Bandırma

Bandırma

An undistinguished 20th-century betonville (concrete city), the port town of Bandırma marks the junction between ferries across the Sea of Marmara from İstanbul and İzmir-bound trains.

Taking a ferry from central İstanbul to Bandırma is a quick and pleasant way to get to Anatolia, or to the Gallipoli Peninsula via Çanakkale.

Gökçeada

Gökçeada

Just north of the entrance to the Dardanelles, rugged, sparsely populated Gökçeada (Heavenly Island) is one of only two inhabited Aegean islands belonging to Turkey.

Measuring 13km from north to south and just under 30km from east to west, it is by far the nation’s largest island. Gökçeada is a fascinating place, with some dramatic scenery packed into a small area, and a Greek feel to it throughout. It’s a great place to escape to after visiting Gallipoli.

Gökçeada - Sleeping & Eating

Gökçeada - Sleeping & Eating

The old fashioned ev pansiyonu (home pension), which has virtually died out elsewhere, is still alive and kicking on Gökçeada. 

It's not unusual for locals to approach and offer you a spare room in their house, for considerably less than the prices charged by pensions and hotels.

Gökçeada town

Restaurants are clustered around the main square.

Otel Taşkın (HOTEL)

(Phone: 887 3266, www.taskinotel.com, in Turkish; Zeytinli Caddesi 3; s/d TL30/60)

In the quiet backstreets southwest of the main square. Hotel Flood has a brown-tiled exterior (including a mosaic of a gület - a wooden yatch) and spacious, good-value rooms with TV, balcony and lots of light. Breakfast takes place in the front courtyard.

Gül Hanım Mantı evi  (Restaurant)

(Phone: 887 3773, Atatürk Caddesi 23; mains TL6)

The mantı steals the show, but moussaka and chicken and spinach are also recommended at this simple home-cooking eatery.


Asmalı konak birahanesi (Cafe-bar)

(Phone:887 2469; mains TL7)

At this femaile-friendly side-street bar, the menu includes calamari, köfte, meze and fish netted by the proprietor.

Meydani Cafe  (Patisserie)

(Phone:887 4420; Atatürk caddesi 35)

For excellent snacks and shop-made desserts, this big, airy cafe attracts a young crowd.


Kaleköy

Club Masi Hotel (Boutique Hotel)

(Phone: 887 4619; www.hotelmasi.com; Eski bademli; TL125/175)
Located above the Gökçeada-Kaleköy road, the country cousin of İstanbul's Hotel Masi has stylish,modern rooms with some of island's best views.

The terrace with its outdoor pool, jacuzzi, sun loungers and bar, gazes at kaleköy castle and the Agean.

Kalimerhaba Motel (Pension)

(Phone:887 3648; erayda@msn.com; Barbaros caddesi 28; s/d TL50/70)
On Kaleköy's water-front, Kalimerhaba has some of Gökçeada's smartest, cleanest budget rooms, entered from a big, light reception and vine-covered terrace.

Kaleköy - Gökçeada

Kaleköy - Gökçeada

Although the views are dented by the presence of the military, the Gökçeada Resort Hotel and a large yatch marina, Kaleköy (formerly Kastro) exudes an infectious seaside contentment.

Above the tiny public beach and rocks are a hillside old quarter, a lovely whitewashed former Greek church and the remains of an Ottoman-era castle.

The coastline between Kaleköy and Kuzulimanı forms a Sualtı milli parkı (National marine park)

Greek villages - Gökçeada

Greek villages - Gökçeada

Heading west from Gökçeada town, you'll pass Zeytinli (Aya theodoros) after 3km, Tepeköy (Agridia), another 7km on, and Dereköy (Shinudy), another 5 km west.

All were built on hillsides overlooking the island's central valley to avoid pirate raids.

Muradiye Complex, in Bursa

Muradiye Complex, in Bursa

A dozen turbe (monumental tombs) of the Ottoman imperial family stand in a peaceful graveyard beside the Muradiye mosque.

Many of the tombs belong to the losers of various dynastic feuds --- imperial princes murdered by their sovereign brother, father or cousin --- and are exquisitely decored, as if to exorcise evil memories, Murad II himself (ruled 1431-1451) lies in a severely ascetic and roofless turbe--- perhaps a rebuke to his father's funerary extravaganza at the Green Tomb, elsewhere in the city.

Grand Mosque - Bursa

Grand Mosque - Bursa

The Grand Mosque of Bursa, built in 1399, was the last monumental example of Ulucami--- a mosque design based on a series of parallel domes supported on piers, which later Ottoman architects abandoned in favour of a single central dome.

The effect of the interior is very different (and we think more impressive) than better known mosques of the Ottoman Classical period verses in Istanbul and Edirne.

A matchless collection of Arabic calligraphy, mostly verses of the Qur'an, decorate the mosque interior.

The Grand Mosque of Bursa

Bayezid II complex, in Edirne

Bayezid II complex, in Edirne

One of the most perfect ensembles of Ottoman architecture stans semi-deserted in foggy waterlogged plain outside Edirne. Built in 1488, it clusters around three vast courtyards.

