Yunus Emre, the great mystical poet and a near contemporary of Nasrettin Hoca, is believed to have lived from around 1240 to around…
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…