Sunday, 5 July 2009
The Marmara Region, lying in the northwest of Turkey, is full of cities and towns with many tourist attractions.
-TEKIRDAG-
Having almost 150 kilometer coast on the Marmara Sea, Tekirdag is considered as the "pearl of Marmara."
Tens of thousands of Turkish and foreign tourists visit Tekirdag every year to see its natural beauties and cultural heritage, and try paragliding, surfing and sailing.
Archeology and Ethnography Museum; Rakoczi Museum; Ottoman author Namik Kemal's House; Rustem Pasha Kulliyesi (Complex); fountains and mosques dating to Ottoman era are worth seeing in Tekirdag.
One should visit Tekirdag's Karacakilavuz hamlet and buy hand-made fabric. For sea and sun tourism, Sarkoy, Murefte, Kumbag, Degirmenalti, Marmaraereglisi and Barbaros towns should be visited.
Nisantepe and Ucmakdere villages are ideal for paragliding, diving and trekking.
Pirese, sarasura, borani, zennik, bulama, cenecarpan soup, cillik, elbesan tava, gulbarak boregi, hosmerim, hakuk, kalle, kodrul, mangir, papaz mancasi are the local dishes that should be tasted.
Also, wines made of Murefte grapes are worth tasting.
There are also some ancient settlements in the vicinity of Tekirdag like Barbaros, Misinli, Besiktepe, Bisantre, Perinho, Heraion, and Teichos.
-EDIRNE-
Established by Roman Emperor Hadrian, Edirne was conquered by Sultan Murad I of the Ottoman Empire in 1361.
Hosting many civilizations throughout history, Edirne also served as a capital city for the Ottoman Empire.
Selimiye Mosque built by Architect Sinan; inns; Turkish baths and palaces; and Tunca, Meric, Gazimihal (Hamidiye) Sarachane (Sahabettin Pasha), Bayezit II, Fatih (Bonce), Yildirim, Kanuni (Saray), Yalnizgoz (Tekgoz) bridges are places worth seeing in Edirne.
Yildirim Beyazit Mosque, Eski (Old) Mosque, Uc Serefeli Mosque, Muradiye Mosque, Beyazit II Kulliyesi (Complex) are some of the tourist attractions.
Also, Edirne has traces of the tolerance of the Ottoman Empire. It is possible to see many churches and synagogues in this city including Bulgarian Saint George, Bulgarian Saint Constantine and Helena churches, the Grand Synagogue, and Italian Catholic Church.
Graves dating to civilizations who migrated from north of the Balkans to Edirne during 1,200 B.C. can also be visited in Edirne.
Enez Ancient City, Edirne Archeology and Ethnography Museum, Turkish Islamic Artifacts Museum, Dar-ul Kura Madrasah, Lausanne Treaty and Museum, Sukru Pasha Monument, Balkan War Museum, Macedonian Tower, Adalet Kasri (Mansion) are some of the tourist attractions in Edirne.
Kirkpinar wrestling events have an important place in Edirne. The events begin at the end of June or beginning of July every year.
Visitors can buy soaps made of genuine fruit, Edirne's cheese, almond paste, and cheese halva in Edirne.
-KIRKLARELI-
Kirklareli offers many options to vacationers with its culture, camping facilities, water sports, hunting and nature tourism.
Igneada, Kiyikoy and Kastura beaches; Longoz Forest; Dupnisa Cave; and Archeology and Ethnography Museum are some of the tourist attractions in Kirklareli.
Hizir Bey Kulliyesi (Complex), Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Kulliyesi (Complex), Cedit Ali Pasa Mosque, Kucuk Ayasofya (Small Hagia Sophia) Church, Magara Monastery, and Ayanikola Ayazma (sacred fountain) and Monastery are some other historical places to be visited in Kirklareli.