A mosque is in the middle; a medrese (islamic college) occupies the left flank, while on the right is a medical compound which once

Naval Museum - Istanbul

Naval Museum - Istanbul

The Naval Museum was first founded in 1897 in Kasımpaşa as the Museum and Library Administration Office.

A ship model workshop was added to the museum by Cemal Pasha in the year 1914 and the foundation of its present status was thus layed.

Sadberk Hanim Museum- Istanbul

Sadberk Hanim Museum- Istanbul

The Sadberk Hanim Museum situated at the entrance of Sarıyer has been launched at old Azaryan Yalı in the memory of Sadberk Hanım, the wife of Vehbi Koç and was opened in the year 1981.

In the archaeological works section which is the first building of the two buildings there are works from the prehistoric period dating back to 6000 BC upto late Byzantine period.

Grand Bazaar -Istanbul

Grand Bazaar -Istanbul

Covered Bazaar which is the biggest bazaar of Istanbul is situated right in the middle of the city. Its construction dates back to a period after 1453 when Istanbul was conquered.

The Bazaar which consisted of two bedestens originally has been enlarged with attachements that were built later. The bazaar is surrounded with inns which constitute a part of the bazaar.

Egyptian Spice Bazaar - Istanbul

Egyptian Spice Bazaar - Istanbul

The Spice Bazaar is located next to the Flower Market on the banks of the Golden Horn called Makron and Envalos by the Byzantine and Eminönü by the Ottomans.

The Spice Bazaar is one of the most characteristic places of Istanbul. Spice Bazaar which is one of the oldest covered bazaars of Istanbul is situated within the complex of Yeni Cami.

The Great Palace Mosaic Museum

The Great Palace Mosaic Museum

The Great Palace Mosaics have been tessellated with a unique workmanship between the years 450-550 AD.

Istanbul Museum Of Islamic Arts

Istanbul Museum Of Islamic Arts

Ibrahim Pasha Palace on the Sultanahmet Square is believed to have been built in the 16th Century.

The Palace first became popular with the glory of the celebrations of the wedding of Ibrahim Pasha in 1521 who was highly favoured by Sulaiman the Magnificant.

After the execution of Ibrahim Pasha, the palace changed hands for a few times. The palace was renovated and converted into museum during 1966-1983. Since 1983 it serves as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.

Istanbul Archaeological Museum

Istanbul Archaeological Museum

Istanbul Archaeological Museum dependent on the General Directorate of Monuments and Museums of the Ministry of Culture is on the Osman Hamdi Bey Ascent that opens to the Topkapı Palace Museum from the right of the Gulhane Park Entry which is in the Sultanahmet district.

Basilica Cistern - Istanbul

Basilica Cistern - Istanbul

The construction which was built by Emperor Justinian I in the 6th Century AD is located in Sultanahmet.

Yerebatan which has been called Basilica Cistern due to its close location to Hagia Sophia for centuries has been built by caving the rocky ground 25 meters under the surface.

Blue Mosque - Istanbul

Blue Mosque - Istanbul

The Blue Mosque has been constructed between the years 1609-1616 by Mehmet Aga who was one of the famous architects of the period. 

The mosque , originally called "I. Sultan Ahmet Mosque" is situated at the Sultanahmet square where important Byzantine buildings stand too.

The mosque complex includes a bazaar, bath and caravanserai. The Main Entrance of the Sultanahmet Mosque is on the side where the hippodrome from the Roman Empire time stands. The mosque comprises four semidomes and a dome with a height of 43 meters supported by four pillars.

Hagia Sophia - Istanbul

Hagia Sophia - Istanbul

Hagia Sophia which is situated at the Sultanahmet Square and which is considered as the biggest Christian place of worship for years is one of the most important historical places in Istanbul.

According to Theophanes, Nikephoros and Grammarian Leon the first building of Hagia Sophia was erected during the reign of Emperor Constantius I (324-337).

Gallipoli war memorials, near Eceabat

Gallipoli war memorials, near Eceabat

The battlefields of Gallipoli were the scene of the bloodiest campaigns of World War L scores of war cometeries and monuments, both Allied and Turkish, have been maintained within a singularly evocative memorial park.

This covers a wild and beautiful country---the largest strech of Aegean coast to remain wholly undeveloped.

Highlights include the Anzac Cove, the site of an Australian-New Zeland landing in 1915, and Chunuk Hill, where the trenches of opposing forces lie within a few metres of each other.

How to get to Gallipoli war memorials: The road to the (more intereting) northern sector of the park branches off 3km N of Eceabat. A full tour-over Anafartalar-Kabatepe-Alcitepe-Seddulbahir-Kilitbahir covers about 80km.

Cumalikizik Village in Bursa

Cumalikizik Village in Bursa

Some 200 houses of the traditional Turkish style line the narrow, cobbled streets of ancient Cumalikizik Village, wich has been declared a national landmark.