You probably didn't know Turkey's real name, you might have been confused about which city is the capital, and you may have thought tulips came from the Netherlands. It turns out, you were quite possibly wrong.
There is a lot more to
The Grotto of St Peter outside Antioch (now known as Antakya) is believed to have been created by Jesus' disciple Simon Peter. This makes it the oldest place of Christian worship in the world. You can still visit the church and see the traces of ancient decoration today.
If you're looking for more churches in Turkey, head to the southeast of the country.
St Peter's Church in Antakya, Turkey © Etka/Shutterstock
St Nicholas – the historical figure behind the man we know as Santa Claus – was born in
Not only did tales of his generosity become the basis for Santa Claus, but St Nicholas also became one of the patron saints of sailors. The name Santa Claus comes from the dutch 'Sinter Klaas', a shortened version of Sint Nikolaas.
Think about taking a local guide with you to learn more about the history of the ruins here. Funnily enough, even though Santa Claus isn't linked to beaches, Patara is a coastal beach town with 16 kilometres of sand. You can visit Patara Beach from
Even with Santa Claus's origins in Turkey, the country doesn't traditionally celebrate Christmas as it's a predominantly Muslim country. Turkey enjoys a wealth of its own
Ruins of the ancient Lycian city in Patara © Fotopanorama360/Shutterstock
The country now known as the Republic of Turkey was part of the Ottoman Empire until the empire broke up in the aftermath of the First World War. The Turkish War of Independence followed, and then in 1923 came the Republic with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as the first President.
If you want to learn more about Turkey's fascinating history, head to the
In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci submitted plans for a bridge across the Golden Horn – the inlet of the Bosphorus that divides the city of Istanbul
Learn more about Istanbul with the
Paul the Apostle (originally known as Saul) was born in Tarsus in southern Turkey. Many people believe Aesop, the famed Greek storyteller grew up in
Aerial view of Bodrum on the Turkish Riviera © Monticello/Shutterstock
Tulips were first cultivated in the Ottoman Empire. The seeds of Holland's love for tulips were sown when the Dutch ambassador to the 16th-century court of Süleyman the Magnificent of Turkey returned to
In April there is a week-long festival in
Most of the world's hazelnuts grow in the Mediterranean basin, in
If you enjoy Turkish food (who doesn't?) whet your appetite with our
Turkish delight with hazelnut © Inna Reznik/Shutterstock
One of the most interesting facts about Turkey is how many languages are spoken there. Although the official language in the country is Turkish, there are over 30 minority languages spoken across the country, including Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish), Mesopotamian Arabic and Zazaki.
It roughly translates to As though you are from those whom we may not be able to easily make into a maker of unsuccessful ones and has 70 letters. It's not in common usage, though — the word was especially derived for a story.
The name of the iconic red felt hat with its black tassel comes from
Find out more about
One of the most interesting facts about Istanbul is that it is a city divided in two by the mighty Bosphorus River. Istanbul's west bank lies on the European continent while the east bank is in Asia. You can walk between the two across the Galata bridge. Only 3% of Turkey is in Europe, the vast majority of the country is on the Asian continent.
If you're looking to enjoy a break in the city, check out these places to stay in Istanbul, as well as a suggestion for
Ortaköy Mosque and the Bosphorus bridge © Muratart/Shutterstock
Opened in 1875, the Tünel connects the districts of Karaköy and
That’s the same as the driving distance between London and Venice. Head to the
If you're planning a coastal holiday in Turkey, discover more about the
Thinking of enjoying a beach break with kids? Check-out our guide to
Amasra town on the Black Sea coast, Turkey © Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock
One of the oldest (and largest) markets in the world, the Grand Bazaar welcomes up to 400,000 visitors a day. It's often described as one of the oldest shopping malls in existence. Consider taking a local guide with you to learn the art of haggling and avoid getting lost. The market is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 7pm.
Find out more about
Mosaic Ottoman lamps hanging at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul © Berke/Shutterstock
There's no desert in Turkey, which means no native camels. Despite this, camel trains once crossed the country on the way to trading posts in Africa and Asia. Camel wrestling is also a popular sport in the Aegean region of Turkey.
Still undecided about visiting Turkey? Discover a whole lot of
Starting to plan your trip? There are lots of ways of
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Top image: Turkey's Cappadocia - the sultan cave from the mountain © Free Soul Searcher/Shutterstock