Ankara, Turkey’s capital, was called Angora by the Romans, and is still known the world over for its longhaired cats and goats.

Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia.

The oldest known human settlement in the world is located in Catalhoyuk, Konya, Turkey, dating back to 6,500BC.

Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World stood in Turkey. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum.

Turkey introduced coffee to Europe.

The first coins were minted in Sardis, the capital of the Ancient Kingdom of Lydia, at the end of the seventh century BC.

Anatolia has been the cradle of numerous civilizations for thousands of years and the birthplace of the three major religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Saint John, Saint Paul and Saint Peter all lived and preached in Turkey. Saint John lived and died in Ephesus. His grave and church is located in Selcuk, Izmir, near Ephesus. Saint Paul was born in Tarsus. He wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesus.

The Seven Churches of the Apocalypse mentioned in Revelations, are located in Anatolia.

Legend has it that Saint John brought The Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the Crucifixion, where she spent her last days in a small stone house on Mt. Koressor (Bulbul Dagi) near Ephesus, Turkey.

St Nicholas, (Santa Claus) was bond and lived in Demre, Turkey.

Judaism, (which was the first monotheistic religion), was widespread in Anatolia. Recent archaeological excavations in the Aegean region indicate the existence of Judaism dating to the early 4th century B.C. Sardis (Sart) holds the remains of one of the oldest synagogues dating back to 200 B.C. The most valuable silk carpet in the world is in the Mevlana Museum in Konya, Turkey.

Turkey is the birthplace of many historical figures and legends, such as: the poet Homer, King Midas, Herodotus and Saint Paul.

“Yoghurt” was originally produced in Turkey.

Having been embraced by three mighty empires and the host to 13 civilizations, Turkey boasts a treasure trove of historic art and architecture from the Hittite, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. The region’s history goes back to the Bronze Age.