Tourism in Turkey
Tourism has been rapidly developing over the past 20 to 30 years. Over 17.5 times the number of tourists are visiting Turkey since the 1980s. Revenues have increased over 5.5 times since this times period of the 1980s. Areas that are seeing the highest increases in tourism include the coastal areas like Antalya, Izmir and Istanbul. Sections of the black sea are experiencing increases as well. Just as there is a ministry for the development of athletes in Turkey there is a ministry for Culture and Tourism. This establishment exists to maintain and establish historical sights for tourists to see. SInce tourism has come to gain such a significant weight in Turkish GDP, it is important that it is overseen.
Istanbul
The city of Istanbul is one of the largest in Turkey and is the largest port city in the country. It spans two continents and is separated by the Bosporus (Boğaziçi) straight. This river is traffic heavy with many shipping and leisure boats going through. The scimitar like peninsula that juts out into the middle of the Bosporus is has been dubbed the Golden Horn and it called Haliç is Turkish meaning estuary. The tip of this point is Old Istanbul and the bridge that connects the two continets of Europe and Asia is the Boğaziçi Köprüsü or the Bosporus bridge.
Some of the important and noteworthy sights to see in Istanbul include the TopkapI SarayI or the Topkapi Palace in English. It was the official residence of Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years of their 700 year reign. It is a giant tourist attraction and a Historica Are of Istanbul. The Topkapi palace was began in 1459 and at the height of the inhabitancy it amounted to over 4000 people. The palace included hundreds of rooms along with a Hotel, Mosques, bakeries and a mint
The next site include the Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia in English It is a big tourist attraction and a historic area of Istanbul as well. The Hagia Sophia went through three different transformations in which it was first a basilica, then a mosque and is currently a museum. From 360 to 1453 served as a cathedral of Constantinople, from 1453 to 1931 was a mosque and finally in 1931 it opened as a museum. The Aya Sofya actually served as the model for many mosques that were created in the future.
The Sultanahmet Cami (mosque) as known as the Blue Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616. It is still used as a mosque today even though it is a very popular tourist attraction. It faces the Aya Sofya and was actually modeled after it as well.
The Grand Bazaar or Kapalıçarşı (means covered bazaar) covers around 58 streets and has around 4000 shops. There are approximately a quarter to half a million visitors daily. On very busy days it can actually swell to over 500,000 thousand.
Antalya
Is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. This capital of the Antalya Province and is set in the Taurus mountain range which divides the Mediterranean coastal region of southern Turkey. The city was believed to be founded around 150 BC and power over the city often switched hands from the Byzantine Empire back to the Seljuk Turks in the early 13th century. In 1927 there were around 17,000 inhabitants now around 1 million. Except for when the Russians come, it swells to well over 4 million!! Three hundred days of the year are sunny with over 3000 hours of sunlight per year, sea temperature ranges from 59 degrees to 82 during the summer. Highest recorded temperature is 113 in June while the lowest is 28 in January
Some important sights to see in Antalya include Kaleici. This is the historical city center with narrow cobbled streets. There are a myriad of hotels, restaurants and a lively city center. Cumhuriyet Square is the main square with many open air exhibitions and performances. HIdIrlIk Tower is a well known structure on the edge of Kaleici. Hadrian’s Gate is a triumphal arch built by the Roman empire.
Izmir
Third largest city and second largest port next to Istanbul. It is located on the Aegean coast. It is a very Mild climate in the summer and the city is believed to date back to 3000 B.C. One of the first contemporary cities along with Troy which is located in northwest Anatolia. As with Antalya it went through many eras of rule. Alexander the Great, Romans, Byzatinne, Seljuk turks and finally the Ottoman Empire.
Sights to see include Pergamum and Ephesus. Pergamum is an Ancient Greek City 16 miles for the Aegean Sea and was founded in 300 B.C. Ephesus is an Ancient Greek city and later a Roman City. During the Roman era it was the second largest city for many years. The temple of Artemis is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world but was destroyed in 401 AD. Furthermore, another sight to see is the Library of Celsus built in 135 AD.
Kapadokya
Ancient city that lies in eastern Anatolia. The Cappadocians were the inhabitants of this area. The city is over 1000m in altitude. It is a natural wonder as there a myriad of chimney like rock formations called peribacaları. There were also houses that were built into the rocks.
Works Cited
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya
http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Turkey/Where+to+Go
http://www.tantur.com.tr/en/tantur/izmir
http://www.washington.emb.mfa.gov.tr/AboutTurkey.aspx?ID=57
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapadokya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izmir
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya
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