HISTORY AND CULTURE IN ÇANAKKALE

Introduction
Çanakkale, a city and region of education, culture and history with past stretching back 5,000 years, has been nourished by the legacy of ancient cultural treasures such as The Illiad by Homer and has come to appreciate the enchanting historical sites within its boundaries and is now an significant tourism centre.
In ancient times Çanakkale was known as the "Hellespont" and "Dardanel" and is one of Turkey’s most beautiful provinces, sitting astride both the Marmara and Aegean regions, with 671 kilometres of coastline and where geography and history meet in a meaningful way. 
The Gallipoli Historic National Park, where one of the most important events in Turkey’s history and that of the First World War, the Gallipoli Campaign, took place; and two of the most important ancient centres in western Anatolia, Troy and Assos, which are of the indispensable value as historical and tourism sites, are all in the province of Çanakkale.
Stretching from the Trojan War to the Gallipoli Campaign the ancient cities and the sacred land have added "peace" as a characteristic of the identity of the province.
While the founding father of the Turkish Republic M. Kemal ATATÜRK addressed "You, the mothers who sent their sons from the far away countries," by saying that "your sons are now lying in our bosom," he delivered his message "Peace at home, peace in the world," to the world from this land.
Çanakkale is one of our country’s most important cultural and tourism centres, with the hospitality of the local people, unspoiled nature, unique buildings, ancient cities, historical walls, cemeteries of those who fell in the war, examples of civil architecture, its clean shores and beaches that have been awarded the Blue Flag, enchanting islands, thermal spas, mild climate, rich range of agricultural products, local dishes, a wide range of fresh and very varied fish, handcrafts and artists.
Çanakkale reveals a different beauty for all seasons, with the geography of the sea passing through it, the fertility of its lands, and the glamour of its history. It is an ancient, natural and modern province.
In this promotional book you will be able to discover all the beauties and other treasures our province has to offer. For Çanakkale has a rich history, has developed rapidly in respect to social and economic criteria and cultural tourism. I would like to thank all those who contributed to this book on Çanakkale, which I believe will contribute to the promotion of our province.

Çanakkale
On both sides of the wharf and on the waterfront…
Like in all seaside cities the criteria what sets the character of Çanakkale is the sea and its wharf. Either side of the waterfront from the jetty in Çanakkale have been set out to promote walking and entertainment. Stretching both ways from the car ferry wharf there are restaurants, bars, cafes and benches placed so one can look out over the sea or rest.
The area around the wharf and the waterfront is busy day and night.
Many of the restaurants on the waterfront feature a seafood menu. In season one can always find fresh fish in the restaurants.

The Clock Tower
One street back from the wharf there is a clock tower that is one of the symbols of the city. It was built in 1897 by an Italian, Emili Vitali tradesman and honorary consul of the time. There is a clock on each of the four sides of the tower, which was built from the local Ayvalık stone. The square shaped tower narrows slightly as it rises. The public fountain beneath it was built in 1889 by a wealthy Jewish resident of the town called Halyo..

Old Çanakkale

The two streets either side of the tower lead into the older districts of the city. Most of the old houses on these very narrow streets are either used as shops or cafes. There are small hans in the marketplace.
Once upon a time the famed Muriel Bazaar (Aynalı Çarşı or Mirror Bazaar) was in this region. The Muriel Bazaar, which was made famous in a well known song about Gallipoli Campaign, was built by Ilia Halyo in 1889 during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamit and was a replica of the famed Egyptian Bazaar in Istanbul. According to some accounts it was destroyed by shells from the British battleship Queen Elizabeth, which were fired at the defences around Çanakkale. The bazaar remained a ruin for some time after the war and later 14 shops that were not in keeping with the former styles were erected.

Çanakkale city tour

One can start a tour of Çanakkale from the Çimenlik Castle. The tour, which would follow a visit to the old district, would have as its first stop at the Turkish districts of Camii Kebir and Çay and a stop at the Fatih Mosque. Later one can see the Jewish district, the Victory Square, the Nedime Hanım Girls School,  the Tıflı Mosque, the Muriel Bazaar, the synagogue, the Anatolian Greek (Rum) district, school buildings, the Orta Mektep School, the Cumhuriyet Meydanı (Republican Square), the Public Gardens (Halk Bahçesi), the waterfront, the Clock Tower, Yalı and Fetvahane Streets and the Yalı Mosque.
The old district and the partly protected houses and streets are very pleasant but one can take a break at the Yalı Han, located off one of the streets leading from the Clock Tower. In the han, apart from a bookstore and several other shops, there is a coffee shop and if the weather is suitable you can even sit in the garden area which is very pleasant. The han is also the venue for a number of cultural activities in Çanakkale

The vicinity of Çanakkale

The Dardanos Tumulus

The tumulus is on the Izmir road in an area owned by the local university and the finds from the site are on display at the Çanakkale Archaeology Museum. However, there is not much for the amateur visitor to see. The site’s importance lies in its having the traces of the oldest settlement known in Çanakkale.
The old name for Çanakkale, Dardanos, comes from this old city that was founded here but there are no other traces of it barring the tumulus. The Dardanos tumulus is one of the oldest in the world.

Fortresses, Batteries and Cemeteries for Martyrs

Çanakkale is renown for its numerous fortresses and castles built on the Asian shore of the Strait, usually with a matching fortification on the European side. The forts located on the Gallipoli Peninsula are covered in another chapter of this book. However, it is easy to visit some the batteries and cemeteries for martyrs on the Anatolian side of Çanakkale.

Nara Castle

Nara Castle is on the Anatolian side of the Strait, five kilometres to the north of Çanakkale. Construction on the fort was started in 1807, along with the Bigalı Castle on the European shore which is five kilometres from Eceabat, during the reign of Selim III. The fortifications were built to counter the threat of British warships passing through the Strait and sailing to İstanbul. Nara Castle was completed in the reign of Mahmut II.
The Nara Castle was built on the site of the ancient city of Abydos and the Bigalı Castle in the vicinity of ancient Sestos.
The fortifications at Nara consist of an ammunition warehouse, watchtower and similar constructions. The inner fortress consists of a round building with a radius of nine metres, the terrace of two metres wide walls, is 9.5 metres in height and 26 stairs. It was constructed so as its 20 embrasures faced out towards the sea. The interior of the fortress is formed by a series of domes with a radius of five metres. Nara castle is in a military zone.

Devamı için tıklayınız... To be continued