Canakkale City Guide
Çanakkale, which unites two continents with its shores and connects the Marmara Sea with the Aegean; where the bloodiest battles of the Gallipoli Campaign took place, the home of the numerous martyrdoms, monuments and cemeteries such as the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park and ancient civilizations such as Troy and Assos; holds a very important place in tourism, both on an international and a domestic level.
Tourist Attractions
Troy: The city of Troas or Troia, the land of Homer’s –the famous poet from İzmir- epics Illiad and Odyssey, is located in Hisarlık which is near the village of Tevfikiye and 30 km away from Çanakkale. Archaeological excavations have uncovered settlement areas from different time periods, city walls, foundations of houses, a temple and a theater. A symbolic horse made of wood reminds one of the old war. Its historical port Alexandria-Troas was built in 3rd century BC.
Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park: The park which was built in 1973 and is on the United Nations National Parks and Protected Areas list, is located on the south end of the Gallipoli Peninsula, sitting on a 33 thousand hectar area on the European side of the Çanakkale Strait. Places where the Çanakkale sea and ground battles of World War I took place, are included in the park. Also, the graves of and monuments for 250,000 Turkish soldiers and again more than 250,000 Australian, New Zealander, English, and French soldiers in addition to the vast variety of artifacts such as sunken ships, cannons, trenches, fortresses, vastions and other artifacts of war are located here.
Muriel Bazaar (Aynalı Çarşı or Mirror Bazaar): It was built during the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II in 1889. According to an unconfirmed rumor, it was built long before that and mentioned by Evliya Celebi in his Seyahatname (Book of Travels). Also according to this rumor, it was restored during the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II and opened for business at that time.
Assos (Behramkale): Assos, located in the district of Ayvacık, hosts domestic and international tourists during all four seasons. The Acropolis in the district is 238 m. above sea level. The Temple of Athena was built here on the same spot in 6th century BC. It has become a ritual to watch moonlight reflecting on the ruins of the temple or to get up early and watch the Gulf of Edremit from the top of the city as the sun rises. Chryse, the city where the Temple of Apollo Smintheus was built in 2nd century BC in the village of Gülpınar, is located 25 km to the west of Behramkale.
Bozcaada(Tenedos): 15 nautical miles away from the Çanakkale Strait, Bozcaada is located 3.4 nautical miles away from the Yükyeri ferry boat dock in the Geyikli region of the Ezine district. Twelve paradise-like bays; which are Liman Bay (Port Bay), Değirmenler Bay (Mills Bay), Poyraz Port (Northeaster Port), Çanak Port (Dish Port), Çapraz Port (Diagonal Port), Kocatarla Port (Bigfield Port), Lagor Port , Ayana Port, Ayazma Bay, Sulubahçe Koyu (Waterygarden Bay), and Habbeli Bay (Grainy Bay) are located on the island. From the diving center on the island, trips are arranged to these bays. The Venetian Fortress, located on the shore, is an important historical structure. Bozcaada, one of the first centers of world winemaking, is the place where grapeharvest festivals are organized at the end of summer.
Gökçeada (Imbros): Sacred fountains and monasteries are located on various parts of the various colored pine and olive tree covered hills of Gökçeada, the largest island within Turkish waters. It is one of the richest islands in the worlds in terms of its fresh water springs. Diving trips are organized to the bays of the island.
Saros: Gulf of Saros, a popular spot for diving due to its proximity to İstanbul, is the home of numerous sunken ruins. Captain Franco which lies on the way out of the Çanakkale Strait and Lundy which lies 30 meters out of Kemikli in the Gulf of Saros are among sunken ruins that you can dive in. You can run into any type of ruins, both old and new, in 15 and 30 meter depth in the straits. The underwater fauna is very rich including black corals.
