Global - Technology - Review

Turkey, lying between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, spans Europe and Asia. Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, stands beside the Bosphorus, the boundary between the two continents. At different times in its history, the city has been the centre of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Its greatest monuments include the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, now a museum, and the Topkapi Palace, for four centuries the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Ankara is now the capital of the modern secular Turkish Republic. There are a number of popular tourist resorts on the Aegean coast like Bodrum and Marmaris, where Turkish carpets can be purchased in the bazaars, however Turkey’s colourful history has left a particularly rich legacy of antiquarian sites. Among these is the former Greek city of Ephesus, site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the Roman theatre. Another of the Wonders was the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus near Bodrum. Tourists can also visit the site of Troy, celebrated in Greek myth. Turkish cuisine blends Greek, Arabic and Persian elements and well known dishes include kebabs, yogurts and baklava. Mount Ararat, the highest peak, is the reputed resting place of Noah’s Ark.