10 interesting facts about Turkey

You might know about its ancient Greco-Roman history, delectable cuisine, and Mediterranean coastline, but Turkey is also full of surprises. Here are just a few facts to pique your interest in this country.

1. Turkey was one of the earliest wine-producing areas and is the fourth largest producer of grapes in the world

Turkey probably doesn’t leap to mind when you think of the great wine-producing countries, but vineyards are a common sight here, thanks to the country’s fertile soil and climate. In fact, some historians believe that Turkey was home to one of the earliest wine regions in the world, with evidence of cultivation dating back about 7,000 years.

You can choose to visit a few of these vineyards as you travel through Turkey, including Urla Winery, near Izmir. A convenient stop on your way to Ephesus, the vineyard is known for its red Urla Karasi. If you visit during the harvest, you can even help pick the grapes.

2. The Whirling Dervishes, whose order originates in Konya, whirl as an act of devotion to God

Konya itself has an ancient history, dating back to around 4,000 BC, although it’s primarily known as the home of the Order of the Whirling Dervishes. It was here that the poet, scholar, and Sufi mystic Rumi lived for much of his life, teaching tolerance, spiritual evolution, and connection with the divine through music and dance.

Upon his death, Rumi’s followers founded the Mevlevi Sufi Order, more commonly known as the Whirling Dervishes because of their mesmeric, twirling ceremonial dance that depicts the progress of spiritual evolution. The Mevlana Museum in Konya examines the lives and philosophy of the dervishes. It’s a busy destination throughout the year, a testament to how important the Dervishes remain even today. Or you can watch a demonstration of the Dervishes in either the capital or in Cappadocia.

3. Istanbul is the only city in the world which straddles two continents: Europe and Asia

Istanbul is divided between European and Asian sides, which are separated by a stretch of water called the Bosphorus. A cruise through this storied strait offers an exceptional introduction to the city’s waterfront sights. The European side of the city is also split by the Golden Horn, an inlet of the Bosphorus.

Istanbul's many districts each have their own distinct character and atmosphere. Most of the city’s best-known sites are in and around Sultanahmet (the Old City). Nişantaşi is known for its high-end designer stores and plethora of great cafés and restaurants, while Balat and Fener are typified by their ramshackle houses and dilapidated cafes on steep, cobbled streets overlooking the Golden Horn.

You might also enjoy exploring Karaköy, which stretches from the Galata Bridge. Here you can find local street food dishes like mussels and bread served on the waterfront, and a labyrinthine area of narrow alleyways brimming with tiny coffeehouses.

4. Turkey’s world-renowned cuisine reflects influences from the Mediterranean, Middle East, Balkan, and Central Asian regions

A legacy of the breadth and wealth of the Ottoman empire, Turkish cuisine has a broad range of dishes, many of them rich and elaborately prepared. There’s also a lively culture based around street foods like kebabs, köfte (spiced ground meat, often served on a stick), and flatbread.

A highlight is the plentiful vegetable meze dishes, often made with garlic, nuts and spices and served with fresh bread, locally produced olive oil, and pomegranate syrup.

Of Turkish pastries, the best known is borek, a flaky parcel filled with anything from minced lamb to spinach, garlic and cheese, and served with yoghurt, a staple throughout Turkish cuisine.

You can get hands-on with Turkish cuisine during a private cooking class in a Cappadocia family home.

5. Good design is prized in Turkey, which is reflected in the country’s range of exceptional boutique properties

Turkey seems to have more than its fair share of boutique hotels that brim with character, with locations as intriguing as the properties themselves. In Turkey, you can stay on a vineyard, sleep in a mansion surrounded by olive groves and orchards, or even spend a few days in a cave hotel, carved into the rock itself.

The Alavya in Alaçati comprises six traditional stone houses set around a flower-filled garden where you’ll find hidden lounging areas, a swimming pool, and lanterns hanging from the fruit trees. Each room is different; mine had handmade throws and cushions to soften the stone walls and floor, and homemade sweet treats to keep me going until dinner.