Dardanos: It is located in Maltepe, on the banks of Kalabaklı Stream which is 11 km away from Çanakkale. This mausoleum is made up of a corridor, front room, and the main burial chamber. Within it, along with a number of skeletons; golden jewellery, materials made of cooked clay and bronze, candles/oil lamps, tear bottles, and musical instruments were found. Structures from Archaic, Ionian, and Roman times were also present in the grave.
Gülpınar: Apollon Smintheus Temple among the ruins that were discovered around Ayvacık, where the first part of the Illiad takes place, is located in Gülpınar. The ruins of the temple and the artifacts discovered from there are displayed in the museum here.
Zeus Altar: The cave located at the upper part of the village of Adatepe-within the Küçükkuyu region- which faces the cliff is known as Zeus’s cave.
Alexandreia: It is located in the village of Dalyan. It was built in the place of a village called “Sgia” in 310 BC. The city, which had developed as a powerful and wealthy center of commerce, maintained its importance during the Roman times.
Neandria: It is located on Çığrı Mountain near the village of Kayacı. The walls surrounding the city are 3 meters thick and 3,200 meters long.
Sestos: Located in the village of Yalova, 4 km from Eceabat. It is built to the south of the Akbaş Port. Stones from the Sestos Castle were used in building the Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror Kilitbahir Castle.
Culture & Entertainment
Having been the home of the world’s richest cultures, Çanakkale offers not only ancient ruin sites such as Troy, Assos, and Dardanos; but also the artifacts that are excavated from those sites in the Çanakkale Museum. It is possible to see a rich content on various floors of the museum such as the artifacts from Troy, hatchets from the Paleolithic Age, prehistoric findings from Beşige Tepe, Hellenistic Age artifacts from the tumuli in Çan and Yenice, Dardanos tumulus, and artifacts from excavations in Assos (Behramkale) and Gülpınar (Apollon Smintheion Holy Area).
The celebrations/commemorations which are organized annually on March 18th for the Gallipoli War, hold an important place in the cultural life of the city. Also every year, ANZAC Day celebrations are organized, for the thousands of people who come from Australia and New Zealand, on April 25th. Additionally, the Greek population who have lived in or migrated to the region, organize various celebrations during summer months in Bozcaada (Tenedos) and Gökçeada (Imbros).
The International Troy Festival, which is organized every August, celebrated its 45th year in 2008. Various events related to art and culture are organized during the festival.
Food & Drink
Among the dishes that are unique to the region are sütlü soup (soup with milk), yoghurt soup, dry gumbo, horse bean keşkek (a dish made of pounded wheat and meat), tumbi (a dish with eggplant), eggplant with cheese, kaçamak (a pastry made with corn flour and served with a filling), and şelame (a pastry with cheese).Surrounded by the sea from all sides, Çanakkale and its districts are a paradise for seafood. Grilled sardine, young blue fish, bluefish, bonito, spanish mackerel, red mullet, sea bream, salema, kupa fish, mackerel, and eel are exceptionally delicious. Large bonito (toric) is prepared by salting. You need to try the appetizers made with greens and various salads -such as radish salad- which are common in the districts with a shore to the sea. Compotes like plum paste and wild pear juice are made. The wines of Gökçeada (Imbros) and Bozcaada (Tenedos) are very famous.
Shopping
In recent years, the earthenware in Çanakkale continues with the making of items such as vases, flowerpots, jars, jugs, ashtrays, cups, and saltshakers. These are sold as souvenirs. Also carpet weaving is common among the nomads (yörük) in the villages of Ezine, Bayramiç, and Ayvacık. Generally the finished works are as big as a praying rug and decorated. In the villages of Bayramiç and Biga aba –strong coarse wool cloth- for clothing and linen for garments is woven, while macrame and shalwar is woven from local cotton in the villages of Eceabat. Also, the handcraft of çare, socks, and kese (hammam gloves) is very common. Grapes and wines of Bozcaada (Tenedos) and Gökçeada (Imbros) are also available everywhere.
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