All About Turkey

Keep calm in tranquillity

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 11:39:00 +0000

#Turkish #Therapy

Dream for the perfect vacation in #Turkey

Richest Turks in 2017

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 11:09:00 +0000

Forbes magazine announced the list of the Top 100 Rich People of Turkey in 2017, out of which 31 of them will be listed in the global Forbes Billionaires list.

1. Murat Ülker 3,7 billion USD
2. Hüsnü Özyeğin 3 billion USD
3. Semahat Arsel / Şarık Tara 2,4 billion USD
4. Erman Ilıcak 2,3 billion USD
5. Rahmi Koç 2,2 billion USD
6. Ferit Şahenk 2,1 billion USD
7. Osman Kibar / Suna Kıraç 2 billion USD
8. Filiz Şahenk / Mustafa Küçük 1,9 billion USD
9. Hamdi Ulukaya / Suat Günsel 1,7 billion USD
10. Mehmet Nazif Günal / Nihat Özdemir 1,6 billion USD

Stadium of the Year 2016

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 10:51:00 +0000

The 7th edition of Stadium of the Year, the annual competition to choose best football stadiums in the world by public vote has 4 stadiums listed from Turkey:

Vodafone Arena of Besiktas in Istanbul, capacity 41,903
Medical Park Arena in Trabzon, capacity 41,461
Sivas Arena in Sivas, capacity 27,532
New Eskisehir Stadium in Eskisehir, capacity 34,930

The result will be published on March 7, 2017.

Irresistible cities of the World

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 10:38:00 +0000

CNN International prepared a list of Irresistible cities: World's 25 Top Tourism Destinations. According to this list, Istanbul is ranking #9 and Antalya ranks #11.

The 1st place is of Hong Kong with almost 28 million visitors in 2014.

No more Daylight Saving Time in Turkey

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 18:47:00 +0000

Turkey was one of the countries that applied Daylight Standard Time (DST) like many others in the northern hemisphere such as Europe, Russia, USA, Canada. Until 2016 Turkey followed Eastern European Summer Time (EEST). But now the daylight saving time will not be observed thus the clocks in the country will remain permanently on GMT/UTC+3 starting from 30th of October 2016.

Cifte Minare Madrasa in Erzurum

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 22:04:00 +0000

After an extensive restoration period of 5 years, now the Cifte Minare Madrasa in Erzurum is re-opened to visitors on 28th of August 2016.

It's also known as Hatuniye Medrese, built by Seljuks in the 13th century AD.

Ani site is on UNESCO's Heritage list

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 00:50:00 +0000

The archaeological site of Ani is the newest site from Turkey inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List .

During the 40th meeting of the World Heritage Committee held in Istanbul on July 2016, Eight new sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Ani in the province of Kars is the 16th heritage site from Turkey.

Oil Wrestling schedule in 2016

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 08:03:00 +0000

The Oil Wrestling is maybe the most traditional sport in Turkey. It has been practiced since the Ottoman period and nowadays it reached the 655th edition as of 2016. Kirkpinar in Edirne is the most famous and principal match of this traditional Turkish wrestling.

According to the Turkish Wrestling Federation, below is the list of confirmed Oil Wrestling Schedule around Turkey.

