 |
|
|
What’s on in Turkey – What’s new in Turkey
October 2009 to February 2010
There is so much to do – visitors to Turkey are often spoilt for choice!
The south coast of Turkey has an annual average of 300 days of sunshine. At the end of October while the UK experiences the beginnings of winter, the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts of Turkey enjoy relatively mild temperatures. Turkey is truly an all-year-round destination offering fabulous resorts, numerous attractions and leisure activities aplenty.
A Golfer’s Winter Paradise
Turkey was awarded Best Golf Destination in Europe 2008 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) putting Turkey ahead of other European golfing hotspots including Spain and Scotland. This is largely due to Belek in the Antalya region, home to championship golf in Turkey, which can boast of courses designed by world-famous golfers Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo, and also of the first pure links course in Turkey – LykiaLinksGolf.
Championship courses can also be found in Istanbul. In Bodrum the new Vita Park Golf Resort is attracting great interest from golfers. Golf courses are currently under construction in Dalaman, Altinkum and Kusadasi.
Golf in Turkey is becoming increasingly popular with golfers who would prefer not to play the game at home during the winter months. On the south coast of Turkey the mild winters make ideal conditions for golf.
Click here to see property giving easy access to golf courses in Belek, Bodrum and Dalaman.
|
|
Skiing in Turkey
Saklikent ski resort is located in south west Turkey in the Beydag mountain range. Apart from the slopes, the big draw is the fact that in under an hour you can access Antalya, where you can sunbathe on the Mediterranean beaches even in the mild winter ski season months.
The ski season at Saklikent ski resort runs from mid-December to April and has its best flurries of snow from mid-January to mid-March.
Saklikent resort lies at 6,560 feet above sea level and offers visitors a ski school, ski and snowboard equipment rentals at the Bakirli Motel, ski shops and a supermarket.
There are only a couple of runs at Saklikent ski resort that will appeal to beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Two t-bar ski lifts provide slope access for hundreds of people per hour and rise to an altitude of 7,874 feet above sea level. Considering the resort’s proximity to the warm Mediterranean Sea, the snow quality is good.
Away from the slopes of Saklikent ski resort is the obvious attraction of the Mediterranean coastline, which is less than an hour away by car. The town of Antalya itself is well worth exploring, with its wealth of mosques, monuments and museums. Be sure to visit Hadrian’s Gate, an entrance gate and Roman triumphal arch, while Clock Tower in nearby Kalekapisi Square is also a gem.
With two ski lifts and a number of runs the ski resort is suitable for all standards. Located just under 1 ½ hours by car, this is the closest ski resort to Nirvana’s Augustus Resort and is also easily accessible from both Belek and Antalya.
Click here to see property giving easy access to the ski slopes.
|
|
What’s On in Turkey
|
11th International Istanbul Biennial
12 September – 8 November 2009
Art events at venues throughout the city
|
Bodrum Cup
20-24 October 2009
The 21st International Wooden Yacht Regatta
|
|
International Motorcycle Fair
12 – 15 November 2009
Lutfi Kirdar Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Istanbul International Motorcycle Fair attracts more than 40,000 enthusiasts each year.
|
Whirling Dervishes Festival
10-17 December 2009
Museum of Mevlana, Konya
The Commemorative Ceremony for Mevlana, the great Sufi saint (1207-1273), is one of the world's greatest spectacles. Thousands of people travel to Konya, the ancient Seljuk capital.
|
Kurban Bayram
27– 30 November 2009
Kurban Bayram, a four-day festival marking the culmination of Hajj (the holy pilgrimage), during which meat is distributed to the poor.
|
St Nicholas Day
6 December 2009
The Antalya Region is famed for being the home of St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in the 4th century, born in Patara around 270 AD. Myra is known today as Demre and is about 90 miles from Antalya. The church of St Nicholas in the town dates from the 6th century.
The cult of St Nicholas extended beyond Byzantium from the 6th to the 11th century, especially in the Christian church. He gave money to the poor and was known for his generosity. This later gave rise to the myth of Santa Claus. Each December the town hosts a commemorative ceremony attended by visitors from across the globe.
