A bridge between Europe and Asia, Turkey offers a fascinating cultural blend of Byzantine, Greco-Roman, Ottoman, Babylonian, Hittite and Trojan influences. Turkey’s exciting mosques and vibrant bazaars add to the majestic beauty of its mountains, many lakes and world-known Turquoise Coast.

History

From the breached wall that once defended ancient Troy, through the sacred sites of the earliest Christians, to Turkey’s twentieth century rebirth as an independent republic, Turkey’s history is in many ways a history of Man. This amazing country offers myriad ruins, churches, museums, tombs, excavations and active archeological sites, as well as historically significant natural wonders. Whether you choose to retrace the path of the apostle, Paul, or simply stare in silent wonder at a minaret-silhouetted sky, Turkey’s past envelops its present.

Culture

Turkey’s rich culture is a blend of various elements of the Oğuz Turkic, Anatolian, Ottoman and Western culture and traditions, which started with the Westernization of the Ottoman Empire and continues today. As Turkey successfully transformed from the religion-based former Ottoman Empire into a modern nation-state, an increase in the modes of artistic expression followed. During the first years of the republic, the government invested a large amount of resources into fine arts such as museums, theatres, opera houses and architecture, which exist to be enjoyed by the public. Turkey’s rich past shows and endures in the present with magnificent displays of fine arts, music, dance, theater, cinema, opera, ballet, and a splendidly colorful and diverse cuisine.

Affordability

Turkey’s Ministry of Tourism is promoting economic affordability as a cornerstone of its promotional campaign – and at Opus we have always been offering luxurious yet cost-saving travel packages that enable travelers to experience the glory of Turkey. Outside of the Euro zone, Turkey has the Turkish Lira (TL) as its currency, and the current exchange rate allows for a stay at the supremely opulent Mardan Palace on the Turkish coast of Antalya for the equivalent of a stay at a 3-star hotel in New York City. Ask yourself this—How can I afford not to go?