Lara Spor Kulubü Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	10 April 2016
Derince Taşköprülüler Derneği Yağlı Güreşleri	Kocaeli	24 April 2016
Aliağa Bel Helvacı Gençlik Spor Klup Yağlı Güreşleri	İzmir	24 April 2016
Kumluca Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	30 April – 01 May 2016
Muratpaşa Belediye Spor Kulübü Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	08 May 2016
Burhaniye Belediye Yağlı Güreşleri	Balıkesir	14 May 2016
Döşemealtı Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	15 May 2016
Nilüfer Belediye Başkanlığı (Çalı Güreşleri)	Bursa	15 May 2016
Ergene Bel Kızılcıklı Mahmut Pehlivan Yağlı Güreşleri	Tekirdağ	22 May 2016
Serik Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	22 May 2016
Silivri Belediye Başkanlığı Kavaklı Yenici Mehmet Pehlivan Yağlı Güreşleri	İstanbul	28 May 2016
Finike Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	28 May 2016
Kemer Belediyesi Başkanlığı Altın Nar Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	29 May 2016
Gebze Belediyesi Yağlı Güreşleri	Kocaeli	29 May 2016
Çanakkale Umurbey Belediyesi Yağlı Güreşleri	Çanakkale	04 June 2016
Kağıthane Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	İstanbul	05 June 2016
Altınova Fevziye Köyü Yağlı Güreşleri	Yalova	07 July 2016
Kaynaşlı Belediye Spor Kulübü Yağlı Güreşleri	Düzce	08 July 2016
Vezirköprü Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreş Müsabakaları	Samsun	09 July 2016
Çan Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Çanakkale	10 July 2016
54. Akyazı Akbalık Ayşecik Yağlı Güreşleri	Sakarya	10 July 2016
Sultangazi Bel. Çamlık Pakı Yağlı Güreşleri	İstanbul	17 July 2016
655. Tarihi Kırkpınar Yağlı Pehlivan Güreş Müsabakaları	Edirne	22-23-24 July 2016
Manavgat Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	24-25 September 2016
Geyikli Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Çanakkale	30 July 2016
Altınyayla (Dirmil) Yağlı Pehlivan Güreşleri	Burdur	31 July 2016
Söğütlü Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Pehlivan Güreşleri	Sakarya	31 July 2016
Alanya Belediye Başkanlığı 12. Gökbel Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	31 July 2016
Gönen Belediyesi Yağlı Güreşleri	Balıkesir	31 July 2016
Ladik Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Samsun	06 August 2016
Konyaaltı Turizm Kültür Eğitin Vakfı Yağlı Güreşleri (21.Feslikan )	Antalya	07 August 2016
Karesi Bel Başkanlığı 36. Geleneksel Kurt Dere Yağlı Güreşleri	Balıkesir	12-13-14 August 2016
Kartepe Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Kocaeli	20 August 2016
Arnavutköy Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	İstanbul	21 August 2016
Seydikemer Belediyesi Yağlı Pehlivan Güreşleri	Muğla	21 August 2016
Kartepe Bel. Başkanlığı (13.Hergeleci İbrahim) Yağlı Güreş	Kocaeli	24 August 2016
Kocaeli -Gölcük Bel Yağlı Güreşleri	Kocaeli- İzmit	28 August 2016
Kocaeli – İzmit Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Kocaeli- İzmit	10 September 2016
664. Tarihi Elmalı Yeşil Yayla Yağlı Pehlivan Güreşleri	Antalya	02-03-04 September 2016
Aksu Belediye Başkanlığı Yağlı Güreşleri	Antalya	09 October 2016

Gaziantep on UNESCO's list of Gastronomy

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 20:55:00 +0000

On 11 December 2015, 47 cities from 33 countries joined the UNESCO "Creative Cities Network". These cities are selected based on seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music. The province of Gaziantep in the south-eastern part of Turkey has become one of them in the field of "Gastronomy".

European Historic Thermal Towns meeting in Bursa

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:32:00 +0000

Bursa will host the general assembly of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) this year between 19-21 October 2015, with the participation of the representatives from 36 cities in 13 countries around Europe.

Automobile museum in Torbali - Izmir

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 06:45:00 +0000

There is a new private museum in Torbali town, near Izmir. It's the "KEY automobile collection museum" with around 130 classic & new cars, 40 motorbikes, 2550 model cars, and 300 car bonnet emblems. The museum is open 5 days a week (closed on Mondays & Tuesdays) between 10:00-17:00.

State Museums open on Mondays in 2015

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 22:10:00 +0000

The museums and sites run by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in Turkey will be open 7 days of the week during Summer months. Most of the museums were closed on Mondays, few on Wednesdays. From April till October in 2015 these museums will operate any day of the week with the exception of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul which unfortunately will remain closed on Tuesdays.

