Tour Overview
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Some thirteen civilisations have spread through this vast and dramatically beautiful region and all have left magnificent traces. Amongst the earliest recorded are those from the Hittite Empire from 2000 BC that rivalled ancient Egypt. Perhaps surprisingly, the most famous Hellenic and Graeco-Roman sites such as Ephesus, Miletus, Priene and Termessos are in Turkey. Christianity was spread through Anatolia by Apostle Paul and Abraham was born there.
The founding of Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople (now modern Istanbul) by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 330 AD enabled the greatest 1000-year flourishing during which Western culture was kept vibrantly alive whilst the rest of Europe was cast in the Dark Ages. Seljuk Turks who had previously conquered Persia gradually encroached, as did Muslim Arabs to the south. By the mid 15thC, a Turkish lineage known as Ottomans secured most of Western Anatolia and transformed Istanbul into the heart of a vast Empire that endured until 1918 when it was dismantled by France and Britain.
Beneath the mythic-poetic image of Turkey's mystery and oriental splendour and sun-drenched coastlines is a rapidly modernising democratic Republic (founded by Atatürk after Gallipoli and the War of Independence in 1923) and a secular society embarking on the 21st Century and angling for inclusion to the European community. The people are hospitable and the cuisine is a rich heritage of many influences, wonderful fresh produce and great regional variety. Fruit barrows laden with perfumed, sun-drenched fruits can be smelled from the far end of ancient streets. Fish and seafood are abundant. Mezes are hugely varied and more exciting mostly than meat dishes.
Sarah Stegley of The Inspired Traveller will lead you on this in - depth, 22 day tour of Turkey; a destination of unique magic.
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