 Canakkale
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Canakkale is not only name of a city but also the province including the battelefileds and memorials of GALLIPOLI, the legendary ancient city TROY, the mystical and fascinating ancient city ASSOS, the popular historical resort island BOZACAADA, the impressive nature of MOUNT IDA and so on. According to the reports of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, there are about 175 archaeological, 34 natural and 5 historical sites in the province of Canakkale.
The first-waterway on the way of Istanbul, the place where a century was collapsed, the place where 500,000 soldiers lost their lives at Gallipoli, homeland of many civizilations including the ancient city known as Troy, the city of Heroes:
Çanakkale, one of the Turkish cities, located on the Hellespoint at the north-west part of Turkiye.The city has always been strategically important because it has been a crossing point for armies, traders, migrating people since before history.
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The Dardanelles Strait is one of the most important geological feature of Çanakkale. This is the almost 60 km (38 miles) long ribbon of water separating the continent of Europe from the Asia Minor. Throughout history, anyone who controlled this gateway commanded a highly strategic area. There are many stories told about this place.
The first known story of the Dardanelles is the story of Helle. In the ancient times, the Dardanelles were known as the Hellespont, "Helle's sea" , named after a mythical Boetian princess who was drown in its waters. According to Greek mythology, when King Athamas' children, Phryxus and Helle, were sent away by their stepmother. While passing over the straits on a ram with golden fleece, Princess Helle fell into the water.
Another lovey story is told ear to ear; Abydose and Sestus were two town of ancient Çanakkale that faced one another across the Straits. Leander was a handsome youth from Abydos who was in love with an Aphrodite priestess, Hero. Every night he would swim from Abydos to Sestus to see her. One night there was a terrible storm and he had never arrived. Hero, asuming that Leander had drowned, threw herself into the sea.
Dardanelles played an important role at World War I. British and its Allies, who wanted to take Istanbul, could not pass through the Dardanelles. The eight month-long struggle between the Allies and Turkish forces is known as the Battle of Gallipoli. So serious were the casualties on both sides, that Winston CHURCHILL, Prime Minister of England, was removed from his office.
Every year of April 25th, Gallipoli is invaded again not by Allied troops, but by their descendants, other veterans, and tourists. The sounds of the riffle fire ring out at Anzac Cove, but this time as a salute to hereos by the Turkish Honor Guard.
When you reach Galliboli Pennisula you can feel the spirit of the heroes of the battle. Today Galliboli pennisula is a national park and is open to all visitors who come to pay respect in many military burial grounds. Blow are the words of Ataturk, the famous Turkish commander of Gallipoli and the founders of modern Turkish Republic.
" Those heroes that shed their blood and
lost their lives...! You are now lying in
the soul of a friendly country, therefore
rest in peace. There is no differences between
the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they
lie side by side here in this country of ours...
You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away
countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now
lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having
lost their lives on this land they have become
our sons as well."
ATATURK, (1934).
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Places Which You Must See
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 Troy
If Homer had not written the Iliad and the Odyssey, Troy today would be a place of interest only for archaeology fans. Other tourists would not even think of visiting it there. The town was the site of nine settlements, one which replaced the earlier below, and was an active settlement from 3,000 B.C until the time of the birth of Christ. Troy has been excavated many times by archaeologists such as Schliemann, Dörpfeld and many others who were searching for the treasure of Priam.
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Gallipoli
"The place where a generation
drowned within the water..."
The war of Dardanelles... In March
1915, the most powerful armed forces in history were defeated by the hardest and the most strong defense of WW I.
The peninsula today is filled with cemeteries, war museums and
memories of this bloody war and is a chilling reminder of our recent history.
If you are going to Canakkale make
sure you make a side trip to this
historical site.
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Assos
This ancient settlement dating back to the Hittite King Tutalia IV (8th century B.C.) is beautifully located off the coast of the Aegean, across the island of Lesbos. The Doric settlement, the 6th century B.C Athena temple, the city walls and the ancient port are some of the attractions. This is a convenient stop for those traveling north to Çanakkale or going south from Çanakkale.
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Other Places of interest in the Marmara Region
Gemlik, on Bursa - Istanbul highway, Bursa's port of Mudanya, Kapidag peninsula and the Marmara archipelago (Marmara, Avsa, Pashalimani and Ekinlik islands), Tekirdag, the Saros bay on the Aegean Sea are other places of the region that are worth visiting.
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