6. Turkey once had two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in modern-day Bodrum

Perhaps the best-preserved, most complete classical city in the Mediterranean, Ephesus is a huge site with a storied history. Dating back as far as the 10th century BCE, the city came into prominence as the capital of Roman Asia Minor in the 1st century, second in size and prestige only to Rome.

During this period the city earned a reputation for opulence and birthed several exquisite buildings. Foremost among these were the Library of Celsus and the Temple of Artemis, the biggest temple to the goddess in the world. The temple is lost to the vagaries of time, but you can still see the remains of the colossal library.

The best way to experience it is with a guided tour. Your guide can help bring the skeletal ruins to life. A highlight of the visit is when you reach the top of the Curetes Way and get your first glimpse of the colossal library.

7. Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, was born in Patara and became the bishop of nearby Demre, on Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast

The burial place of Santa Claus himself, Saint Nicholas’ Church in Demre is small but has well-preserved frescoes. A significant piece of Byzantine architecture, it’s a popular destination for Eastern Orthodox Christians, who revere Saint Nicholas as the patron saint of children. It’s not uncommon to come across visitors weeping with the emotion of seeing his tomb.

You can see the church on the drive from Antalya to Kalkan — it makes a scenic stop to break up the long distance.

8. Turkey has over 82,000 mosques, with around 3,000 in Istanbul alone

With so many to choose from, it’s hard to pick out the best mosque in Istanbul. Each has its own charms: the interior of the Blue Mosque has a beguiling intricacy, while the silhouette of the Suleymaniye Mosque helps to define the Istanbul skyline.

Additionally, the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who contributed a huge amount to Istanbul, designed several mosques considered exceptional, even amid the city’s abundance. His best-known works are the Suleymaniye and Şehzade mosques, but don’t overlook the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque.

Formerly a Greek Eastern Orthodox church known as the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus, the Little Hagia Sophia is one of the most important Byzantine buildings in Istanbul. Converted into a mosque in the early 16th century, it’s thought to have been constructed as a model for Hagia Sophia. Because it's often overlooked by visitors, a visit here provides a great opportunity to admire the early Byzantine architecture without the crowds.

If you’d like to understand the theology and culture that shaped these mosques, we can arrange for an intimate one-on-one chat with an imam. You can discuss all aspects of Muslim life and ask any questions that you might have about life and Islam in Turkey.

9. Cappadocia became a refuge for early Christians during Roman and Byzantine times, and Christianity flourished here, hidden underground

Before Christianity became an accepted religion in the area, Cappadocia was used as a hiding place by Christian populations, who hid themselves in underground cities excavated from the soft rock. You can still visit these today, along with many examples of early churches carved into the rocks and fairy chimneys (natural stone spires with pointed tips). Many boast well-preserved religious murals painted on the walls.

The Göreme Open Air Museum has excellent examples of these churches, and you can explore inside the fairy chimneys to see the murals. Nearby, you’ll find panoramic viewpoints where you can see some of the region’s most fantastic formations.

10. Turquoise Coast was once home to the Lycians, a matrilineal people whose language still hasn’t been entirely deciphered

Lycian remains litter the Turquoise Coast, ancient remnants of the culture, which lasted for about 700 years until 546 BCE. Today, many are linked by a long-distance walking trail called the Lycian Way, which runs between Ölüdeniz and Antalya.

While the ruins are compelling, most people come to the Turquoise Coast for its bright blue-green water, Mediterranean climate, and beach-dotted coastline. Good bases for exploring the coast include the fishing towns of Kalkan and Kaş, and the hidden beach-side forest village of Çirali.

Composed of only a few dirt tracks in a wooded valley that stretches onto a long sand-and-pebble beach, Çirali is a restful retreat where you can get away from everything. You can relax in the gardens of your hotel overlooked by the Olympos Mountains, stroll along the beach to the nearby eternal Mount Chimaera to see the eternally burning flames that flicker from cracks in the stone or take a boat trip to a hidden lagoon.