Turkey is so diverse it could almost be described as a continent rather than a country. In the west, mountains and pine forests frame a staggeringly beautiful coastline. The central steppe has the peculiar rock churches and underground cities of Cappadocia and the cosmopolitan capital of Ankara. In the east, there are biblical rivers, a fabled mountain and haunting cities and palaces. Then, there is the magnetism of Istanbul. Turkey s location straddles Asia and Europe. The three great Empires that ruled the country for thousands of years left a legacy of enchanting cultures and more ancient sites than even Italy or Greece can boast. Major areas dealt with in the guide include Istanbul, Thrace and Marmara, the Aegean Coast, the Mediterranean Coast, Central Anatolia, Cappadocia, the Black Sea Coast. Covered in detail for each area are where to stay, where to eat, shopping, sightseeing and adventures, both cultural and physical from walking in the footsteps of St. Paul to joining in the local festivals, from yoga and Turkish baths to art classes and cooking courses. This guide combines in-depth text information with color maps & photos on almost every page. Existing guides are largely text-only or mostly graphics and lacking the practical details travelers need. Photos and maps throughout. Print edition is 688 pages
