Turkey - a land of oriental splendour and mystery

Steeped in history, modern Turkey was founded on the Ottomon Empire. It is a land of contradictions: mosques coexist with churches, and remnants of the Roman Empire crumble alongside ancient Hittite and Neolithic sites.

The Turkish people, who are naturally warm-natured, have an unrivalled reputation for hospitality which is richly deserved. The cuisine, in addition to being the refined product of centuries of experience, has a very pure quality, fusing oriental spiciness with European cool.

The Turkish coastline is a dream, an antique land of gentle beauty and forgotten civilizations, known as the Turquoise Coast for its limpid waters. Many Turkish cities are dotted with spectacular mosques and castles. And while costs are rising, Turkey remains one of the Mediterranean's value destinations.

This is a rapidly modernising country with one foot in Europe and one in the Middle East, a nation that combines dramatic, glorious and disparate scenery with fascinating historic culture.