Marmara Region

From Turkey Travel Guide

Marmara Region

[edit] Location

Marmara Region is located in the northwest part of Turkey, with a surface area of 67.000 km². It is the smallest region of the country, however, includes the most densely populated area of Turkey. The name comes from the Sea of Marmara and island of Marmara. The name "Marmara" is derived from the Greek "μάρμαρον", which means marble, or crystallized stone.

[edit] Provinces

• Balıkesir
• Bilecik
• Bursa
• Çanakkale
• Edirne
• İstanbul
• Kırklareli
• Kocaeli
• Sakarya
• Tekirdağ
• Yalova

[edit] History

The Marmara Region takes its name from the sea which borders the north part of its coastline. The word "Marmara" comes from the Greek word for "marble", as the region was a rich source of marble for years.

One of the region's islands, named Marmara, was a primary location of where marble deposits were produced. It is from this island that much of the marble used to build the Hagia Sophia came from. Much of the population of the region during the Ottoman Empire was of Greek descent, and with the population exchanges of 1923, resulted in the communities move to Greece, where they established a new city named Nea Marmara, or "New Marmara".

[edit] Geography

The area of Marmara Region is about 67,000 km2.

The Sea of Marmara is the inland sea of the region, and connects to the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, separating Turkey's Asian and European sides.

[edit] Climate

The Marmara Region's climate is temperate, with winters being about 4C and summers around 27C. The wintertime can bring snow, with temperatures dropping below zero. The spring and fall times are moderate, and are prime times for visiting and touring. The Aegean in the north is often cold, or cooler than the southern Aegean or Mediterranean Regions.

Landscapes are lush with flowers and grassy areas, as there is moderate rainfall throughout the year.

[edit] Places to See

The Marmara Region of Turkey inhabits several historical and natural hotspots which make it a great place to visit or stay. The region has been inhabited by Greeks, Trojans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Each of these civilizations have left incredible architectural artifacts, which are still in existence today, and are also popular tourist destinations.

Istanbul

The famous city, and former Byzantine and Ottoman capital of the region, Istanbul is the crown jewel of the country. Boasting over 4,000 years of emperial domination from both a multitude of civilizations, the city offers amazing sites, including the Byzantine cathedral Haghia Sophia with its neighboring Ottoman Blue Mosque, the gleaming Bosphorus river, and European downtown center Taksim Square.

Bursa

Bursa is known as “The City of The Sultans” and “The First Capital of the Ottomans", and has some of the greatest sites from Byzantium and Ottoman times. They include the Ulu Cami, which is the region's largest mosque and a prime example of exquisite early Ottoman architecture. Designed in 1396–1400, it has a total of twenty domes supported by twelve columns, and two minarets.

Çanakkale

Located in the northwestern part of Turkey, Canakkale is named after the town of the region's origin, and consists of both European and Asian sides. The famous archaeological site of Troy resides within Çanakkale province, with the wooden horse from the 2004 movie Troy exhibited on the seafront.