Did you know?

The only city in the world located on two continents is Istanbul, which has been the capital of three great empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman for more than 2,000 years.

The world’s oldest known settlement is in Catalhoyuk in central Anatolia, Turkey, and dates back to 6,500 BC

St Nicolas – the original Santa Claus – was born in Patara in Turkey and has a church dedicated to him in Demre.

Virgin Mary spent her last days in Selcuk, İzmir, near the ancient city of Ephesus.

Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words “Veni. Vedi, Vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered) in Turkey when he defeated Pontus, a formidable Kingdom in the Black Sea Region of Turkey.

Aesop – famous for his fables and parables – was born in Anatolia.

Homer (Homeros) was born in Izmir on the west coast of Turkey and he depicted Troy, which is north of Izmir, in his Epic the Iliad.

Part of Turkey’s south western shore was a wedding gift from Mark Antony to Cleopatra.

The famous Trojan Wars took place in western Turkey, around the site where a wooden model of the Trojan Horse has been erected at the site.

Alexander the Great conquered a large territory in what is now Turkey and cut the Gordion Knot in the Phrygian capital (Gordium) not far from Turkey's present-day capital (Ankara).

One of the seven wonders, The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (today only base ruins remained in Selcuk, Izmir)

One of the seven wonders, The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus today only base ruins remained in Bodrum, Mugla

The word "turquoise" derives from the French word for Turkish (Turquois), the beautiful colour of waters of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern Turkish coast.

The first coins ever minted were done so at Sardis, near İzmir, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lycia, at the end of the seventh century B.C.

According to the Legend of Great Flood, after the withdrawal of the waters, Noah's Ark landed on Mount Ağrı in eastern Anatolia.

One of the first most accurate world maps was drawn by the well-known Turkish cartographer and navigator Piri Reis in 16th century.

Contrary to popular opinion, tulip originated not in Holland but in Asia. The Turks first gave the Dutch their famous tulips that started the craze for the flower in England and the Netherlands. There is a period in 18th century is named "The Tulip Age" in Ottoman Empire.

The Seven Churches referred in the Book of Revelation are all found in Turkey: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

Gobekli Tepe /Sanliurfa is the oldest human-made place of worship yet discovered.Dated to 7500 - 6000 BC.

The world's first known bank is at the Temple of Sard Artemis located at Salihli/Manisa. Banking task were fulfilled by the priests of temple.

The oldest known shipwreck in the world was excavated in Kas. The shipwreck is on display now in Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum.