Places to Visit in Canakkale

 

Canakkale is not only name of a city but also the province including the battelefileds and memorials of GALLIPOLI, the legendary ancient city TROY, the mystical and fascinating ancient city ASSOS, the popular historical resort island BOZCAADA, and lovely GOKCEADA The city of Canakkale lends its name to the strait, whose shores touch both Europe and Asia, while connecting the sea of Marmara to the Aegean. Canakkale hosts the 60 km (38 miles) long strait, which is well-known as Dardanelles. Throughout the history, anyone who controlled this gateway, commanded a highly strategic area. This has stimulated the importance of Çanakkale province as the homeland of many civilizations and critical battles throughout the centruies. According to the Archaeologists, there are about 200 ancient sites in the province of Canakkale, where many of them are still unexcavated.

CANAKKALE CITY GUIDE

Çimenlik Park

Çimenlik Park is located about 200 meters after the historical clock tower. The park hosts the ottomon style Çimenlik Castle, one to one replica of the original form of Nusrat Minelayer Museum which was used in the Gallipoli Campaign, and the Naval Museum about Gallipoli Campaign.

Çimelik Castle

The Çimenlik Castle, which now serves as a military museum, was built at the most narrow part of the strait by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1462 in order to control the security of the Dardanelles Strait with the Kilitbahir Castle on the European Side. The name of the castle was known as Boğaz Hisarı or Kala-î Sultaniye in the past.

Naval Musem

The Naval Museum is mainly devoted to photos, newspapers, findings and artifacts with regards to Gallipoli Campaign.

Nusrat Mine Layer

Nusrat Minelayer was one of the most important battleships of Gallipoli Campaign, which had destroyed several battleships during the Gallipoli Campaign. British battleships, Irresistible and Ocean, French battleship, Bouvet, were sunk and British battleship, Inflexible, and French battleships, Gaulois and Suffren, were heavily damaged by the mines of the Nusrat on March 18, 1915. Today, one to one replica of Nusrat Minelayer serves as a museum.

 

Kilitbahir Castle

Kilitbahir Castle is located on the European side of the Dardanelles in the Kilitbahir village. The castle was built bf the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. Kilitbahir means ‘Lock of the Sea’ .

 

Historical Clock Tower

The Historical Clock Tower is located adjacent to the Anzac Hotel. It was built in 1897 by an Italian, Emili Vitali tradesman and honorary consul of the time. There is a clock on each of the four sides of the tower, which was built from the local Ayvalık stone. The square shaped tower narrows slightly as it rises. The public fountain beneath was built in 1889 by a wealthy Jewish resident of the town called Halyo. The clock tower now acts as one of the symbols of Canakkale

 

Mirrored Bazaar

The Mirrored Bazaar, which was made famous in a well known song about Gallipoli Campaign, was built by Ilia Halyo in 1889 during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamit. The bazaar is also a replica of the famed Egyptian Bazaar in Istanbul. According to some accounts, it was destroyed by shells from the British battleship Queen Elizabeth, which were fired at the defences around Çanakkale. In 2007, the Mirrored Bazaar has been reopened for visitors after a complete restoration.

 

Historical Buildings

Most of the historical buildings, which still exist today belongs to 1800s. The main perspecitves of the houses are effected from the aegean and mediterenian architectures. Kervansaray Hotel, University Culture House, the Art Gallery and the Coast Health Building can be stated as some of them.

 

St. George Armenian Church

St. George Armenian church is located in one of the old quarters of the historical districts of Çanakkale. According to inscriptions at the church entrance, this place was opened and consecrated for worship on 4 February 1890 . Rather well preserved, St. George Armenian Church is today used as the Ethnographic Museum.

 

Korfmann Library

Korfmann Library is located in the old Çanakkale region. The library was dedicated to the name of Professor Korfmann after his death and includes most of his researches, findings and several resources about the the ancient values of the ancient Troia. Professor Korfmann, as being one of the most famous archeologists of the region, has devoted his academic life to the ancient Troia .

 

Çanakkale Seaside

The beautiful seaside of Çanakkale looking at the impressive Dardanelles Strait scenery offers an exceptional envoirement. Along the peacful seaside of Çanakkale, several cafes, pubs and restaurants can be found. Çanakkale seaside also hosts the Hollywood Movie Troy Horse.

 

The Hollywood Movie Troy Horse

Troy Horse is located by the sea side, 200 metes after the ferry jetty to the right direction. The horse was brought from the Hollywood movie ‘Troy’

The model of Troy layer 6 is located adjacent to the Hollywood movie Troy Horse. The model is one of the biggest city models of Türkiye.

Archeology Museum

Çanakkale's Archaeology Museum was founded in 1911 and later moved to an old church before being relocated to its present position on Atatürk Caddesi in 1984. In the garden of the museum there are reliefs, headstones and tablets.

The museum is consists of 5 halls. The first hall displays the findings from ancient sites, local produced ceramics, some Ottoman artefacts, and Roman and Hellenic pieces, which have been unearthed from the excavations in Troia, Mysia and Kyzikos. In the second hall, there are only findings from the ancient Troia. The third hall displays ancient findings from the Çan and Yenice tumuluii and from the Tenedos Necropolis. The fourth hall displays some pieces and bones from the Dardanos Tumulus, which was excavated in 1959. In the fifth hall, items from Assos and the excavation at Apollon Smintheion in Gülpınar can be seen. The collections on display are rich in terms of coins and glassware. The Sarcophagi of a girl is an important piece that depicts Greeks returning home and sacrificing the their captive, a young girl named Polyksena. Another masterpiece on display is the statuette of Aphrodite, which was made of baked clay that was found at the Dardanos tumulus.