Canakkale, a gateway to Black Sea with many important historical attractions

CANAKKALE referred to as Hellespontos and Dardanel in ancient times has been a residential area in the north west of Anatolia (Asia Minor) since 3000 B.C. Thanks to Dardanelles Strait CANAKKALE is one of the two passageways that provide the connection between Anatolia and Europe and the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Due to this fact the region has been the target of various migration and invasion movements throughout history.

Cultural development has lasted for centuries with interruptions, resulting in a rather colorful cultural mosaic. The name of today’s CANAKKALE comes from the Castle on the Anatolian side. The region has incurred several invasions carried out by in throughout history Persians, Spartans, Romans and Byzantium Empire and been part of the Ottoman territory eventually. The importance of the Strait was observed in World War One once again when the Ottomans defeated the Allied Navy on 18 March 1915, after very tough battles in the region.

On top of the fact CANAKKALE was a region where one of the most important battles of WWI was staged, it also hosts very important archeological sites such as TROY, ASSOS, ALEXANDRIA TROAS, APOLLO Smintheus and PARION which offers unlimited opportunities for tourists visiting Turkey.

CANAKKALE is a region with a preserved demography and protected local values, traditional local structure not to forget local delicacies which make a difference in terms of gastronomy as well. It is one of the truly rare spots in world tourism with a story to narrate. The region located on the two sides of the strait separating Europe and Asia has a coastal length of 671 kilometers and shows characteristics of both Mediterranean and Black Sea climate. The population of the region is about 500 thousand based on 2013 census, with about 150 thousand at the center.

The distance of CANAKKALE to major centers is as follows: Ankara 655 Km, Izmir 326 Km, Bursa 271 Km, Edirne 216Km. A suspension bridge is buing built over CANAKKALE strait (Dardanels)currently connecting Asia Minor to Europe. The length of the bridge will be 3.7 km making it the longest suspension bridge in the world. When it is finished drivers will not have to wait in long queues for the ferry and they will be able to cross to the other side in 4-5 minutes only. (30 Dec 2019)