About Turkey

Turkey truly is a paradise waiting to be discovered, an incredibly varied and bountiful land offering you a breathtaking array of experiences and wonderful contrasts, which is right at the heart of the world being at the crossroads of three of the world’s great geographical regions: Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Surrounded by no fewer than four seas: the Mediterranean, the Aegean Sea, The Marmara Sea, and the Black Sea, it boasts a coastline stretching for over 5,000 miles, including the shimmering Turquoise Coast and a variety of landscapes sandwiched in between makes for a fascinating land of adventure ideal for the outdoor life, giving you the chance to sail and ski on the same day.

This breathtaking country can also be described as the cradle of civilization. The first known settlement in the world was found at Catalhoyuk, northeast of Konya, dating back to an astonishing 6500 BC. But Turkey is not only a treasure house of historic artifacts, it is a thriving, bustling, energetic modern country, with cosmopolitan cities, dazzling marinas, first class hotels and restaurants and every kind of sport and leisure activity. With its wonderful climate, friendly, hospitable people, world class cuisine, great service and reasonable prices, Turkey is just about the perfect place to holiday.

Turkey is a bridge between east and west, a fusion point with a rich and diverse cultural history and geography. With the urban centers, rural areas of exceptional beauty and long golden belt of beaches along the south west, Turkey has something for everyone. Turkey is a clear leader of the Emerging Markets in overseas property, with the advantages of great value property in a booming market, a better climate than most other options, a short travel time with improving access, a fast growing economy with good infrastructure to promote foreign investments. With over 300 days of sunshine, attractive beaches, exciting outdoor and entertainment activities, boat trips, diving, snorkeling, skiing, water sports, mountain sports, attractive sightseeing spots and historic places and even winter sports are some of the appealing features of Turkey.

 

About Side

Side, (pronounced ‘see day’) one of the best kept secrets in Turkey, not only boasts one of the best known classical historically preserved sites in Turkey but also has a modern holiday resort making for a very mixed continental clientele and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. This combination of new meeting old & surrounded by the Tauras Mountains which provides a stunning backdrop for the resort makes Side the most unique and charming resort on Turkey’s southern coast.

Sitting on a peninsular, Side was once an important Roman city. The ruins of ancient Side, including an impressive amphitheatre and the Temple of Appollo(where it is said Mark Anthony proposed to Cleopatra), are scattered around the centre and the old Roman Baths now hosts a well-stocked local archaeological museum. During the summer the amphitheatre (which seats approximately 17,000 people) is opened for opera, Turkish cultural folklore shows amongst others. The views from the top are truly magnificent ranging from the beaches and Side town area to the historical Hellenistic defense walls. Take an end of day walk down to the harbor and follow the road round to the left. There you will find the ruins of the ancient Roman city and if you sit and watch the sun set behind Apollo Temple you will recognize the scene as being one that has been used many times on postcards and in travel brochures.
The existing town dates back to the early 20th century when it was founded by Greek speaking Muslims exiles from Crete. Its harbor served as a port, entertaining slave markets and flourished as a centre for piracy before settling down to be a quiet fishing port until the recent arrival of tourism and is now home to a small number of excursion boats.

Today, Side is a popular family resort that has grown up beside the atmospheric remains of the ancient city. The main street retains its old charm with the added advantage of a good selection of shops whilst the harbor is overlooked by restaurant and bars. However the main attraction for thousands of European and Turkish holiday makers are the excellent beaches. The beach to the East of the peninsula can be reached either by a picturesque walk from the Old Town taking you through historical ruins or by bus & taxi services to & from local restaurants & other pick up points. The many free of charge bus services are operated by the beach bars & you are expected to use their facilities during the course of the day however food & drink still remain good value for money. You can also expect a small charge for the use of sun beds & umbrellas. To the West the beaches stretch out around the bay in front of hotels & bars. In addition, there are many leisure activities at you disposal including a variety of water sports, horse riding, white water rafting, quad biking and many more. There are also Championship golf courses within a 30 minute drive and skiing only being an hour & a half away in the winter.

Due to scarcity of land and the historic ruins around the centre, modern developments have spread along the coast to the east & west of the resort, as well as inland towards the coastal highway however local planning regulations restrict building to between two and four story’s, giving Side an open airy feel attracting many tourists to return time after time and leading many to making Side their new home.

If you are interested in buying property in Turkey either as an investment or to make it your new home then we can strongly recommend Kaya Homes. Either contact them direct at www.kayahomes.com or get in contact with us for more help.