Patara is close to Kalkan. Click here to view property in Kalkan.
|
|
31 December - New Year’s Eve
New Year celebrations are becoming increasingly popular. New Year's Day is a public holiday in Turkey and people usually spend the day visiting each other and exchanging gifts. There is a fantastic firework display on New Year’s Eve in Istanbul and lights are put up along one of the city’s most popular shopping and entertainment streets – Istiklal Caddesi.
Many people owning holiday homes in Turkey take advantage of the long break and choose to spend time in their Turkey property over the New Year period. Those with holiday property in Altinkum, Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya are certain to find celebrations in the locality with many restaurants opening for the evening. There are also celebrations in the smaller resorts of Gocek, Kalkan and Kas.
The seasonal greeting in Turkey is ‘İyi Seneler’ (good wishes for the New Year)
Click here to see property in Altinkum, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Gocek, Kalkan, Kas, Istanbul
|
|
International Istanbul Fashion Fair
CNR Expo, Istanbul
February 2010
Istanbul hosts its international fashion festival twice a year, showcasing upcoming trends. Istanbul is the second largest supplier of clothing to the EU.
|
Eurasia Boatshow
CNR Expo, Istanbul
12 -21 February 2010
Showcases yachts and motorboats. Also on show the latest surfing, waterskiing and diving technologies.
NB – Event details can change - please check with the organisers before making arrangements to visit
|
Explore the Metropolis – Winter is an ideal time to explore Istanbul!
The metropolis of Istanbul is European City of Culture in 2010 and offers a myriad of attractions for visitors. From historic palaces such as Topkapi Palace to shopping in the vibrant Grand Bazaar to watching formula one racing at the state of the art circuit at Istanbul Park. There are a host of museums and cultural venues that are well worth a visit. The winter months are a good time for sight-seeing. There are flights to Istanbul from major UK airports and from Turkish regional airports. You could combine a stay in your property in Turkey with a visit to Istanbul! Whatever time of the year you visit you won’t be disappointed. Click here to view property in Istanbul.
|
Istanbul sights include:
Hagia Sophia
This enormous structure was built in the period 532 - 537 during the reign of Emperor Justinian, as a church. The name Hagia Sophia means 'Holy Wisdom' and the building was the principal church of the Christian world. Up until the building of Michelangelo’s dome for St Peter some 1000 years later by the Romans it was the largest dome ever constructed. Byzantine mosaics have been uncovered on the upper gallery.
|
 |
The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is officially the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I. It was built at the beginning of the 17th Century and was designed by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga. The most distinctive feature of the mosque is its six minarets.
Please note that because this is a working mosque, it is closed to tourists during the five daily prayer times and for longer periods on Fridays. As with all mosques, tourists must remove their shoes before entering.
|
 |
Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace was the residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years. The Palace is extremely opulent with its many treasures and lavish decoration. Each Sultan added something of his own over the centuries. It is a must see for any visitor to Istanbul.
|
 |
The Grand Bazaar
Often dubbed the ‘world’s earliest shopping mall’ the Grand Bazaar is Turkey's largest covered market. It is estimated that there are between 3,500 to 5,000 shops there. It really is a shopper’s paradise! Another covered bazaar, worth a visit is the spice bazaar, known locally as the 'Egyptian Bazaar'. It specialises in spices but sell other things as well. Bartering is a must in Turkish bazaars. Enjoy a glass of spiced apple tea after picking up a bargain or several!
|
 |
The Yerebatan Cistern
Also known as the Underground Palace, this building is an ancient storage tank for water built in Roman times, reputedly the orginal cistern was built by Constantine the Great. The cistern covers around 1,000 metres and was restored in the 1980s and is open to the public. Prior to its renovation the cistern could only be explored by boat. In the film ‘From Russia with Love’ James Bond rows through it. There is a small coffee shop.
|
 |
The Dolmabahçe Palace
This palace is situated along the Bosphorus and before you enter the gates there is a tea garden with stunning views. You can take a refreshing tea before beginning your tour of the palace. Built in 1853, Dolmabahce is a masterpiece of 19th-Century grandeur. There are more than 280 rooms and a guided tour will take you around two hours. The palace was as a residence for President Kemal Atatürk, in the mid-20th Century, when he visited Istanbul. You can watch the changing of the guards at the Palace.
|
Click here to view property in Istanbul |
This page is regularly updated – keep coming back to see What’s On in Turkey and What’s new in Turkey. Don’t miss out!
|
|
|
|
