About Turkey

Turkey, exotic, colorful, many - faceted, romantic, ever old,and ever new is the gateway and to the fabled east. Turkey is a country located at a point where the three continents of the old world, Asia, Africa and Europe, are closest to each other and where Asia and Europe meet because of its geographical location, Anatolia has always been important throughout history and is the birth place of many great civilizations. Turkey is not only a passageway from which the ancient Asian Turkish Culture is transmitted to the Europe, but also counted as a window of Western Culture opening to meet the Eastern Culture.

Turkey is major destination for tourists and business travellers combining leisure with business attending conferences, trade exhibitions or fairs.

For information on travel and visa requirements for foreigners you can check the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://www.mfa.gov.tr/default.en.mfa) whereas for tourism the site of the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture (http://goturkey.kulturturizm.gov.tr).

Climate
The Mediterranean and Aegean shores of Turkey experience long, hot summers and mild, rainy winters. Istanbul averages 0°C (32°F) in January and 23°C (73°F) in July. Average annual precipitation totals 697 millimeters (27.4 inches), most of which falls in December and January. Along the central Anatolian plateau, a continental climate prevails, with hot summers and colder winters. The plateau receives only about half as much precipitation, but it is more evenly distributed throughout the year. The eastern highlands experience even longer and colder winters. Along the Black Sea, the climate is mild and rainy. Southeast Anatolia records the country's highest summer temperatures, averaging more than 30°C (86°F) in July and August.

About Edirne

Edirne is a gateway of Turkey opening to western world in Trakya, the first stopover for newcomers from Europe. Situated between the Greek, Bulgarian and Turkish borders, this beautiful city is famed for its many mosques, the elegant domes and minarets which dominate the panoramic appearance of the province. It was the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1416 until the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmet II in 1453.

One of the most important monuments in this ancient province is the Selimiye Mosque, built in the 16th century by the Turkey's greatest architect, Mimar Sinan. Carrying the name of the sultan reigning in that era, this mosque magnificently represents Turkish marble handicrafts and architecture, and it is covered with valuable tiles and fine paintings. In June 2011 the Selimiye Mosque Complex has been accepted under the list of UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The Yildirim Mosque and the Eski Mosque, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries respectively, are other spectacular sights while the Muradiye Mosque and the Üç Serefeli Mosque are also among the oldest and most impressive buildings. Last to be mentioned is the Bayezid II Mosque, a great monument with its complex construction comprising many facilities used in those times.

Bayezid II mosque was built by Ottoman sultan Bayezid in 1484. It is a large complex consisting of a mosque, a medicine school, and a hospital (Darussifa) in which they used to cure mentally ill people of the period using various tecniques, such as the sound music, water, pleasant smells and occupation. Today, the complex is housing the Health Museum displaying many tools, drawings, and rappresentations from its past. The complex was converted into a fine museum in 1997 and was awarded the Council of Europe Museum Prize for the year 2004.

Besides the fascinating mosques, there are different sites to be visited in Edirne, all reflecting its rich past. There are attractive palaces, the most prominent one being the Edirne Palace, which was the "Palace of the Empire" built during the reign of sultan Murat II. There are amazing caravansaries, like the Rüstem Pasha and Ekmekcioglu Ahmet Pasha caravansaries, which were designed to host travelers, in the 16th century.

The lively bazaars of "Bedesten" and "Arasta" make the province colorful and bring back the ancient times. Several bridges exist which have stood for centuries, adorning the land with their old but fine appearances.

A specialty of Edirne is to be a center for grease-wrestling (yağlı güreş in Turkish), which is the national sport of Turkey. The championships are held here every year between the end of June and the beginning of July, for more than 400 years on Kirkpinar island, a forested area between the Meriç and Tunca rivers. These traditional occasions compromise many entertaining activities, and the province is filled with spectators.