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Turkey

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Visiting Turkey is an immensely popular notion, increasing in attractiveness every year. The main reason for vacationers to make Turkey their destination has more often than not been for historical reasons; history buffs, cultural or "ethno-tourism" are popular because of Turkey's long and epic political changing of hands. But despite the vast enthusiasm for cultural tourism in Turkey, there is also more recently the development of summer resorts, and beach vacation homes, in the country as well. Because Turkey is surrounded by three different major bodies of water, the rise of a summer tourism industry has been more than possible, and is taking hold at an increasing rate over the past few years. Many more people are visiting the country not just for its culture, rich tapestry of historical value, but also for its beautiful warm season of summer on its coastlines.

Some of the summer activities that are most preferred in Turkey are lounging on the beaches that face the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, or on the very popular Blue Cruise (Mavi Yolculuk in Turkish). It is not actually a specific cruise, such as on a large ship or luxury liner, as much as it is a term derived from the title of a romantic novel by a Turkish author. Actually, it's the common name of short or long boating tours along the southwest coast of Turkey. The most highly esteemed of summer destinations in Turkey, also along the coast, is Antalya. It’s also held in regard as being the top tourist city, for its night life, and convenient location near beaches, as well as its number of resorts and hotels to fit any budget. There are also over a dozen cultural festivals, religious events, and fairs to be observed and to participated in while in Antalya, all year around, so be sure to plan to include an event in your itinerary.

There are also several historical sites to be visited, including the city's archaeological museum, as well as the ruins of ancient temples. For example the "Broken Minaret" or Kesik Minare in Turkish, that was converted after Byzantine rule into a mosque. These sites are much closer to the beaches and summer resorts, so they’re also very convenient for tourists who would much rather get the best of both worlds in their trip. But for those who are most interested in the certainly very magnificent historical ruins, monuments, and archaeological sites, there are many diversions available in Turkey. The city of Istanbul, for example, once known as the illustrious capital Constantinople, is the location of many dig sites, where scientists are still uncovering mysteries of the past all year around. There is also the Biblical city of Antioch, or even the location of Homeric Troy - the setting for the Trojan War and the epic Iliad. You can be more than certain that epic adventures await you too in Turkey.

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Antalya Travel to Antalya, Turkey and you will truly feel as though you have stepped back in time. Coming in through the port, you will be immediately amazed by the ancient city walls that now house today's more modern city. Although you will find many amenities and sights available, Antalya is truly a city...