{"id":3229,"date":"2022-10-23T18:09:27","date_gmt":"2022-10-23T18:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelwithanda.com\/?p=3229"},"modified":"2022-10-23T18:11:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-23T18:11:06","slug":"5-things-about-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelwithanda.com\/index.php\/2022\/10\/23\/5-things-about-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things about Turkey you didn’t already know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sitting on the border of Europe and Asia, Turkey<\/strong> has always possessed a unique charm which is hard to find anywhere else in the world. This amalgamation of cultures sees the Eurasian nation<\/strong> stand out as a holiday destination unmatched by any other. It\u2019s little wonder that as many as 41 million people travelled there<\/strong><\/a> in the year prior to the pandemic. But while we all know about its beautiful beaches, delicious food and unparalleled blend of old and new, how many of us can say we\u2019re experts on the country? In this short blog, let\u2019s explore 5 things about Turkey you didn\u2019t already know<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

1. Santa Claus was Turkish<\/strong><\/h6>\n

While we tend to associate jolly Saint Nicholas<\/strong> with countries like Lapland and Iceland, the nice old guy with white-beard is actually Turkish<\/strong>. Living between 270-343AD<\/strong>, St Nicholas was famed for his kindness and generosity, particularly with children. He was also said to perform other-worldly miracles. As the folklore evolved throughout the ages, he slowly transitioned to the persona of Santa Claus we all
\nknow and love today.<\/p>\n

Amazingly, the 1600-year-old final resting spot<\/strong> of St Nicholas was recently found underneath a Byzantine church<\/strong><\/a>. As his remains were stolen 700 years ago, historians were unsure where his tomb had initially been constructed until the 2022 discovery.<\/p>\n

2. It\u2019s home to one of the largest temples of ancient times<\/strong><\/h6>\n

While locations like the Temple of Zeus, in Athens, might grab the headlines, Turkey has its own iconic ancient worshipping place to shout about. The Temple of Apollo in Didim<\/strong> was one of the largest known constructs<\/strong> of the ancient world. In fact, it was the fourth largest in the entirety of the Greek era of antiquity.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s even said that the famous Oracle of Apollo<\/strong> frequently visited<\/a> and made prophecies there. This would have been an immense honour for the temple \u2013 with the Oracle seen as one of the most mystical and heaven-sent figures in the ancient world. An A-list celebrity of her day, to be sure. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. World\u2019s second oldest underground train <\/strong>system<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Underground railways<\/strong> probably aren\u2019t the first things that come to mind when you think of Turkey, but it was actually the second country in the world to adopt them. The name of the first line<\/strong> couldn\u2019t be any more perfect \u2013 T\u00fcnel.<\/strong> Constructed in 1875, only the London underground system is older. Thankfully, it\u2019s been renovated a little since then. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

4. You\u2019ve been getting the capital city wrong for years<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Most of people think Istanbul<\/strong> is the capital of Turkey<\/strong>. Well, it actually isn\u2019t. Despite being the
\nmost famous and largest city in the country, Istanbul isn\u2019t the official capital city. That honour
\ninstead goes to Ankara<\/strong>. While no minnow (with over 5 million inhabitants itself), Ankara
\ncertainly hasn\u2019t left the same impression the former Constantinople has on our psyches.<\/p>\n

5. Oil wrestling is their national sport<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Holding on to a tradition which stretches back centuries, oil wrestling<\/strong> continues to be the
\nnational sport of Turkey<\/strong>. Such is the prevalence of the discipline, there\u2019s even a wrestling
\nhold named after the country itself \u2013 \u201cThe Turk\u201d<\/strong>. The name was introduced off the back of
\nTurkey\u2019s dominance of the sport at the 1948 London Olympics, where the country brought
\nhome a staggering 12 medals for their efforts<\/a>. I\u2019m sure they\u2019re keen to see it reintroduced.<\/p>\n

Even if you aren’t impressed with these random 5 things about Turkey, it is still a country you can\u2019t afford to miss off your bucket list. Besides Istanbul<\/strong>, there are places like Bodrum, Cappadocia and Pamukkale<\/strong> that will blow your mind in a positive way! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

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