Turkey Highlights

Why You Might Visit TURKEY…

• The world’s earliest human settlement Çatalhöyük is in Turkey.
• The home of the world’s earliest civilization Anatolia – Asia Minor, is in Turkey.
• Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents, Europe and Asia.
• The fourth largest cathedral in the world St. Sophia Cathedral is in Istanbul.
• The rivers Tigris and Euphrates are born and cover the upper Mesopotamia region in Turkey.
• Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are in Turkey.
• The stone monuments on Mt. Nemrut (Named the Eighth Wonder by UNESCO) are in Turkey.
• The mythological city of Troy is in Turkey.
• The world’s first beauty contest between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite was held on Mt. Ida near Troy.
• Noah’s Ark is believed to rest on Mt. Ararat in Turkey.
• The father of history Heredotis was born in Turkey.
• The ancient philosopher and historian Homer was born in ancient Smyrna (Izmir) in Turkey.
• Famous philosophers, mathematicians, physicists such as Thales, Anaximender and Anaximenes were born in Turkey.
• The world’s first coin was minted by the Lydians in the 6th century BC at Sardis in Turkey.
• The famous Royal Road started in Sardis./li>
• Gordions knot was untied by the young Alexander the Great in Turkey.
• Julius Caesar uttered his famous victory words “Veni, Vidi, Vici” in Amasia in the 1st century BC in Turkey.
• Patara the birthplace of Santa Claus is in Turkey.
• The mythical King Midas of the golden touch ruled in Turkey.
• Beautiful Cleopatra and Mark Anthony had their romantic tryst in Turkey.
• The largest library in the ancient world (2nd century BC) was at Pergamon in Turkey.
• Ephesus the most complete ancient city in the world is in Turkey.
• Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist spent the last years of their lives in Ephesus.
• St. Paul was born in Tarsus and first preached in Perge both of which are in Turkey.
• The world’s first Christian church was established by St. Peter and St. Barnabas in Antioch (Antakya) in Turkey.
• The mystic Mevlana and his order of twirling dervishes was born in Konya in Turkey.
• Cappadocia one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World is in Turkey.