See the place that landed a thousand ships

Troy is famous throughout the world for being the battleground for Homer's epic the Illiad and this has brought tourists to its vicinity for centuries.

Located in the north-east of Turkey, many believe that the current site is one and the same as that which had Achilles, Ajax, Hector and Lysander fight outside its walls close to the Dardanelles.

Yet despite the tales, the archaeological evidence suggests that the city that many regard as Troy survived the Greek destruction and flourished as a major centre for many decades.

Following its decline during the Byzantine period, after what is now modern Istanbul took dominance of the region away from Troy, the site was lost for centuries. While many scholars dismissed Troy as a myth, amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann set out to discover the "topless towers of Ilium", as Christopher Marlowe described them.

He found a city, complete with a horde of gold, something that Schliemann named "Priam's treasure" in honour of the Trojan king of the Illiad.

Due to his dubious practices, which resulted in Schliemann being expelled from Turkey, controversy arose as to whether the site he found really was the Troy of Homer's pentameters.

However, recent research comparing the Greek poet's descriptions of the landscape along with Strabo's Geographia to the modern coastline indicates a regular consistency that is matched by stratographic and other scientific evidence.

Excavations in 1988 revealed a city of remarkable size, complete with arrow heads and injured bodies, indicating that some kind of battle is likely to have taken place.

Of course, modern visitors to the site can find out for themselves what was there before them and perhaps draw their own conclusions, for modern Troia, as the site is called, is open to visits from curious onlookers.

Some Britons may even hope to glimpse their ancestor there, as some legends claim that Brutus, who founded Britain according to mediaeval myths, sailed from the city under Aeneas.

Though this is unlikely, it may still be a draw for those looking at that ancient tombs, roads and buildings that have been excavated.

There is also a museum too for people to explore and find out many more of the myths surrounding this ancient site.

For children, the local government has erected a "Trojan horse" of wood for them to play in if museums are not for them.

Troy draws people in from around the world for a variety of reasons. Some go to discover the city they have heard about in Homer's Illiad, or seen on the big screen in Troy. Others like to wander through the remains of a once-mighty city. Some are intrigued by the romance brought to the place, not only by Homer but by Schliemann himself, who gave the jewellery he found to his young wife, Sophie.

The nearest towns to Troy are Istanbul or Canakkale, allowing people to visit by bus or ferry. However, most major towns in the region have the facilities to organise trips to the site, allowing people to visit the town and see if they can spot the arrowhead that pierced Achille's heel, or find the marks where Hector's body was dragged.