FETHIYE HISTORY Telmessos, modern day Fethiye, was once the most important port city on the border of ancient Lycia. A theatre of the same name high up in the hills is one of the major sites left from the original settlement. According to a legend from the Lycian period, the god Apollo fell in love…
2025 Writing Retreat Turkey Does the idea of a week in Turkey where you can dive into the aquamarine Mediterranean Sea from the teak decks of a wooden yacht AND learn how to take your writing from the level of backyard swimming pool to deeper waters appeal? Then my 2025 writing retreat hosted by Meridian…
Birgi is located on the Silk Road and the town was once an important silk production centre, beginning some fifteen hundred years ago. By 1426 it had come under the control of the Ottoman Empire and in 17th century, Evliya Çelebi noted that loads of silk were being sent from Birgi to cities all over Turkey. These days silk weaving is done on industrial looms but there are still some small workshops producing delicate items on traditional silk hand looms. Birgi was chosen as one of the 3 best villages in Turkey in 2022 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization and once you’ve seen it for yourself, I’m sure you’ll agree.
Modern day Demre is essentially a dusty farming town full of shops selling agricultural equipment and simple lokanta serving up doner or home cooked food. Tomatoes grow in abundance alongside orchards lush with citrus trees but back in the 5th century BC Myra, as Demre was known, was a powerful Lycian city.
Izmir, Turkey’s third most populated city, stretches around the Gulf of Izmir on the Aegean Sea. It’s where the first ever railway line was built in the country to transport produce grown on farms 120 kilometres inland for export to Europe. The gorgeous Sarayı Borsa, the Palace Stock Market that once saw a vigorous trade in cotton, figs and a range of dried fruits including Sultaninas (dried raisins) brought to Izmir by camel, is still standing.
Sanliurfa (Şanliurfa in Turkish) in south east Turkey is famous for three main things. Baliklı Göl, Urfa Kebab and Göbekli Tepe and I’ve been there four times. The first time I went to Sanliurfa in 2001, Göbekli Tepe wasn’t a tourist site. I hung around Baliklı Göl, talked with Turkish school kids eager to practice…
Depending on the time of year you go, there are a number of easy daytrips and outings you can make from Ayvalik. Here’s what you need to know if you want to visit Cunda Island, Küçükköy and Seytan Sofrasi. CUNDA ISLAND (ALI BEY ADASI) When most people think of Ayvalik, they think of a fun…
The first time I went to Ayvalik was in August 2020. It was stinking hot, madly crowded with holidaymakers despite being under COVID conditions, and I really didn’t get what people saw in the place. It hadn’t helped that my hotel of choice cancelled my booking, forcing me to choose another option which turned out…
Local author Jane Gundogan shares the best of what to see and do This month’s guest post, Mersin what to see in 3 days comes to you from Jane Gundogan. Jane and I are both from Sydney, Australia. Although I didn’t grow up in Manly like Jane did, I have a lot of connections to…
After the devastating earthquakes in south eastern Turkey in 2023, thousands of lives were lost and more changed, and innumerable damage done to individuals and places. It will take years for the people and the region to recover and one way you can help is by coming to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Turkey….