Turkey is a remarkable place. It is a place that has been called as the Gateway to the Orient. It has a lot of history attached to it and because of the history that the place has, there are also many chronological and holy places that can be seen in the country.
Turkey is truly where East meets west and it is accurately this combination that makes travel in Turkey so attractive. Although its culture is permeated with a deep and reverent respect for Islam, Turkey is a country that challenges to separate the secular and religious beliefs of its citizens.
Turkey remains one of the better-value destinations in Europe because it’s outside the Euro zone. You’re looking at £2,000 –4,000 for a family of four for a week’s holiday on the Aegean, depending on the time of year and standard of accommodation.
Istanbul, this year’s European Capital of Culture, straddles two continents, creating a multicultural and geo-political convergence that is without parallel.
Istanbul’s opulent heritage dates back some 8,000 years to Neolithic settlements. Later called Byzantium and then Constantinople, Istanbul became the seat of power for the Ottomans. By the Twenties, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk almost singlehandedly ended 600 years of Ottoman rule when he created the modern and secular Turkish Republic through political, legal, social and economic reforms.
Today, Turkey is seen as a burgeoning economic powerhouse, ranked by the IMF as the world’s 16th largest economy. Per capita income alone has more than trebled over the past decade. Though there remain socio-economic hurdles, including the gulf between rich and poor, the government is making great strides.
Istanbul with its skyline of palaces, towering minarets, and modern skyscrapers, is undergoing a massive urban transformation, ranging from expanding public transport through to large housing initiatives that typically require developers to include schools, pools, shops and sports facilities.
The city is Turkey’s leading centre for commerce, culture, finance and industry – and its largest port. The Bosphorus Strait between the Aegean and the Black Sea, that divides Istanbul between Asia and Europe, is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
This piece was originally published in the Telegraph weekly world edition
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Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. The World Turkish Forum organized by Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM) will be held in Istanbul on October 20-23, press service of Turkic-Speaking States Parliamentary Assembly (TurkPA) told APA.
Representatives of Turkish Diaspora organizations, parliamentarians from 60 countries, representatives of international organizations will attend the forum.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Secretary General of Turkic States Cooperation Council Halil Akinci and Secretary General of Turkish Presidential Administration Mustafa Isen are expected to address the opening ceremony of the forum. TurkPA Secretary General Ramil Hasanov will also address the forum.
A 2010 European Capital of Culture, Istanbul is a city of the moment
Its ancient sights are a must-see, but so are its modern art galleries and music clubs
Istanbul Modern and Garajinstanbul are at the forefront of the contemporary arts movement
(CNN) — Istanbul may be two millennia old, but there’s nothing dated about its cultural scene. While the domed city is best known for its ancient attractions, it’s also buzzing with a vibrant contemporary arts and design scene.
Modern galleries, late-night music venues and chic fashion boutiques have cropped up in recent years, and Istanbul’s status as a 2010 European Capital of Culture has given it a platform to showcase its vitality.
CNN explores some of the most exciting hotspots of this global center of cool, from cutting-edge art galleries and boutiques to the clubs and lounges that make Istanbul a city that never sleeps.
SEE: The first private museum showing modern and contemporary art exhibitions in Turkey, the Istanbul Modern has been at the forefront of the city’s contemporary art movement since it opened in 2004. Occupying a former warehouse on the shores of the Bosphorus, it displays work from its permanent collection as well as organizes temporary exhibitions. A retrospective of Turkish designer Hussein Chalayan is currently being shown as part of the city’s Capital of Culture program.
Mixing old with new, Pera Museum is another must-stop. In addition to its permanent collection of traditional tiles and ceramics, it hosts a number of modern exhibitions throughout the year.
A number of smaller galleries in the city are fostering up-and-coming Turkish talent. Spaces to watch include x-ist and Dirimart, both of which are located in the trendy Nisantasi quarter.
Garajinstanbul, an international non-profit performing arts center, reflects the city’s cosmopolitan bent. It collaborates with artists from around the world and is dedicated to fostering “the new” in theater, music and dance. A prime example is the company’s production of “Cihangir Insomnia.” Involving actors from across Europe, the show uses a mixture of dialogue, video and music to tell the story of Istanbul’s funkiest district.
Read more about Istanbul’s bohemian quarter of Cihangir
LISTEN: A resurgence of alternative music venues means there’s no shortage of places to check out live gigs. For a hipster, world music vibe, chill out at Ghetto music lounge, which plays host to a number of local and international bands.
