SEADREAM'S BLOG

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast 

The Turkish Riviera (also known as the Turquoise Coast) has a comfortable climate, warm sea, more than a thousand kilometers of shoreline along the Aegean and Mediterranean, and abundant natural and archaeological points of interest. This coastline is the home of scholars, saints, warriors, kings, and heroes, as well as the site of numerous well-known myths. For these reasons, this stretch of Turkey’s coast is a popular national and international globetrotter destination.

Turkey is such an incredible blend of cultures and history. In fact is has 10 properties inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Turkey truly has something for everyone; Mediterranean cuisine, hamams (Turkish baths), history, awe inspiring architecture, mosques, museums, beaches and more. In 2012, SeaDream calls on the following Turkish ports:

Antalya: With its narrow cobbled streets of historic Ottoman era houses, the old center of Antalya has been restored to retain much of its historical character.

Bodrum: Once a tiny fishing port, you’ll see why it’s become a vacation paradise; perfect climate, natural beauty, magnificent history and a bustling nightlife.

Demre: Known as the ancient city of Myra, its home to the earliest church of St. Nicholas (the original Santa Claus), built in the 6th century. Myra has some of the most impressive and well preserved ruins in all of Turkey.

Dikili: This picturesque, popular summer resort is famous for its thermal springs. Of historical interest is the Merkez Mosque, a rare example of a wooden construction dating from 1789 and built without using any nails.

Fethiye: Famous for its water in brilliant shades of turquoise and aquamarine, it is frequently rated among the top 5 beaches in the world by travelers and tourism journals alike.

Göcek: This is a popular destination for yachtsmen. Its secluded bay is protected from over development and remains a peaceful, quiet settlement with lovely restaurants and cafés along the promenade

Istanbul: The city’s abundance of important historic buildings and exciting new art galleries and museums provides visitors with more than enough to see. For first time visitor’s, no trip is complete without seeing Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome.

Izmir: The ancient city known as Smyrna and is one of the oldest settlements of the Mediterranean basin. Epic poet Homer (9th century B.C), the author of “the Iliad” and “The Odyssey” was born in Izmir.

Kepez: Is the location of perhaps the most moving site in all of Turkey: the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli. Equally interesting, is the option to explore one of the most famous ancient sites in the world, the archaeological site of Troy.

Kusadasi: Tour the magnificent archaeological site of Ephesus including the Terrace Houses and the House of the Virgin Mary. You may also visit the stunning sites of; Priene, best known for its 4th-century Athena Temple; the ancient city of Miletus, and Didyma, home of theTemple ofApollo built in 560 BC.

2012 Turquoise Cost Voyages (click links below for more details)

Date                                Embark Port                           Debark Port           

SDII   Jun 9-16               Athens (Piraeus), Greece         Athens (Piraeus), Greece

SDII   Jun 23-30             Athens (Piraeus), Greece         Istanbul, Turkey

SDII   Jun 30 – Jul 8       Istanbul, Turkey                       Athens (Piraeus), Greece

SDII   Jul 8 -14                Athens (Piraeus), Greece         Athens (Piraeus), Greece

SDI    Sep 1-11                Athens (Piraeus), Greece         Istanbul, Turkey

SDI    Sep 22- 29            Istanbul, Turkey                       Athens (Piraeus), Greece

SDI    Sep 29- Oct 6       Athens (Piraeus), Greece         Athens (Piraeus), Greece

SDI    Oct 6 – 13             Athens (Piraeus), Greece         Athens (Piraeus), Greece