Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia. In its thousands of years history it has been the capital of three great empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman..

Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World stood in what is now Turkey - the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum

The word "turquoise" comes from the word Turk meaning Turkish and was derived from the beautiful colour of the Mediterranean along the southern coast of Turkey.

The seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelations are all found in Turkey.

Anatolia is the birthplace of many historic figures and legends: Homer, King Midas, Herodotus and St Paul.

St Nicholas (known as Santa Claus) was born and lived at Demre on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. The village contains the sarcophagus believed to be his tomb.

Average Daily Temperatures in April and October   (F)
ISTANBUL          56                     IZMIR      66              ANTALYA           61         
            

Turkish food is unique and delicious. A dinner usually begins with a soup or several of the traditional meze (hors dóeuvres) and a salad followed by a fish or meat dish accompanied by rice and vegetables cooked in olive oil.  Dessert may be fresh fruit or a pastry such as "baklava".

Population - approximately 62 million. Istanbul is home to 10 million.

Turks gave the Dutch their first tulips that started a craze for the flower in England and the Netherlands and became "tulipmania".  People invested in tulip bulbs as they do in stocks today. 

Many archaeologists and biblical scholars believe Noah's Ark landed on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey.

Turks introduced coffee to Europe.