The province of Canakkale lies on both sides of the Dardanelles
connecting the Marmara Sea to the Aegean Sea. Gallipoli is the name for the
narrow peninsula that forms the north-western part of the Canakkale straits, the
waterway linking the Aegean Sea with the Marmara Sea.
The small village of Behramkale is a lovely place facing the Gulf of Edremit,
founded on the site of Assos where there is the famous Temple of Athena built in
the 6th century BC. The panoramic view of the Gulf from the top of the acropolis
is breathtaking and the remains of Assos surrounding the acropolis.
The province has witnessed two very important battles in history. One of them
is the mythological war of Troy, which Homer immortalized in his Illiad.
Archaeological digs in Troy (Truva) have proved that there had been nine
separate periods of settlements from 3000 BC to 400 AD. Here, one can see the
ruins of city walls in addition to the Wooden Horse of Troy. The other is the
Battle of Canakkale which took place during WWI when Turkish troops under the
command of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk maintained the defence of the region against
enemy forces and Canakkale has taken its place in history as 'Canakkale -
unpassable'. To honour the 500,000 soldiers who gave their lives at Gelibolu
(Gallipoli), this peninsula has been made a national park of remembrance. There
are memorial monuments here in surroundings of natural beauty.
The well-equipped Canakkale Marina, besides those of Karabiga, Gelibolu,
Bozcaada and Kucukkuyu, hosts the colourful yachts that pass through the strait
and make a stopover at Canakkale.