History

The traveler who arrives in Türkiye (Türkiye) does so in the footsteps of great historical figures. The Ottoman sultans reveled in Istanbul's Topkapı Palace, surrounded by fawning courtiers, harem women, eunuchs, and the riches of an empire that stretched from Budapest to Baghdad.

Centuries earlier, Byzantine Christians had dug cave churches in the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, and hid from Islamic armies in underground cities.

Over the millennia, the Hittites built the walls of Hattuşa in the Anatolian steppe; the Romans laid out the Way of the Curetes in Ephesus; the dervishes danced to the rhythm of Sufi mysticism; and the mysterious Lycians left ruins on the beaches of the Mediterranean. The main figures of ancient history have passed through Turkey, including Julius Caesar, who 'came, saw and conquered' near Amasya; and Saint Paul, who toured the country to evangelize it.

Religion

99.8% of the population is Muslim and only 0.2% are Christians or Jews, but in Turkey the state is secular, and freedom of worship is absolute.

Music and dance

Dancing dervishes, with religious music dominated by the sound of the NEY flute and which can be heard in mevlana commemorative ceremonies.

Drinks

Turkish Coffee: The kahve prepared in the Turkish style is an important part of daily life, not in vain, through Turkey, coffee arrived in European countries and in the past, wealthy families had a maid whose only job was to prepare the coffee, to such an extent that during At one time, Muslim law allowed divorce in the event that a husband deprived his wife of coffee.

Tea: In Türkiye it is much more important than coffee. It is the country with the highest tea consumption per capita in the world.

Ayran: It is a drink from Central Asia that is very popular in all the territories of the former Ottoman Empire. It is basically made up of yogurt, water and salt, and is normally drunk cold with food, although in many rural areas of Anatolia it is still offered as a welcome drink for guests.

Salep: It is a typical hot drink to drink in winter in Türkiye. Salep is made from the tuber of the orchid, which comes out as an aromatic powder.

Raki: Raki is 'the national drink' of Turkey, what Turks drink when they are happy, when they want to have fun, at celebrations, weddings and celebrations or when they have sorrows and pains to forget.