Türkiye is one of the most striking countries that we can find. Its particular geographical location places it between the continents of Europe and Asia, and this has meant that throughout its ancient and recent history it is considered a transit point for trade where different peoples and cultures have coexisted. Some of Turkey’s curiosities are quite famous throughout the world, while others are really striking and little known. for most people who visit this country for the first time, which has almost 80 million inhabitants. In short, the curious facts about Turkey present us with an enigmatic nation, with a historical and cultural heritage that fascinates everyone who visits it. Join us on this journey through this nation that does not go unnoticed.
50 curiosities of Türkiye
1. Greek was the official language in ancient times
We begin this tour of the curiosities of Turkey by telling you that, although Arabic is a language with which the country is very familiar, During the period of the Byzantine Empire, Greek was spoken. And, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the language used was medieval Turkish.
2. The origin of modern Turkish
Medieval Turkish is the ancestor of the Turkish spoken today, and was the result of a fusion of different languages native to the Anatolian peninsula. Starting in 1920, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk undertook a reform to simplify it and adapt it to Western characters.resulting in modern Turkish, which is the language spoken today.
3. A hospitable town
Another of the curious facts about Turkey is the remarkable hospitality of its inhabitants towards the traveler. This is demonstrated with a glass of mint tea in many of their stores. In this way, merchants invite the customer to feel comfortable, while showing them the merchandise they have and ensuring, in a way, that the customer reciprocates the hospitality by making at least some purchase.
4. The capital of the country
One of the curiosities of Turkey is that, although Istanbul is the largest city and the economic engine of the country, it is not its capital. The Turkish capital is the city of Ankara, located in the geographical center of the country. Until World War I, the capital of the Ottoman Empire was located in Istanbul. However, from the founding of the Republic of Turkey, on October 13, 1923, the capital was moved to Ankara, since it had a less vulnerable geographical position than the former Ottoman capital.
5. The peculiar Bosphorus Strait
One of the most emblematic places in the country is the Bosphorus Strait. It is an extraordinary arm of water that separates the Black Sea from the Sea of Marmara, which connects with the Aegean Sea and, this, with the Mediterranean Sea. Each side of the Bosphorus Strait belongs to a different continent, with the east being the Asian side and the west being the European side.
6. The most international food
And among the curiosities of Türkiye we also find some linked to the extraordinary Turkish gastronomy. The most international food in the country is the kebab. In fact, the Turkish variant is called shish kebab and consists of a skewer of meat or fish that is usually accompanied by grilled vegetables. This is the most common dish that can be consumed in Turkey, and is considered the food of “ordinary Turks.”
7. The most traditional sweet
Shish kebab is not the only typical food that can be found in Turkey. One of their most famous and traditional sweets is baklava. These are sweet cakes that can be made in many ways but that, in all cases, contain filo pastry, nuts such as hazelnuts or pistachios, and some type of sweetener, whether syrup or honey.
8. The Basilica Cistern
The next among the curious facts about Turkey is related to the Basilica Cistern, a large underground water cistern located a few meters from the Hagia Sophia church. It was ordered to be built by Emperor Constantine I the Great, and later expanded by Emperor Justinian. Its objective was to provide water to the most important buildings in the city in the event that a siege blocked access to the drinking water that reached the city through the Valens Aqueduct. In the 80s of the 20th century it was cleaned and adapted for tourists, which makes it one more monument that visitors to Istanbul come to see today.
9. The origin of agriculture
And another of the most fascinating curiosities about Turkey is that, according to historians, this nation may have been the cradle of agriculture, about eleven thousand years ago.
10. Tea consumers
We continue with the curious facts about Türkiye, telling you that It is the world leader in tea consumption. Believe it or not, it beats England in the consumption of this delicious drink.
11. The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul
This is one of the most famous bazaars that we can find in all of Muslim culture. It is located in the “old city” part of Istanbul, which corresponds to the European part. The first version was built in 1464 and, after an earthquake that destroyed a considerable part, it was rebuilt in 1864, giving it its current form. It has more than 58 streets and more than 4,000 shops where you can find everything from spices to souvenirs typical of Turkish culture.
12. Culture and art in the streets
Another of Türkiye’s curiosities is linked to the world of art. The extraordinary Istanbul Biennale is one of the most important artistic events dedicated to contemporary art in the world. If you are passionate about art, you should witness this event at least once in your life.
