Turkey Facts
The only city in the world located on two continents is Istanbul, which has been the capital of three great empires, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman for more than 2 millennia.
Istanbul has a 540-year-old covered shopping mall (the famous Grand Bazaar) that consists of 64 streets, 22 entrances, 4000 shops, and 25,000 workers.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Temple of Artemis, two of the seven wonders of the ancient world, were located in Turkey.
Coins were used by the Lydians in 640 BC for the first time in history.
Anatolia is the birthplace of Herodotus (the father of history), of Homer (born in Izmir) who is the writer of the famous epic Iliad, and of Aesop, the famous parable and fable writer.
Anatolia is also the location of the first known beauty contest in which Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena were leading participants.
The oldest known human settlement, Catalhoyuk, was located in Turkey (7500 BC).
Wine was being produced in Anatolia as early as 4000BC.
Julius Ceasar proclaimed his words I came, I saw, I conquered in Turkey when he defeated the formidable Pontian Kingdom of the Black Sea.
According to legends, Noah's Ark landed on Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat) in Eastern Turkey.
Turks introduced coffee to Europe.
Leonardo da Vinci designed a bridge over the Bosphorus but it was never built.
Istanbul's Robert College, established in 1863, is the oldest American school situated outside the United States.
Cappadocia was the place where about 2 millennia ago Early Christians found shelter, escaping severe Roman persecutions.
The oldest known church, St. Peter's Church, is located in the Turkish town of Antioch (Antakya).
The Famous Trojan Wars took place in western Turkey, around the site where a wooden statue of the Trojan Horse rests today.
Turkey provides nearly 70% of the hazelnuts in the world.
Istanbul has a 540-year-old covered shopping mall (the famous Grand Bazaar) that consists of 64 streets, 22 entrances, 4000 shops, and 25,000 workers.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Temple of Artemis, two of the seven wonders of the ancient world, were located in Turkey.
Coins were used by the Lydians in 640 BC for the first time in history.
Anatolia is the birthplace of Herodotus (the father of history), of Homer (born in Izmir) who is the writer of the famous epic Iliad, and of Aesop, the famous parable and fable writer.
Anatolia is also the location of the first known beauty contest in which Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena were leading participants.
The oldest known human settlement, Catalhoyuk, was located in Turkey (7500 BC).
Wine was being produced in Anatolia as early as 4000BC.
Julius Ceasar proclaimed his words I came, I saw, I conquered in Turkey when he defeated the formidable Pontian Kingdom of the Black Sea.
According to legends, Noah's Ark landed on Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat) in Eastern Turkey.
Turks introduced coffee to Europe.
Leonardo da Vinci designed a bridge over the Bosphorus but it was never built.
Istanbul's Robert College, established in 1863, is the oldest American school situated outside the United States.
Cappadocia was the place where about 2 millennia ago Early Christians found shelter, escaping severe Roman persecutions.
The oldest known church, St. Peter's Church, is located in the Turkish town of Antioch (Antakya).
The Famous Trojan Wars took place in western Turkey, around the site where a wooden statue of the Trojan Horse rests today.
Turkey provides nearly 70% of the hazelnuts in the world.
