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Istanbul embraces two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia, the other to Europe. In the city's heart, the Bosphorus Strait, course the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. The former capital of three successive empires -- Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman -- today Istanbul honors and preserves the legacy of its past while looking forward to its modern future. Indeed, it is Istanbul's variety that fascinates its visitors. The museums, castles, palaces, great mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. As you recline on the shores of the Bosphorus at sunset contemplating the red evening light reflected in the windows on the opposite shore you understand, suddenly and profoundly, why so many centuries ago settlers chose to build on this remarkable site. At times such as these, you feel that Istanbul is truly one of the most glorious cities in the world.

In addition to its unique historical and cultural background and innumerable attractions, the modern hotels, exclusive restaurants, night clubs and shops make Istanbul a superb site for meetings, conferences and conventions.

Kusadasi is a lovely port built along the shores of glittering bay. The terraced town overlooks the most beautiful inlet of the Aegean and seems to have been created purely for the delight of vacationers. Be sure to visit the famous and popular Kusadasi Shopping Center in the Kaleici quarter, where there is also nightlong entertainment.A large, modern marina facilitates life for visiting yachtsmen. Tusan-Kustur Beach north of Kusadsi is the one of the cleanest beaches.

The city of Canakkale lies at the narrow, 1200-meter entrance to the Canakkale Strait that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. Passenger and car ferries run daily between Canakkale, on the Asian side, and Eceabat and Kilitbahir, on the European side. Yachts navigating the straits stop at the well equipped Canakkale Marina to allow tourists more time in the area. Hotels, restaurants and cafes along the promenade offer a place to en joy the comings and goings of the harbor, and views of the Kilitbahir Fortress and the Canakkale Archaeological Museum.

In 1451 Sultan Mehmet II, later the conqueror of Istanbul, built one fortress on the European side of the Canakkale Strait, at Kilitbahir, and one on the opposite shore at Cimenlik, to control the passage of ships through the strait. Today the Cimenlik fortress serves as a military museum dedicated to the Canakkale Battle of 1915, one of the most celebrated of World War I.

To honor the 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), the peninsula was made into a 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 honored 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 immortalized 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 theater. 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, Gokceada, 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 Canakkale and Kabatepe. In August, islanders and tourists gather for colorful local fairs. In Bayramic, 60 km from Canakkale, is the 18th-century Hadimogullam Mansion, (Ottoman House).

"The Turquoise Riviera"
Set amid amazing scenery of sharp contrasts, Antalya, Turkey's principal holiday resort, is an attractive city with shady palm-lined boulevards and a prize-winning marina. In the picturesque old quarter, Kaleici, narrow, winding streets and old wooden houses abut the ancient city walls. Since its founding in the second century B.C. by Attalos II, a king of Pergamon, Antalya has been continuously inhabited. The Romans, Byzantines and Seljuks successively occupied the city before it came under Ottoman rule.

At Antalya, the pine-clad Toros Mountains sweep down to the sparkling clear sea forming an irregular coastline of rocky headlands and secluded coves. The region, bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year, is a paradise of sunbathing and swimming and of sporting activities such as windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, rafting, mountain climbing and hunting. If you come to Antalya in March and April, you may ski the mountains in the mornings and swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean in the afternoons. Important historic sites and beautiful mosques await your discovery amid a landscape of pine forests, olive and citrus groves and palm, avocado and banana plantations. Perge, 18 km from Antalya along the east coast, is an important city of ancient Pamphylian. It was originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 B.C. The city features the remains of a theater and a handsome city gate.

Also east of Antalya, the town of Aspendos features the best-preserved theater of antiquity. The Aspendos Theater, with seating for 15,000, is still in use today. Nearby stand the remains of a basilica, agora and one of the largest aqueducts in Anatolia.

The Turquoise Coast is Turkey's tourism capital. Its full range of accommodations, sunny climate, warm hospitality and variety of excursions and activities make it a perfect holiday spot and popular venue for meetings and conferences.

"Beautiful Izmir" -- the "Pearl of the Aegean" -- is Turkey's third largest city and second most important port. A city of palm-lined promenades, avenues and green parks set in sweeping curves along a circular bay, Izmir has an exceptionally mild climate and many fine hotels. The city is a busy commercial and industrial center as well as the gateway to the Aegean Region. Turkey's Aegean shores are among the loveliest landscapes in the country. The magnificent coastline, lapped by the clear water of the Aegean Sea, abounds in vast and pristine beaches surrounded by olive groves, rocky crags and pine woods. Dotted with idyllic fishing harbors, popular holiday villages, and the remains of ancient civilizations, this region offers an exceptionally attractive venue for meetings, incentives and conferences.

The original city was established in the third millenium B.C., and at that time shared with Troy the most advanced culture in Western Anatolia. By 1500 B.C. it had fallen under the influence of Central Anatolia's Hittite Empire. In the first millenium B.C., Izmir, then known as Smyrna, ranked as one of the important cities of the Ionian Federation; during this period -- one of the city's most brilliant -- it is believed that Homer lived here. The Lydian conquest of the city, around 600 B.C., brought this period to an end, and Izmir remained little more than a village throughout the Lydian and the subsequent 6th century B.C. Persian rule. In the fourth century B.C. a new city was built at the instigation of Alexander the Great on the slopes of Mount Pagos (Kadifekale). Izmir's Roman period, from the first century B.C., gave birth to its second great era. Byzantine rule followed in the fourth century and lasted until the Seljuk conquest of the 11th century. In 1415, under Sultan Mehmet Celebi, Izmir became part of the Ottoman Empire.

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