Colourful Walks In Turkey

Turkey has a landscape rich in culture, vibrant history, vibrant colours. Here we have a guide to Turkey, walking with one colour at a time.

Red

Youll see lustrous red on show throughout Turkey: theres the National flag with its crescent and star; theres the all red strip of the hotly followed Turkish football team. Red is also for tulips and roses. Not many people know that tulips originate from Turkey, they were cultivated in huge numbers here long before Holland took them to heart. As for roses, take a Turkey walk in the mountains and youll see fields full of them. Roses are distilled into fragrant oils in Turkish villages and distilleries a traditional industry in the countryside. A visit here will let you immerse yourself in the perfumes of the Turkish mountains.

Turquoise Coast

Named after its bright blue water, the Turquoise Coast is a beautiful stretch of coast and a series of islands in the South West of Turkey. Walking in this region will present you with enchanting views, some of the Mediterraneans finest. The best way to experience this region is on foot and by boat. Traditional Turkish boats are called glets; they have everything you will need for an island hopping adventure in which you can explore caves, ruins, and lost cities. From the glets you can soak up the hot Turkish sun, visit secluded beaches and coves, and swim in the dazzling turquoise water.

Blue Mosque Istanbul

Blue is for a must see piece of iconic architecture, the Sultanahmet, known in English as the Blue Mosque. Its spires are unmistakable in the Istanbul skyline, and is rightly one of the most cherished and celebrated buildings in Turkey. Walk inside through the arches and along the corridors and youll quickly see how the mosque got its nickname: there are countless blue tiles decorating the walls. Their lustre has faded a little over the centuries, as has the colour of the paintwork on the upper floors, but the intricacy and craftsmanship of the ornamentation cannot be denied.

From the outside, the Sultanahmet is no less impressive. Its six minarets spear up from the outside walls of the mosque, framing the many dome roofs of different sizes, staggered so that it appears from a distance to take a pyramidal form.

Walk the Turkish capitals streets and its like turning the pages of a history book. The alleys are often winding and atmospheric, leading you among the towers, churches, and high stone castellated walls. You can find your way to dramatic examples of Byzantine and Roman architecture such as the tiered archways of the Valens Aqueduct and the underground columns of the Basilica Cistern.

Bazaar A Feast of Colour

Youll see a dazzling array of colours at the world famous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, an essential stop on a Turkey walk of the capital. The long arcades of stalls sell all sorts: spices, clothes, musical instruments, Turkish rugs everything you would expect from a bustling market and more. Like any rainbow of colour there is gold to be found: gold jewellery, lanterns, golden pots and urns (genie not included).