Türkiye: History and wonders between two continents

Türkiye

 

History and wonders between two continents

It is the 7th most visited country on the planet, due to its historical importance and its ancient traditions. Its official name is the Republic of Turkey and, although its main city is Istanbul, the capital is Ankara. The country spans Europe (3%) and Asia (97%). The Turkey that we know today was born after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, during the First World War (1914-1918).

It is one of the territories where the Neolithic revolution took place, where humans went from hunters to gatherers, farmers and ranchers. Later, Istanbul would be the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (Second Rome or Constantinople), until it was taken over by the Arabs. Today Turkey has more than 80 thousand mosques (Muslim temples), about 30 thousand are in Istanbul. Some of these are modified Christian churches.

Among its tourist attractions, the Istanbul Bazaar stands out, one of the oldest commercial centers, dating from shortly after Constantinople fell in 1453. This bazaar covers 64 streets with more than 4,000 stores.

Turkey was invaded by the world's main empires (Persians, Romans, Mongols, Greeks, etc.), so its ethnic composition is very diverse. 28 different languages ​​are spoken, of which Arabic, Kurdish and Zazaki stand out. Its gastronomy reflects the large number of civilizations that inhabited the area, highlighting the kebab, durum, hummus, dolma, borek, baklava, kofte, kisir, kunefe, ezogelin çorbası, and tavuk göğsü (pudding based on chicken breast). Turkish coffee (or Turkish coffee) has maintained the same method of preparation since the 16th century. This is taken without milk and usually without sugar. Having coffee with family and friends is a gesture of great importance to your society.

Being on the Anatolian peninsula, the country is bathed by the waters of the Black Sea (colder and less salty waters) and the Mediterranean (with a climate of the same name). On the Cappadocia plateau, you can see the famous Fairy Chimneys, mounds produced by erosion over thousands of years. Currently they are used as houses and temples. The views that form from the air make Cappadocia the ideal place for a balloon ride.

Despite being mountainous, it has snowy landscapes in winter, due to its more than 130 peaks that reach 3,000 meters in height. This is conducive to ski slopes, which are among the most important in the world. Much of the population lives in Mediterranean areas.

On the Turkish coast are the ruins of the city of Troy, where the events of Homer's epic poem The Iliad took place . Similarly, some of the landscapes in the Bible are set in present-day Turkey, including Mount Ararat, where Noah's Ark is supposed to have been after the Flood. Saint Paul the Apostle was born in Tarsus, while Saint Nicholas was born in Patara (an ancient city in the Lycia region). It is thought that the Virgin Mary spent her last days in a house located on Mount Sulimusi. Cappadocia, for its part, was the first refuge of Christians, after the death of Jesus Christ.

Türkiye has 18 cultural heritage sites recognized by UNESCO. The world's first sanctuary or temple is at Göbekli Tepe and is one of the most important archaeological sites in history. Some of the stones date back more than 12,000 years, before humanity discovered agriculture.

If history had any flag, it would resemble that of Türkiye. A country that surrounds history in its four cardinal points.