Kuş dili – the whistle language of the Black Sea

Have you ever wondered how one can whistle his or her way to communicate with others, without uttering a single word? A university in northern Turkey offers its students the first-ever elective course on “bird language,” a whistled form of communication peculiar to Kuşköy (literally Bird Village) in Giresun. What started as a primitive way […]
Hıdırellez – Turkey’s spring festival

Hıdırellez, a traditional festival to usher in spring, falls on May 6 each year and celebrations start on May 5 around the country, especially among the Roma community … Hıdırellez is regarded as one of the most important seasonal festivals in both Turkey and parts of the Middle East. Called the Day of Hızır (Ruz-ı Hızır) in […]
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Turkey – part one

Did you know that there are 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey? There are 17 cultural heritage sites and 2 mixed heritage sites. Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both natural and cultural significance. If you enjoy visiting cultural and historic sites, here’s part one of two articles that may help you to choose the ones for […]