Veni Vidi (I Came, I Saw) Turkey

[Veni Vidi Travel - Turkey Greece]

''Let's meet where the continents meet''

Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered)" in Turkey when he defeated the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
 
Turkey proudly sits astride two continents: a position that has given rise to a culture that reflects both East and West. It is a country where European aspirations sit comfortably alongside Asian traditions and the volatile atmosphere of the Middle East morphs seamlessly into the relaxed outlook of the Mediterranean world. Turkey was Byzantine territory and Istanbul - then Constantinople - was the political centre of a vast Christian empire. Romans, Persians, Lycians and Phrygians were former occupants of the same territory, and earlier still, Hittite tribes had built an Anatolian empire before collapsing around the time of the Trojan Wars.

Such a rich history has left an indelible mark & Turkey abounds with historic sites and archaeological wonders set in a varied and beautiful landscape. The Mediterranean coastline is punctuated with well-preserved Greco-Roman cities such as Pergamom and Ephesus, while the austere and rugged Anatolian plateau has cave churches hidden away in the improbable fairytale landscape of Cappadocia. Istanbul, still very much the pulse of the nation, has even more to offer, with Roman aqueducts, Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques & palaces.

Istanbul is a city that has been hone to grand civilizations and three empires (Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman). Built on seven hills and spanning two continents, the most beautiful city on earth not only in the eyes of its residents but many others as well, Istanbul has always has an aura about it that it is the center of the world. Throughout history, migrations, invasions from every direction, new inventions and concepts and new ways of life have merged in the culture crucible of Istanbul, taken new forms and transferred to other regiond. Istanbul held great importance for the historical cultures of Mesopotamia, Anatolia, the Aegean, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Black Sea. In every era, Istanbul's rich natural environs and uniquely beautiful topography have made it an attraction.

For thousands of years, from prehistory to ancient ages to modern times, Istanbul has hosted human settlements, and today retains its quality as an important world center. So for Istanbulites, as the city's residents are called, it didn't come as a surprise that their city was designated as the 2010 European Capital of Culture.

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