away from the district center. It can be seen in the village of Birlik. The structure, which is located in the cemetery area that is southwest of the village, lies on an east-west direction. The mosque and madrasah are located south and north, respectively, of the courtyard in the middle.

Finik Fortress and Ruins in the village of Damlarca in the district of Güçlükonak can be visited. The fortress is located 12 km from the Cizre-Şırnak junction, north of the Tigris River and on the upper side of the highway. The rampart ruins in the outer fortress lie on a north-south direction. This region, Finik, is situated at a spot that overlooks the Tigris River and Valley. On both hillsides, there are various ruins and caves.

Another monument you should see is the Faki Tayran Mosque. The mosque, which is also located within the borders of the village of Damlarca in the district of Güçlükonak, is known as Faki Teyran Madrasah among locals as well.

Culture & Entertainment

Museums, Public Squares, Historical Locations, Monuments
Cizre Fortress can be seen in the city center on the banks of the Tigris River. The fortress is made up of two fortifications; the inner and the outer. The fortress, the construction process of which can be traced from the Roman and Byzantine periods, took its present form during the rule of the Seljuks and the Beys of Cizre.

In the district center of Cizre, another structure you can see is the Cizre Ulu Mosque (Grand Mosque of Cizre) in the Dağkapı Neighborhood. In the 8 tablets that are located in the mosque, the year of construction of which is not known for certain, it is stated that the mosque was built during the times of the Atabegs of Mosul (1155-1160 Gregorian Calendar) and was repaired in the years of 1203 and 1284. Cizre Ulu Mosque, which is still open for worship, is one of the most authentic structures of the region.

The Red Madrasah, in the Dağkapı Neighborhood, is another monument you can visit. This madrasah, designed in a proper rectangle shape, was built over the remains of the ramparts to the west. In the middle of the southern facade of the madrasah, there is the pentagonal tomb of Sheikh Ahmed El-Cezeri.
Abdaliye Madrasah and Mem-u Zin Tomb can be visited in the cemetery located in the Dağkapı Neighborhood, south of Cizre. The madrasah was built by Amir Seyfettin Bohti in year A.D. 1437. The Tomb of Mem-u Zin, the entrance of which is through the courtyard, was built for the characters of a love story. Within the graves in the tomb lie the lovers Mem (Memo) and Zin (Zinet) and Bekir (Beko) who wanted to break them up.

You can visit the museum that was opened in the name of İsmail Ebul-iz El Cezeri, an inventor from Cizre. El Cezeri, who is said to be the first scientist to have worked in cybernetics and robotics, is also known for his book where he illustrated and wrote about the machines he made. Findings from the area are also displayed in this museum that was opened in the name of the 12th century inventor.

Parks, Games, Events, and Natural Areas
Almost all of the city of Şırnak is made up of tall masses of the Southeastern Taurus Mountains. However, the most significant ridge of the area is Mount Cudi. Among other important mountains are Küpeli Mountain, Kelmehmet Mountain, Gabar Mountain, Namaz Mountain, and Altın (Gold) Mountains. Another determinant of the geography is the Tigris Basin. First and foremost the Tigris River, and Kısılsu, Habur, and Hezil Streams are the important rivers.

The Tigris Basin, which falls within the city borders in the locality of Koçtepe, comes together with the Khabur Basin and heads towards Syrian lands. In this geography with fertile lands on all sides; valleys that sometimes deepen also widen and become even. Kızılsu Valley starts from the southern slopes of Yassı Mountain. The valley then crosses the Kasrik Mountain Pass in the south and afterwards unites with the Tigris Valley.

You can see the wild nuts called bıttım that grow on the hillsides of the city; and oleanders and olives in places where the Mediterranean climate dominates and also on the riverbanks. The mountainous areas that fall within the forest belt form a suitable area for wild animals. Foxes, rabbits, sandpipers, partridges, ducks, geese, cranes, and quails can be counted among wild animals that are seen most often.

Food & Drink

A cuisine that is unique to Şırnak and very rich awaits you. Dishes that are made for special occasions should definitely be tasted. Kutlık, serbıdev, perde pilaf, kipe, hekeheşandi, şımşıpe, meyre (mehir), bırınzer, mahmılatık, fıreydin, and suryaz can be counted among local dishes.

Shopping

Şırnak provides quite a lot of options in terms of handcrafted products and souvenirs. Felting, and carpet and rug weaving are the main handicrafts in Şırnak. Hand knitted wool socks, leg warmers, and belts are also made, embroidered with yörük knitting patterns.

