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The city of Çanakkale lies at the narrow,
1,200-meter entrance to the Çanakkale Strait that connects the Sea of
Marmara and the Aegean. Passenger and car ferries run daily between
Çanakkale, on the Asian side, and Eceabat and Kilitbahir; on the
European side. Yachts navigating the straits stop at the well-equipped
Çanakkale Marina to allow tourists more time in the area. Hotels,
restaurants and cafes along the promenade offer a place to enjoy the
comings and goings of the harbour, and views of the Kilitbahir Fortress
and the Çanakkale Archaeology Museum.
In 1451, Sultan Mehmet II, later the
conqueror of Istanbul, built one fortress on the European side of the
Çanakkale Strait, at Kilitbahir, and one on the opposite shore at
Çimenlik, to control the passage of ships through the strait. Today the
Çimenlik fortress serves as a military museum dedicated to the Çanakkale
Battle of 1915, one of the most celebrated of World War I.
To honour the 500,000 soldiers who lost
their lives at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), the peninsula was made into the
Gelibolu Historical National Park. It includes memorial monuments, the
Ariburnu Cliffs and Tuz Lake. The beauty of the green hills, sandy
beaches and blue waters provides an honoured resting place for the
soldiers who bravely fought and died in this historic battle. You cannot
help but sense the heart of the Turkish nation, in the special spirit of
this place. Homer immortalised Truva (Troy) in the stories of King Priam,
Hector, Paris and the beautiful Helen. Archaeological excavations have
revealed nine separate periods of settlement and the ruins of city walls,
house foundations, a temple and a theatre. A symbolic wooden Trojan
horse commemorates the legendary war.
As you approach Bozcaada Island, the
Venetian castle commands your attention. Then, your eyes are drawn to
the glistening white houses and the restaurants and cafes which line the
promenade. Wine seems as plentiful as water on this island; a circuit
reveals many vineyards and wine cellars. There are good, sandy beaches
at Ayazma, Poyraz and Igdelik.
The largest of the Turkish islands,
Gökçeada, is ringed with pristine bays. Its hills, covered in the
contrasting greens of pines and olive trees, are dotted with sacred
springs and monasteries. Regularly scheduled ferryboats make the trip
from Çanakkale and Kabatepe. In August, islanders and tourists gather
for colorful local fairs. The town of Biga has lent its name to its
whole peninsula in Bayramiç, 60 km from Çanakkale, is the 18th century
Hadimogullari Mansion, (Ottoman House).
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