13. European predominance
Another curious fact about Türkiye is that Almost 70% of Istanbul’s inhabitants live in the city’s European territory.
14. Camel fights
Another of the curiosities of Türkiye is that Camel fights have been held in Türkiye for 2,400 years. Specifically in winter, in the Aegean region.
15. A unique city
The city of Istanbul is located on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait, which makes it the only city in the world that is located on two different continents at the same time.
16. The city of Troy
Another of the most interesting curiosities of Türkiye is that the city of Troy, which we hear about in myths, was located on its territory, specifically between the Dardanelles Strait and the Aegean Sea.
17. The discovery of the city
We owe the discovery of the city of Troy to the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. who, in the 19th century, managed to discover the ruins of the ancient city that starred in Homer’s very famous poem.
18. The female vote
We add to the curiosities of Türkiye the fact that it was one of the first countries to allow women to vote.
19. Olives
Another curious fact about Turkey is that it is a nation in which the cultivation of olives is very important. So much so that There is a law that if you steal olives that are not yet ripe, you could even go to prison.
20. The language reform
Good news: Turkish as a language is quite easy to learn, thanks to the 1920 reform which made his vocabulary simpler.
21. The father of the Turks
Although Turkey has a history that dates back to before the Romans, modern Turkey has a tradition that dates back to much more contemporary times. This is mainly due to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, better known as Atatürk simply. This name literally means «father of the Turks» and refers to a Turkish army officer who was the first president of the Republic of Turkey, founded in 1923. Atatürk was the main architect of contemporary modern Turkey, which allowed the Ottoman past to be left behind with the aim of becoming an officially non-denominational country open to the West.
22. The first Christian church
Another of the curiosities of Türkiye is related to its Catholic history. The first Christian church built, of which there is evidence, was found in Antioquia.
23. Historical heritage
The next of the curious facts about Türkiye is that It has 13 places named World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. They are impressive places and among them are the Ephesus Library, the Göbekli Tepe and many more.
24. Santa Claus’s crib
The traditional Santa Claus who brightens children’s Christmases around the world is Turkish. Indeed, the royal character was born in Patara, Türkiye.
25. An unbuilt bridge
Another of the little-known curiosities of Turkey is that in the year 1503, Leonardo Da Vinci designed a bridge across the Bosphorus Strait. but this one was never built.
26. An emblematic dessert
One of the delights of the country, which is also one of the curiosities of Turkey, is a dessert made from chicken breast, called tavuk göğsü. It looks like pudding and is delicious!
27. The frozen mountains
We add to the curious facts about Turkey that, although it is true that the climate on the coast is very pleasant, It also has big, really cold mountains that you can even ski on. Palandöken is the highest mountain in the country, at 3,271 meters and skiing is practiced on it.
28. Immense biodiversity
Türkiye is one of the 35 countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world, thanks to the 10,000 species of plants and 80,000 animals that live in its territory.
29. The first female pilot
The first Turkish female pilot was Sabiha Gokcen, the adopted daughter of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Ataturk.
30. The adoptions of the founder of the Republic
Another of the curiosities of Turkey is that Kemal Ataturk himself, founder of the Republic, He adopted a total of twelve daughters and one son.
31. The cradle of tulips
The Ottomans were the ones who popularized tulips and exported them to Europe. So we must be grateful to the Turks, especially the Dutch, for revealing such beautiful flowers to us.
32. Two of the seven wonders of the world
Another of the most striking curiosities of Turkey is that it has two places that are on the list of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. One of them is the Temple of Artemis, the other: the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
33. A very expensive rug
And if we talk about textiles, we also find little-known curiosities from Türkiye. One of the most valuable silk carpets in the world is in the Mevlana Museum.
34. Greetings to the elders
Another of the curiosities of Türkiye and its customs is that They usually greet the elderly by kissing their hands and then resting his forehead on the back of his hand.
35. A church for the Virgin
We touch again on the Catholic history of the country. The first church dedicated only to the Virgin Mary in Turkish territory is located in Ephesus.
36. Archaeological finds
One of the most amazing curiosities of Turkey is the archaeological discovery of Göbekli Tepe. This ancient sanctuary dating back to at least 2000 years before the agricultural revolution and…