WELCOME to Turkey, a bridge between Europe and Asia, with an extremely rich cultural heritage. Perhaps no other land has witnessed so many diverse civilisations over the last 10,000 years. After the great Mesopotamians, the Hittite and Urartu kingdoms flourished, and in western Anatolia the Ionian and Roman civilisations predominated. Turkey is without doubt one of the world's largest 'open air museums' with magnificent landscapes, natural beauty and numerous historical, archaeological and cultural sites. Istanbul holds the honour of having been the capital of 2 huge empires in the past: first the Byzantine and then the Ottoman. Anatolia itself became a crossroads of people, cultures and religions. Christianity, for example, thrived here, and Islam was glorified by the Seljuks and Ottomans. A visit to Turkey should not only take in all the great sights and monuments, it should leave plenty of time for leisure and pleasure. Turkey offers immense resources in these areas: majestic mountains ideal for climbers, hikers and skiers; over 8000 km of coastline laced with picturesque bays and coves; lakes; year-round summer in some areas, yet plenty of snow in others; a solid and expanding tourism infrastructure; one of the world's healthiest cuisines and extremely hospitable people. A trip to Turkey is an enchanting experience and an unforgettable adventure!.