One of the most interesting facts about Turkey is how many languages are spoken there. There are over 30 languages spoken in Turkey Turkish delight with hazelnut © Inna Reznik/Shutterstock 8. If you're looking for a holiday by the sea, find out more about Turkey's beaches. The Greek historian Herodotus was born in what is now Bodrum, a city on the coast. Many people believe Aesop, the famed Greek storyteller grew up in Thrace along the Black Sea (now Nesebar). Paul the Apostle (originally known as Saul) was born in Tarsus in southern Turkey. Turkey is the birthplace of important historical figures including Aesop, Herodotus and St.
Learn more about Istanbul with the Pocket Rough Guide Istanbul. The bridge was never built, although Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced several years ago that a volunteer project was underway to finally realise Da Vinci's plans. In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci submitted plans for a bridge across the Golden Horn – the inlet of the Bosphorus that divides the city of Istanbul (then known as Constantinople). Leonardo da Vinci once designed a bridge across the Golden Horn The palace complex is open everyday apart from Tuesday. It stands as a great symbol of the Ottoman Empire. If you want to learn more about Turkey's fascinating history, head to the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The Turkish War of Independence followed, and then in 1923 came the Republic with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as the first President. The country now known as the Republic of Turkey was part of the Ottoman Empire until the empire broke up in the aftermath of the First World War. The country's official name is actually the Republic of Turkey. Ruins of the ancient Lycian city in Patara © Fotopanorama360/Shutterstock 3. Turkey enjoys a wealth of its own religious festivals, the most important one being Ramadan. Even with Santa Claus's origins from Turkey, the country doesn't traditionally celebrate Christmas as it's a predominantly Muslim country. Funnily enough, even though Santa Claus isn't linked to beaches, Patara is a coastal beach town with 16 kilometres of sand. Think about taking a local guide with you to learn more about the history of the ruins here. The name Santa Claus comes from the dutch 'Sinter Klaas', a shortened version of Sint Nikolaas. Not only did tales of his generosity become the basis for Santa Claus, but St Nicholas also became one of the patron saints of sailors. A holy man, people believe he performed many miracles in his lifetime, including saving sailors from sinking ships. St Nicholas – the historical figure behind the man we know as Santa Claus – was born in Patara, Turkey in around 300 AD. Learn All about YouįamilySearch’s All About Me feature can help you get to know yourself and connect with others-especially family-in a meaningful way.Īll you have to do is sign up for a FamilySearch account (which is absolutely FREE), and enter some basic information such as your name and when you were born.St Peter's Church in Antakya, Turkey © Etka/Shutterstock 2. You might be surprised by what you discover. From there, you can choose a family member from your tree, and learn more about that person’s life and past.Īll About Me puts your family’s life in a larger context, and context brings your story to life. Learn more about your family! Though you can compare your name and facts with your family’s throughout each experience, you can also focus specifically on a member of your family by changing the page settings to that person’s name.Ĭhange the settings by clicking the black button in the top-right corner that says View a Different Year. What better way to honor Grandma and Grandpa on their birthdays than trying to experience the world they grew up in? Fun Facts about Your Family You can also connect with family members who came before you by seeing what shows, music, and sports they were experiencing when they were growing up. The feature can also give the same information for the years you turned 8, 16, and older, so you can nostalgically listen to some of the most popular songs on the radio from when you were a young.