Welcome to Turkey... This is the country where the eastern and the western civilizations meet in a great harmony. It is like an open air museum of various important civilizations which flourished on this land since 9,000 B.C. It would be a great mistake to consider Turkey as only a historical place. It is also a cultural and artistic melting pot of all its rich past. The people, living in modern Turkey now, are descendants of these past civilizations on various ways. Naturally, in Turkey you will experience an incredible diversity in environment, history, culture, art, ideas and beliefs. This is in itself may not be a challenge for the seasoned traveller. After all, diversity is the most prized feature of favourite destinations. In Turkey, this diversity is high enough to challenge even the most experienced eye because it is packed in spaces with abrupt changes in scenery.

More pictures of and detailed information about Turkey can be found at Ministry of Culture, Republic of Turkey and Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Turkey.

The country that unites Europe and Asia, with her glorious past that lasted for centuries: Turkey. The land of many cultures, decorated with the most impressive historical ruins and monuments of these glorious ages and epochs, has been the cradle of many outstanding civilisations.

The country that unites Europe and Asia, with her glorious past that lasted for centuries: Turkey. The land of many cultures, decorated with the most impressive historical ruins and monuments of these glorious ages and epochs, has been the cradle of many outstanding civilisations.

Turkey has been called "the cradle of civilization" and by travelling through this historic land the traveller will discover exactly what is meant by this phrase. The world's first town, a neolithic city at Catalhoyuk, dates back to 6,500 BC. From the days of Catalhoyuk up to the present time Turkey boasts of a rich culture that through the centuries has made a lasting impression on modern civilization.

The many centuries of cultures makes Turkey a paradise of information and cultural wealth. Hattis, Hittites, Phrygians, Urartians, Lycians, Lydians, lonians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans have all held important places in Turkey's history, and ancient sites and ruins scattered throughout the country give proof to each civilization's unique distinction. Turkey also has a very fascinating recent history. Upon the decline of the Ottoman Empire, a young man named Mustafa Kemal, who was a soldier by occupation but a great visionary in character, took the defeat of World War I and turned it into a shining victory by liberating Turkey of all foreign invaders. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded the Republic of Turkey on the 29th of October, 1923. He led his country into peace and stability, with tremendous economic growth and complete modernization. Through decades of change and growth Turkey still boasts of this success by affectively living by their adopted motto of "Peace at Home, Peace in the World."