The Republic of Turkey is one of the most unique and wonderful countries to visit. It’s one of the countries that due to it being a hotbed of civilizations and its unique location in the world it’s home to a lot of historical and other stunning destinations. For its history, it’s home to a lot of history that goes back thousands of years and spans multiple civilizations from the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans. For its nature and natural spots, it’s one of the stunning destinations to see with all four seasons in effect here.
Due to factors like these, it’s become one of the most known and must-visit destinations in the world. But even before you think about visiting Turkey, there’s still some research you should do that will help you know what it is famous for and what places you should visit. So for this blog, we’ve made a list of the 13 most surprising facts about Turkey that you should know about, that will help you know what and why it is famous to help you prepare for your trip.
13 Surprising Facts to Know About Turkey
Turkey’s special history and culture makes it ever the most unique hence contributing to a lot of many special things that came out of there and those still present that makes it a tempting place to visit adn to know about. So, here are 13 surprising facts you should definitely know about Turkey before visiting:
1. Mount Ararat is located there
The first fact that will surprise you about Turkey is that the religiously important Mount Ararat is located there. Mount Ararat is a very famous mountain and a high peak in eastern Turkey and Armenia where it is believed that Noah’s Ark, a ship or ark built by the Prophet Noah himself is located there.
2. It has a very famous tea drinking culture
Another fact about Turkey is that it has a very dedicated tea drinking culture. Turks drink a lot of cups of tea every day and are known as one of the highest consumers of tea.
3. The first ever coin in human history was minted in Turkey
Before antiquity, a civilization in ancient Anatolia known as the Lydians minted the world’s first ever coin to be used as currency. Thus Turkey is home to one of humanity’s first ever modes of currency.
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4. Two wonders of the world in the Temple of Artemis and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus were in Turkey
Although we hear a lot about today’s current wonders of the world, did you know there also used to be ancient wonders of the world? Also two of them used to be in Turkey. The Temple of Artemis and the Tomb of Halicarnassus in today’s Bodrum were some of the world’s most iconic structures in the world at that time. Although today, only ruins remain of those special structures.
5. The pretty Tulips were first cultivated by the Turks
The Tulip flower was first cultivated by Turkic people and was brought to Europe and the rest of the world through Turkey.
6. Troy was located in Turkey
The legendary and iconic city of Troy is located in Western Turkey. Troy used to be a popular player in ancient Anatolian politics and was a big city until it was destroyed by invaders. Today only ruins of the iconic city can be seen at its original location.
7. Europe’s oldest underground train systems in in Turkey
The Tünel funicular in Turkey’s Istanbul is the oldest underground railway system that still operates. The underground system was first opened in the year 1875. Today it connects the Istanbulian districts of Karakoy and Beyoglu, making for a very efficient and cheap/easy way to travel between the city. It is second in age only to Britain’s London Underground which itself was opened in the year 1863.
8. Turkey’s Istanbul is located in and straddles two continents
The Turkish city of Istanbul, which was once a capital to two famous empires, is famous for being situated on the continents of Europe and Asia. It is known as the gateway to Europe with the two halves of the city being cut in half by the Bosphorus Strait.
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9. In Turkey there are nearly 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to explore
Ancient Turkey was the hotbed for the advent of civilization and as such many remains from ancient civilization still remain for display today. From temples to castles, houses and such, Turkey is a must visit place for a historical tour.
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10. Turkish people have an intake of about 3x their own weight in bread every year.
Turkish people are known for being avid consumer of bread, in fact they have the highest bread consumption rates per person in the whole world. Which links to their roots of being originally from central Asia, which is famous for being very high on bread. The cuisine of Turkey heavily incorporates bread and it is eaten daily in large amounts and eaten with generally everything.
11. The sumptuous cherries were introduced to Europe through Turkey
In 74 BC during Roman wars in Anatolia, a Roman general brought cherries from Anatolia to the Roman city of Rome. The origin of cherries is largely believed to have originated in today’s Turkey or then known as Anatolia.
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12. Santa Claus originated in the city of Patara, Turkey
Did you know that Santa Claus, a jolly present delivering figure in christian tradition actually originated in Turkey’s Patara, according to their beliefs. According to them, Santa Claus was originally a monk known as Nicholas whose good deeds made the populace around him call a saint, hence the name Saint Nicholas came to popularity which was shortened to Santa Claus.
13. Turkey’s Istanbul, just like Italy’s Rome is built on seven hills
Istanbul, the heart of Turkey for many centuries, is built on seven hills just like the Italian city of Rome. It makes sense when you know the city was founded by the Romans themselves in the first century AD and had to make a tribute to their capital city in the west.
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Frequently Asked Questions About 13 Surprising Facts about Turkey You Should Know About
Q. Is 1 week enough in Turkey?
A. Yes 1 week is just enough to explore all of Turkey, although it will put a lot of strain on travelers due to long distance journeys, and other logistics related problems and not being able to explore and see all the attractions properly.
Q. What is the best month to visit Turkey?
A. April is the best month to visit Turkey as the weather is pleasant and the scenery in the country is spectacular to see apart from all the amazing attractions and places to visit.
Know All About Turkey and its Charms with iLinkTurkey’s Surprising Facts
Turkey is undoubtedly one of the best countries to see as a traveler and one where you’ll find bits of history and info at every corner of its streets. With a country that’s had a deep influence over many historical events in the world, it sure is a place where you’ll be entertained and shocked whenever you visit this charming and unique destination.
So are you ready to embark on a wonderful journey to the Gateway to Ancient Wonders otherwise known as Turkey, where you’ll experience wonderful cultures, and rich culinary delicacies, all with pre-booked accommodations, and guided tours? iLinkTurkey offers a diverse range of guided tour packages for destinations in Turkey. Head over to our packages and book one of our featured Turkey packages now.