Visit Nardis for jazz beats, and for an eclectic mix of sounds, check out infamous cafe Badehane, which features everything from local gypsy music to edgy new rock bands.
If you aren’t sure what you’re in the mood for, there’s always Salon. Located in a newly restored building, it hosts a variety of jazz, rock and classical concerts, as well as Monday night theater, art exhibitions and literary talks.
Have varied music tastes? So does Babylon. One of the most popular live music venues in Istanbul, it features a variety of acts, from electronica and jazz to world music, indie pop and reggae.
A guide to Istanbul’s best Turkish restaurants
SHOP: Innovative Turkish designers have gained an international following in recent years, and their boutique fashion labels can easily be found in Istanbul.
Designer Umit Unal has established his private atelier in the city, while veteran of European runways Arzu Kaprol’s couture showroom overlooks the Bosphorus.
For a twist on tradition, Gonul Paksoy uses naturally hand-dyed fabrics in his reinterpretations of classical Ottoman design.
By Mathew Schwartz
Published October 04, 2010 | FoxNews.com
Istanbul, a Turkish port city on the Bosporus, has long been celebrated as a place where east meets west. Geographically, at least, that’s true, since the bicoastal city spans two European coasts and one in Asia, with each offering something different.
To the south, Sultanamet is home to the oldest minarets and mosques, bazaars and museums. To the north, separated by an inlet of the Bosphorous known as the Golden Horn, Beyoğlu houses many of the city’s best restaurants and upscale shopping. To the east, the Asian shore functions like a more relaxed suburb, offering affordable cuisine, lively bars and live music. And you can reach it all via ferry, bridge, tram, and funicular.
5 … Roll up rugs and spices
For a true taste of Turkey, start in Sultanamet at the city’s famous Grand Bazaar, a melting pot of nationalities, cultures and commerce across 5,500 shops and stalls. Here, stock up on everything from belly-dancing costumes and water pipes to Turkish coffee pots and hand-made chess sets. If you have all day and some cash to burn, perhaps also pursue carpet research and negotiations, always conducted over tea.
If you’re craving saffron, smoked paprika, garam masala and Turkish coffee or tea in bulk, head north. Navigate the Byzantine network of streets — likewise filled with every manner of shop offering rugs, shoes, chocolates and trinkets — to reach the Egyptian Bazaar (aka Spice Bazaar). When buying spices, expect vendors to push maximum quantities and vacuum-seal bags before you’ve agreed on quantity. Unless you want $50 worth of saffron, consider laying down the exact amount, in cash, that you want to pay, then have vendors deliver quantities accordingly.
With purchases in hand, seek out the nearby stairs to the Rustem Pasa mosque (Hasircilar Carsisi-Eminonü) — one of the nicest mosques in the city — which hides above the bazaar.
4 … Navigate the minarets of Sultanamet (south of the Golden Horn)
To explore the heart of traditional Istanbul, remain in Sultanamet, where you’ll find the lion’s share of the city’s tourist-friendly mosques, markets, palaces, churches, museums, and hotels. Begin with Ayasofya (aka Haghia Sophia), which features an immense dome, 98 feet in diameter, and a well-worn passageway, gently sloping and turning, for reaching the immense, upper level. The structure is literally ancient — dedicated by the Roman emperor Justinian in 537. In 1453, conquering Turks turned it into a mosque, adding minarets to issue the daily calls to prayer. In 1934, with a movement rising to make the mosque back into a church, the new Turkish republic deconsecrated the structure, making it a museum.
For lunch, visit nearby Fes Café (Ali Baba Türbe Sokak 25-27), located in an upscale shopping area, for pasta and fresh-pressed lemonade, followed by Turkish coffee, served on a silver tray with a shot of Hare Acıbadem Likörü almond liquor, and two tiny almond cookies. To the side of the dining room, also browse Abdullah, a small shop offering exquisite artisanal soaps and natural textiles.
3 … Weighing the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace
Few landmarks define Istanbul like the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) and its six minarets. Stunning — from the outside, with attractive gardens and fountains — the mosque dates from the 17th century. But aside from its gorgeous Turkish rugs, the inside is rather plain. After the hustle and bustle of navigating the city, however, it makes for a good, quiet place to pause. Like all mosques, and especially those located outside the tourist epicenter, remember to remove your shoes at the carpet’s edge or use cloth covers, keep your voice down, cover bare shoulders, avoid wearing shorts or short skirts, and for women, accept a head scarf if offered.
Still in Sultanamet, take the tram to Topkapı Palace, seat of the Ottoman empire until the 1850s. Generally, if you’ve seen one palace, generally you’ve seen them all. Topkapı differs, perhaps, from locations such as Versailles or the Forbidden City, because of its elaborate tile work, as well as the history of the harem — now a series of 300 elaborately connected rooms with an engaging backstory. See the harem on a tour that leaves every half hour. Also budget the better part of a day to explore the palace’s architecture and museums. But if you’re pressed for time, or don’t want to pay the high entrance fee, skip it.
2 … By bridge and Tünel to Beyoğlu (north of the Golden Horn)
If Istanbul is a study in cultural contrasts, then the European side comes out in full force in Beyoğlu, to the north. Reach it by walking or taking the tram across Galata Bridge — over the Golden Horn — and then taking the 19th-century funicular, the Tünel.
Mingle with young Turks reading the paper, flirting, smoking and finding their fortunes in the dregs of their Turkish coffee, at Smyrna (Akarsu Caddesi 29). Order tea or Turkish coffee, which is made to order with your desired level of sugar: none, some, medium or a lot.
For the best choice of restaurants, shopping, tea shops and cafes, head to Istiklal Caddesi, the district’s main, pedestrianized street, complete with street cars and numerous shopping opportunities as well as restaurants. For dinner, visit Sofyalı 9 (Sofyalı Sokak 9); reservations required. Order up an array of mezze — think Turkish tapas — including yogurt with garlic, fried cheese, stuffed grape leaves, delicately battered and fried calamari, and squid in its ink. Follow with fish stew baked in a clay pot.
For dessert, head up the hill to energetic Leyla (Aarsu Caddesi 46) for an ice-cold Manhattan or Martini, followed by chocolate fondant and Turkish coffee.
1 … Take the night ferry to Asia
Budget at least one night for dinner on the Asian shore, or longer for seaside walks during the day. To get there, take the inexpensive ferry from Eminonü in Sultanamet, past Haydarpaşa and Üsküdar, to Kadıköy. The Asian shore, which only became part of Istanbul proper less than 50 years ago, is a more low-key, suburban version of its counterparts to the west. But it’s also a great place for affordable, traditional Turkish food.
Nothing says “kebab institution” like the multileveled Çiya (Güneslibahce Sokak 43-44). While the interior is overly bright, kebab-lovers should sample the ground lamb, beef and sour cherry, or sour lamp chop kebabs, all paired with flat bread.
Adjourn for after-dinner drinks at one or more of the bars on Barlar Sokağı (Bar Street). All feature inexpensive beer, with some providing live jazz or rock music. Just don’t forget to catch the last ferry back to Europe, before midnight.
On your way back to the hotel, stop at one of the many all-night shops that sell freshly made Turkish delight, a revelation. Equally so the fresh baklava, bathed in honey, flecked with ground pistachios and sold by weight. Stop beneath a street lamp, pop open the takeaway container, and try to not eat them all at once.
Turkish Deputy PM Babacan said that Turkey’s rapid recovery from the global downturn was giving a new boost to the government’s plan on Istanbul.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Economy Ali Babacan said that Turkey’s rapid recovery from the global downturn was giving a new boost to the government’s plan to turn Istanbul into an international financial center to rival Dubai or eventually even London.
Babacan said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal during the annual Global Economy Symposium in Istanbul, “the international financial downturn has only added to Istanbul’s attractiveness.”
“Especially after the global economic crisis, Turkey increasingly is perceived as an island of stability in a region that stretches from Ireland to India. Turkey has a financial sector that was ‘tested and proved’ during the global crisis,” he said.
“The government made no bailouts. That has helped keep the country’s budget deficit down and left room to cut taxes in the future, even as other countries with big financial centers raise taxes in a struggle to plug deficits,” he said.
Babacan recognized that Turkey was not China. But he said, “the government’s assertive foreign policy, a political atmosphere is becoming more open, and developments such as the dramatic expansion of Turkish Airlines is creating a commercial hinterland for Istanbul that is much wider than Turkey alone,” he said. He cited the Balkans, Romania, Ukraine, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Babacan said, without naming Dubai, that Istanbul was also better placed to win the Middle Eastern market in the long term.
He pointed to the growing number of Arabs who were buying real estate in Istanbul.
“Northern Africa, too, is becoming part of Turkey’s commercial sphere,” he said.
“I have spoken to a surprising number of bankers who were fed up with London’s income-tax increases. They told me that they were considering moving personnel.
But there has been no sudden rush of international bankers to take of advantage of Istanbul’s relatively low office-space and wage costs yet,” Babacan added.