Sinop City Guide

Sinop City Guide

Sinop is situated on Boztepe Cape and Peninsula, which is the sharpest point toward the north, on the shore of the Black Sea. It is surrounded by Kastamonu from the west, Çorum from the south, Samsun from the southeast, and the Black Sea from the north sides. From its 475 kilometer long borders, the 300 kilometer long portion is on land, while the remaining 175 kilometers are to the sea. Having a very rich history, the first settlement in Sinop began in Istifan (Stephana), Sinop (Sinope), and Kabalı Stream valleys, located in Ayancık.These settlements date back to the 4500s BC. Having a splendid nature in addition to its history, Sinop is a very important historical and touristic city in the region.

Tourist Attractions

Sinop Fortress: Built in 7th century BC in order to protect the city, it was used after restorations during the rule of Romans, Byzantines, and Seljuks. Today, it stands as one of the historic symbols of the city. 

Balatlar Church: This building, believed to have been used as a theater or bath in Roman times, was transformed into a church by the Byzantine Empire. In 2000, the church was nationalized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and was opened to visitors.

Alaaddin Mosque: It was built right after Sinop was conquered, during the rule of the Seljuks. In the middle of its courtyard, there is a fountain, while there are tombs from the Isfendiyarogullari Beylik on another corner.

Pasha Bastion: It was built during the Ottoman-Russian wars on the southeastern part of the Sinop Peninsula for purposes of protection from the attacks coming from the sea, in the 19th century. The bastion, shaped like a crescent, is made of 11 cannon seats, an arsenal, and a cellar. Today, it is a touristic establishment with restaurants.

Old Sinop Prison – Old Sinop Shipyard: The area where the prison is located used to be the biggest shipyard in the Black Sea during Ottoman rule. The prison, which was built on the old shipyard in the inner chamber of the fortress, was started to be used as a prison in 1887. Today, the prison is used as a museum.

Martyrdom: The Martyrdom located on the grounds of the Sinop Museum was made for the sailors who were killed in the 1853 Ottoman-Russian war.

Camp Grounds: Within the natural surroundings of Sinop, there are numerous camp grounds. Among those are Özel İdare Karakum Holiday Village, Gazi Forest Camp Ground, Yuvam Tesisleri , Güney Kamping , Martı Kamping in the Akliman district, and Demirkollar Kamping

Akliman District: Akliman, 9 kilometers west from downtown Sinop, is famous with its wide and long beaches. Picnic areas where the forest and the sea are intertwined are among the most important meeting spots of the city.

Hamsilos Bay: Hamsilos,11 kilometers away from downtown, was declared as a First Degree Protected Natural Area by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. An untouched natural area where the sea and the forest are meshed together...

Mobil and Korucuk Village Localities: It is the area that is frequented the most by tourists with its peaceful sea and spotless beaches.

Akgöl: Located in the district of Ayancık, Akgöl is an area of plateau tourism. The artificial pond and its surroundings are used as picnic and promenade areas.

İnaltı Cave: Stairs for visitors are available in the cave, which is located in Ayancık.

Erfelek Waterfalls: These untouched waterfalls, 42 kilometers away from downtown Sinop, are located near Tatlıca village, located in the district of Erfelek. 28 waterfalls, varying in size, located a two kilometer long valley create a paradise-like atmosphere.

Culture & Entertainment

Being very rich in culture, the settlement of Sinop has begun in the Bronz Age, making the city one of the oldest in Anatolia. Sinop; which came under Roman, Byzantian, Seljuk, and Ottoman rule in 70 BC, 395 AD, October 3rd 1214, and 1461 respectively; underwent hellenization in language and culture as a result of Orthodox Christianity. However, the expansion of the Turk-Islam culture after Sinop came under Turkish rule laid the foundations of the city’s current structure. Having a priceless cultural heritage with its archeological ruins, ethnology, and folklore; Sinop will celebrate the 795th anniversary of living under Turkish rule in 2009.

Being the land of many civilizations from the Early Bronze Age to our time and having the castles, mosques, tombs, masjids, and bastions remaining from them; Sinop displays this heritage in its city museum.

In addition to the historical cultural heritage, Sinop also hosts annual events. Sinop Festival, Ayancık Festival, and Gerze Festival take place in July and Karakucak Wrestling Festival takes place in April and August, while Türkeli Summer Festival takes place in August.

Food & Drink

In this region,where all kinds of fruits and vegetables are grown, fishing is also very common. Due to this reason, a large part of the local dishes are made of vegetables and fish. Pastries are also common in the cuisine. The pastry called “nokul” -made of minced meat, grapes, walnuts, and sugar-, keşkek (kashkak), pita called “katlama” (folded), manti –traditional Turkish dumpling- called “kulak (ear)”, cerkez tavuğu (Circassian chicken), pita with minced meat, saç böreği (a pastry made on a sheet iron), kuyu kebabi (pit kabob), and hamsi dolması (stuffed anchovy) are important ones among the region’s unique dishes.

