Those new to Turkey may have no idea who Nasrettin Hoca is. Everyone else, though, will be well aware of this medieval comedian-cross-philosopher,…
Once important Phrygian settlement If you’re visiting Sivrihisar in Western Anatolia you might want to drop in briefly on the ruins of Pesssinus…
Population: 620 Old name: Saru If you’re travelling between İstanbul and Ankara with time to spare you could divert through Eskişehir to Sivrihisar…
Birthplace of Nasrettin Hoca Population: 400 Old name: Hortu Driving from İstanbul to Ankara with time on your hands you could divert…
“Seven Churches” (Yedikilise)/”Upper Bucket” (Yukarı Bakraçlı) Population: 1,000ish Other name: Varagavank (Armenian) ***In 2011 the village was hit by the earthquake. No…
“Great Pamir” Population: 1,500 Festival: Kyrgyz Cultural Festival (June) In 1982 a group…
Late in 2011 the small town of Erciş in the north-east corner of Lake Van was struck by a terrible earthquake that destroyed…
Walnut Central Population: Driving round the northern shore of Lake Van (Van Gölü) you will…
Site of major Selçuk victory Population: 18,900 Other names: Manavazkert (Armenian), Melezgir (Kurdish) Festival: 26 August Commemoration of Battle of…
Cemetery on Lake Van Population: 27,500 Old name: Khlad Rather oddly, the best-known attraction on the north side of Lake Van…