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Istanbul: Turkey
Istanbul (Turkish: ?stanbul; contraction of the city’s previous Greek name Constantinople ) is the largest city in Turkey, and arguably the most important. It is located on the Bosphorus strait and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn (Turkish: Hali), in the northwest of the country. It is officially in both Europe and Asia, but is generally considered European. The city is also the administrative capital of Istanbul Province. Its population is between 11 and 15 million people, making it, by some counts, one of the largest cities in Europe.
Originally founded by Greek colonists as Byzantium, it was made the seat of government in 324 CE by the Roman Emperor Constantine; Byzantium was renamed Nova Roma (New Rome) but this name failed to impress and the city soon became known as Constantinople, the City of Constantine. Then, after the Roman Empire split in two, it became the capital of the eastern half, known as the Byzantine Empire. This empire quickly became distinctly Greek in culture and the centre of Greek Orthodox Christianity and was adorned with many impressive churches including the once world’s largest cathedral: Hagia Sophia. The seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Church is located in Istanbul until our days. After the Fall of Constantinople to the invading Turks,in 1453, Constantinople became part of the Ottoman Empire and soon its capital. Before the conquest Turks called the city ?stanbul, but officially used the name Qus?an?aniyyeh, which means “City of Constantine” in Arabic. Only on March 28, 1930, was the city officially renamed Istanbul.
Adana: Turkey
Adana is the fourth largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Adana Province. It has a population of 1 130 710 (2000). NATO’s Incirlik Air Base is located 12 km east of Adana.
One of the large towns of Asia Minor, about nineteen miles from the sea, Adana derives its importance from its situation as the gateway to the Cilician plain, that great flat stretch of fertile land, possibly the most productive in this part of the world, (on east side of Taurus Mountains). In Adana all the houses are flat-topped and the roofs serve as the bedrooms for the inhabitants during the hot summers. Adana was more important for its agriculture while Tarsus was the metropolis of the area. Several types of fruit are native to this area, the apricot being an example.
From Adana, crossing the Cilician plain going west, the road from Tarsus enters the foothills of the Taurus Mountains. With every foot of ascent the coolness increases, reaching an altitude of nearly 4000 feet. Then through the famous Cilician Gates, that rocky pass through which armies have coursed since history’s dawn, and the caravan has arrived on the Anatolian plain.
Adapazar?: Turkey
Adapazari is the capital of the Turkish province of Sakarya. The province itself was originally named Adapazari as well.
Afyon: Turkey
Afyonkarahisar (Turkish for the black opium castle) is a city in western Turkey, also known simply as Afyon (i.e. opium) or as Karahisar-i Sahip. Older spellings include Afium-Kara-hissar and Afyon Karahisar. It is the capital of Afyon province. It is located 250 km south-west of Ankara along the Akar River at an elevation of 1 034 meters. It has a population of 128 516 and is an important railroad junction between Izmir, Konya, Ankara and Istanbul. The region is traditionally the main producer of opium in Turkey, thereby its name.
Afyon was known as Acronus until the reign of the Byzantine emperor Leo III who after his victory over Arab besiegers in 740 renamed it Nicopolis (Greek for the Victory City). The Seljuk Turks changed its name to Kara Hissar (the black castle) after the ancient fortress situated upon a volcanic rock 201 meters above the town.
Aksaray: Turkey
Aksaray is a city in Turkey located in middle Anatolia.
Amasya: Turkey
Amasya (formerly Amaseia or Amasia) is a town in northern Turkey, the capital of Amasya Province with approximately 80,000 inhabitants. It is the home of Strabo the geographer.
On the rock faces above the town there are carved impressive rock tombs of the kings of Pontus (illuminated at night) which, although not kept in the best condition, make for an impressive sight in the town. A castle (Turkish ‘Kale’) mentioned by the geographer Strabo also lies in ruins on a rocky outcrop above the town. The town itself has many historically and architecturally precious buildings including the Ferhat water channel, the 13th century Seljuk Burmali Mosque, the 14th century Ilhanli Bimarhane Mental Hospital with lovely reliefs around its portal, the 15th century Yildirim Beyazit Mosque and others.
Ankara: Turkey
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country’s second largest city after Istanbul. It is also the capital of Ankara Province. The city has a population of 3,582,000 (2003), and a mean elevation of 850 m. (2800 ft.) It was formerly known as Angora or Engr, and in the classical period, as Ancyra.
Centrally located in Anatolia, Ankara is an important commercial and industrial city, has been the neural center of Turkish Government, and houses all the foreign embassies. It is an important crossroads of trade, strategically located at the center of Turkey’s highway and rail network, and serves as the marketing center for the surrounding agricultural area. The city was famous for its long-haired goat and its wool (Angora wool), a unique breed of cat (Ankara Cat), white rabbits, pear, honey, and the region’s muscat grapes.
Antakya: Turkey
The city of Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern Antakya) is located in what is now Turkey. It was founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, who made it the capital of his empire in Syria. Seleucus I had served as one of Alexander the Great’s generals, and the name Antiochus occurred frequently amongst members of his family.
Antioch occupies an important place in the history of Christianity. It was here that Paul preached his first Christian sermon in a synagogue, and here that followers of Jesus were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). As Christianity spread, Antioch became the seat of one of the four original patriarchates, along with Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Rome. Today it remains the seat of a patriarchate of the Roman Catholic and Oriental Orthodox churches. One of the canonical Eastern Orthodox churches is still called the Antiochian Orthodox Church, although it moved its headquarters from Antioch to Damascus, Syria, several centuries ago (see list of Patriarchs of Antioch).
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