Mesir Paste in UNESCO's list

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:02:00 +0000

Manisa's Mesir Paste has entered into the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
So far Turkey has 10 items in this List:

1)Meddahlik (art of public story telling) Tradition (2008)

2)Mevlevi Semah Ceremony (2008)

3)Asiklik (folk poets or minstrelsy) Tradition (2009)

4)Karagoz Shadow Theater (2009)

5)Newroz (common tradition also in Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kirgyzstan, Uzbekstan, Pakistan, 2009)

6)Traditional Conversations Meetings (Yaren, Barana, Sira nights, and others, 2010)

7)Alevi-Bektasi Ritual Semah (2010)

8)Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival (2010)

9)Ceremonial Keskek tradition (2011)

10)Mesir Paste Festival (2012)

International Antalya Sand Sculpture Festival

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:24:00 +0000

International Antalya Sand Sculpture Festival (SANLAND), which is the world's 6th largest sand sculpture festival by the size of its sculptures and the area they occupy, is a mega exhibition of sand sculptures. It can be visited between 2nd of June - 29th of October, 2012. The exhibitions will be open daily from 10:00 until 23:00.

Entrance fees are 8 Turkish Liras for adults, 4 Liras for student & children.

Antalya Aquarium opened

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:11:00 +0000

Antalya Aquarium opened its gates to visitors on August 15th. It has the World's biggest underwater tunnel (131 meters long and 3 meters wide) and World's 5th & Europe's 2nd largest tank with the capacity of its main tank (5 million liters). It houses more than 20 thousand fish and sea creatures.

Besides the aquariums, within the complex there is a "Snow World" which is the largest indoor snow venue in Turkey using real snow. There are igloos, Santa Claus’s house and cafes inside the Snow World, with an indoor temperatures of -5° C. Visitors will enjoy the real snow by wearing special insulating clothes given to them at the entrance.
Operating hours of the Antalya Aquarium are between 10:00 - 24:00. Ticket costs for 2012 are: 33 Turkish Liras for adults, 26 Liras for children between 3-12 years. Free of charge for 0-2 years. The entrance to the "Snow World" is an extra 15 Liras.

Catalhoyuk in World Heritage List

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:28:00 +0000

As of 1st of July 2012, the Neolithic Site of Catalhoyuk entered into the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The site, located in the province of Konya in Central Anatolia, is dating back to 7400 BC. With this new entry, Turkey now has 11 sites in the Cultural Heritage List.

International Gumusluk Classical Music Festival

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:11:00 +0000

The 9th edition of International Gümüşlük Classical Music Festival will begin on July 5th and will continue until September 7th, 2012.

The festival is organized by the Gümüşlük Culture and Art Association in Bodrum’s Gümüşlük town with the participation of musicians from around the world. One of the longest-term festivals in Turkey, the International Gümüşlük Classical Music Festival will host 19 concerts by leading Turkish and international musicians.

Festival program:

July 5 - Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, soloist Gülsin Onay

July 9 - Bremenhaven Stadtheater Ballet, Carmina Burana (Germany)

July 23-24 - First Adnan Saygun Bodrum International Piano Competition Finals Concert

July 25 - Lilya Zilberstein (Russia), piano

July 28 - Karst de Jong (Netherlands), piano

Aug. 1 - Muza Rubackyte (Lithuania), piano

Aug. 12 - Jonathan Plowright (England), piano

Aug. 16 - Erol Erdinç

Aug. 18-19 - Sibel Köse Group

Aug. 24-25 - Ayşe Gencer, İmer Demirer Group

Aug. 31-Sept. 1- Sarp Maden Group

Sept. 7 - Gülsin Onay (Turkey), piano

Turkey ranking 6th in the Top Tourism Destinations list

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:20:00 +0000

According to the "Tourism Highlights Edition 2012" journal published by the UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization), Turkey has grown up its tourism figures in 2011. According to this data, Turkey hold 7th position in 2010 but in 2011 moved one place up to 6th position in the "Top 10 tourism destinations" list, with almost 30 million visitors last year.
Based on the International Tourist Arrivals, the Top 10 Tourism Destinations list is (and million visitors in 2011):

1 France 79.5

2 United States 62.3

3 China 57.6

4 Spain 56.7

5 Italy 46.1

6 Turkey 29.3

7 United Kingdom 29.2

8 Germany 28.4

9 Malaysia 24.7

10 Mexico 23.4

Aspendos Opera & Ballett Festival

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:34:00 +0000

The 19th International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival will meet audiences in 2012 from June 14th to July 4th and from Sept 3rd to 15th in the magical atmosphere of the Aspendos Ancient Theater in Antalya province.

European Museums Day in Turkey on May 18th

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:09:00 +0000

Due to the "European Museum Day" on May 18th, below museums in Turkey will be open until 23:00 hours on that day. During the regular operating hours these museums will be visited paying for the regular ticket, but after their normal closure time (around 19:00) entrance will be free of charge until 23:00.

1- Ankara Anatolian Civilizations Museum
2- Ankara Etnography Museum
3- Antalya Museum
4- Istanbul Archaeology Museum
5- Istanbul Hagia Sophia Museum
6- Istanbul Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
7- Izmir Archaeology Museum
8- Burdur Museum
9- Gaziantep Zeugma Mozaics Museum
10- Eskisehir Eti Archaeology Museum
11- Nigde Museum
12- Ephesus Museum
13- Konya Mevlana Museum
14- Corum Museum
15- Sinop Museum
16- Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum
17- Sivas Museum
18- Mugla Fethiye Museum
19- Bartin Amasra Museum
20- Kastamonu Museum
21- Amasya Museum
22- Elazig Museum

Most visited Turkish Museums in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 08:48:00 +0000

The top three sites tourists visited in Turkey in 2011 were Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and the ruins of Ephesus in Izmir.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 3.7 million tourists visited Topkapi Palace while 3.1 million visited the Hagia Sophia last year. Nearly 2 million tourists visited Ephesus in 2011.
The Mevlana Museum in Konya had 1,7 million visitors and Hierapolis in Pamukkale - Denizli had 1,6 million visitors.
Other museums that drew the most number of visitors in 2011 were Goreme Open Air Museum in Cappadocia - Nevsehir, St. Nicholas church, Myra site and Aspendos theater in Antalya, Troia site in Canakkale, Kariye (St. Savior in Chora) Museum in Istanbul, St. Jean church in Selcuk - Izmir, and Underwater Archaeology Museum in Bodrum.

Blue Flagged beaches and marinas in Turkey

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:02:00 +0000

More beaches in Turkey get the "Blue Flag", a certification given to beaches and marinas that meet the standards of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Turkey had 127 Blue Flag-certificated beaches in 2002, increased this number to 314 in 2011 plus 17 marinas, and now ranks fourth in the world after Spain, Greece and France.

The region with the highest number of blue flag beaches in Turkey is the southern Mediterranean city of Antalya, followed by the Aegean districts of Mugla and Izmir.

New currency sign for Turkish Lira

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:08:00 +0000

On 1st of March 2012 the Turkish Central Bank unveiled a brand new currency sign for Turkish lira. From now on, the symbol of the Turkish currency will be a semblance of an anchor, which is a combination of Latin letters ‘T’ and ‘L’, crossed in the middle by two lines at an angle of 20 degrees. The anchor simbolizes the stability of the Lira, and the two lines symbolizes two suspension bridges in Istanbul connecting Asia to Europe. The new sign, created by Mrs. Tulay Lale, was the winner out of 8362 entries submitted to a country-wide open contest.

Starting from this year, the Central Bank will emit all new paper money and coins with this new currency sign. The Government aims to make the Turkish Lira accepted world-wide and that this new sign would be permanent. There are conflicting feelings by the people for the new Lira sign, some liked it and some didn't.

Below you can view the new sign.

Izmir Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:09:00 +0000

12th edition of the Izmir International Film Festival will be held between 21-28 April 2012 with the participation of various Turkish and foreign films and artists.

Having continued as the “Izmir International Film Festival” from 1989 on, the event filled a significant gap in Izmir's cultural life with regards to film activities. The festival has been carried on until the year 2000.

After a pause of eleven years, the launching of a film festival of international scope signifies an important step not only in means of catering to the necessity of such an activity but also with regards to the continuation of the cultural missions of Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey; the Cinema-TV department (“the Department of Film Design”), one of the first film schools of Turkey and consequently, of the Dokuz Eylul University.

Turkish film wins award at Sundance

noreply@blogger.com (allaboutturkey) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:47:00 +0000

Turkish director Rasit Celikezer has been presented with the special jury award at the 12th Sundance Film Festival for his film “Can”. The film was selected as the Winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Artistic Vision. The Sundance Film Festival is the premier showcase for independent films held each January in Park City, Utah - USA. The film previously won the Behlül Dal Jury Special Prize at the Golden Orange Film Festival organized in Antalya.