Big Cities

İstanbul

“ There, God and human, nature and art are together, they have created such a perfect place that it is valuable to see.” Lamartine's famous poetic line reveals his love for Istanbul, describing the embracing of two continents, with one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe.

Istanbul, once known as the capital of capital cities, has many unique features. It is the only city in the world to straddle two continents, and the only one to have been a capital during two consecutive empires - Christian and Islamic. Once capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul still remains the commercial, historical and cultural pulse of Turkey, and its beauty lies in its ability to embrace its contradictions. Ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asia and Europe, mystical and earthly all co-exist here.

Its variety is one of Istanbul's greatest attractions: The ancient mosques, palaces, museums and bazaars reflect its diverse history. The thriving shopping area of Taksim buzzes with life and entertainment. And the serene beauty of the Bosphorus, Princes Islands and parks bring a touch of peace to the otherwise chaotic metropolis.

Bursa

Bursa is located in the northwest of the Anatolian peninsula and southeast of the Marmara Sea . The shores of the Marmara Sea are 135 km away. The most important peak in the province is Uludağ , which is a ski resort and national park. The most significant lakes are Lake İznik and Lake Uluabat .

Bursa is known for its hot springs ( Kaplıca , Oylat , Eski Kaplıca , Çekirge Kaplıcası , Yeni Kaplıca ), greenery, Ottoman architecture and İznik tiles. It has many mosques ( Ulu Camii , Yeşil Camii , Yeşil Türbe ). Aya Sofya and Bursa Museum are worth seeing. The town is also known for its silk and textiles, towels, kebap , peaches and chestnuts. You shouldn't miss the chance to taste “ İskender Kebap ” and candied chestnuts ( Kestane Şekeri )

İznik ( Nicaea ) lies 85 km northeast of Bursa , at the eastern tip of Lake İznik . It is a settlement place where two consiliums were held and history of Christianity was written. W ith its thousand years of cultural heritage, İznik occupied an important place in history. Having been the capital of four empires, it is one of the remarkable settlement places. It is famous for its unique tiles and has been the centre of tile production in the 16th century. İznik tiles were the basic decorative element of Seljuk and Ottoman architecture

Ankara

Ankara , the modern-day capital, is located squarely in the middle of Central Anatolia and has been planned and developed for a contemporary society. The most visually impressive structure here is the Anıtkabir mausoleum built for Atatürk , who founded the modern Republic of Turkey by winning the War for Independence and then made Ankara its capital.

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is among the best museums in the country, and has exhibits from Anatolian dating from 50,000 BC to the 2nd century AD. This museum is situated on top of the Medieval Ankara castle.

A residential rather than a touristic city, Ankara has its own subtle charms, and is a place where you can eat out in style, tour private art galleries or explore the antique shops.

In the surrounding areas, there are important settlements from early Anatolian civilizations.

İzmir

The city known as "The "Pearl of the Aegean" or "Beautiful İzmir" is Turkey's third largest city after İstanbul and Ankara and second most important port.

Once the ancient city of Smyrna , it is now a modern, developed, and busy commercial centre, set around a huge bay and surrounded by mountains and was. The broad boulevards, glass-fronted buildings and modern shopping centers are dotted with traditional red-tiled roofs, the 18th century market, and old mosques and churches, although the city has an atmosphere more of Mediterranean Europe than traditional Turkey .

The climate is comfortable, with a relatively mild summer due to the refreshing breeze from the Aegean . The long attractive palm-fringed promenade, Birince Kordon , which stretches the entire length of the city up to the Alsancak Ferry Terminal, is a popular spot for evening walks, and there are many cafes along the waterfront. İzmir has a good selection of culture and entertainment, from the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museums , to the İzmir State Opera and Ballet and İzmir State Symphony Orchestra, to the many bars and clubs.

The cosmopolitan and lively city gets even busier during the International İzmir Festival (mid-June to mid-July) with music and dance, with performances also in nearby Çeşme and Ephesus .

Bergama , Ephesus , Foça , Çeşme , Atatürk Museum , Diana's Hamam , and Selçuk Camii are worth seeing.