Shopping

Among the handcrafted souvenirs in Sinop, yachting is not only very developed, but also praised by tourists. Linen textile and “cember” made on small workbenches are admired by the public and used as both headscarfs and for decorative purposes. Carpets and rugs and handiwork with beads, which are all made by the prisoners in the central prison, are very famous. Linen handmade textile are very common in the Ayancık region. Mahrama and Durağan Cloth are woven in the district of Durağan. In addition to the local merchandise, modern shopping places for all potential needs are available.

Sanliurfa City Guide

Sanliurfa City Guide

Located at the Southeast Anatolia Region, Sanliurfa having a history tracing back to 7000 B.C. has a 789 km border with Syria at its south. The city is the 7th largest city with an area of 18.584 km2 and the 9th biggest city with a population of 601.293 in Turkey. It is regarded as the city of prophets. Ibrahim Prophet was born here. Eyup Prophet lived here. The city was blessed by Jesus.

Tourist Attractions

Sanliurfa is the oldest center of polytheism. The seed of monotheism was sowed at this city.
Ibrahim known as the forefather of Judaism, Christianity and Islam was born and threw into the fire at Sanliurfa. The city is among the few cities placed at the Euphrates-Tigris Basin known as the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization. Sanliurfa is named as the museum city with its archeological, historical, cultural presence and sight. If you want to learn and understand the yesterday you should visit Sanliurfa.

Standing as one of the districts of the city, Historical Harran City is placed at 44 km southeast of Sanliurfa and is the most valuable element of the city's historical treasury. Harran is one of the oldest settlements and trade centers in the history. Every year, thousands of domestic and foreign tourists come here. You should anyhow experience this place when visiting the city.

Gobeklitepe is one of the crucial archeological structures in the city. It is a settlement belonging to the Neolithic term. This field covering an area of 80.000 m2 has a history tracing back to 9.500 B.C.

Balikli Lake at the southwest of the center of the city is another historical place. The lake known as the place where Ibrahim Prophet was thrown into the fire by King Nemrut is visited by thousands of tourists every day. You should not make the mistake of missing this historical location.

Culture & Entertainment
Handicrafts and authentic folk music constitute the fabric of the city culture.

Furriery, felt making, copper working, the work of jewellery, handloom and quarrying are well developed as the main authentic elements of art peculiar to the city.

Karacadag Skiing Center at Karacadag is one of the favourite places in winter. If you come to Sanliurfa in winter you should pay a visit here.

Also, nature tourism is, as a consequence of the natural benefactions, considerably well developed in the city. Birecik district is a recreating place harbouring different kinds of birds such as kelaynak, gazelle, lizards. Fırat River and Birecik Dam edges and Ceylanpinar district are wonderlands waiting for the ones among you wishing to become a united whole with the nature.

Food & Drink

The city cuisine is comparatively rich and delicious. In addition to the large and tasty menu of Sanliurfa, Halilibrahim convention of the city is well known in Turkey. The local people are fond of sharing with their guests. This custom takes root from Ibrahim Prophet. He did not to eat his meal without sharing with any guest.

Sanliurfa is famous with its kebabs in Turkey. Kebab with meat, kemeli kebab, ciger kebab, tike kebab, kazan kebab, tas kebab, Urfa kebab, balcanli kebab are examples from the rich kebab menu of the city. Also, Bostana is a popular lettuce peculiar to the city.

Yogurt soup, hamurlu, pit pit, cagala asi, agzi yumuk, arpa (wheat) lebeni, aya kofte, ciger kebab, cig kofte, comlek, dolmali kofte, renkli kebab, wheat pilaf with tomato, duvakli pilaf, elma asi, has has kebab, icli kofte, zucchini oturma, kadayif sweet, lentil kofte, potato kebab, aubergine kebab, pirpirim kavurma (roasted purslane) and many more are the local foods of the city.

Shopping

Sanliurfa is teemed with historical bazaars. Kazzaz, Sipahi, Koltukcu (armchairs), Pamukcu (cotton selling), Oturakci, Kinaci, Picakci, Kazanci, Neccar, Isotcu, Demirci (blacksmith), Culcu, Cadirci (tent), Sarrac, Attar, Tenekeci (tinsmithes), Eskici, Kececi (makers of felt), Kasap (butcher) and too many more bazaars are available in the city.