Kocaeli - Turkey

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KOCAELI - TURKEY

KOCAELI
A fast highway connects Istanbul with Izmit, the capital of the Kocaeli province. An important city in Roman times when it was known as Nicomedela, it is now a prosperous industrial center. The Saatçi Efendi Konak, a restored typical l8th century Ottoman mansion, now serves as the Ethnography Museum. Pismaniye, the local sweet, consists of thousands of thin layers of stretched sugar.
Hereke, west of Izmit, is a major carpet making center. Renowned throughout the world for their beauty and quality, these carpets fetch the highest prices in Istanbul's bazaars. On the Black Sea coast, north of Izmit, particularly at Kerpe, Kefken and Kovanagzi, sandy beaches and comfortable guest houses attract vacationers.
East of Izmit, Sakarya is the provincial capital of Adapazari, an important agricultural and industrial region. The Sakarya (Sangarius) River irrigates this fertile land which abounds with fruit trees and fields of vegetables. In the city of Adapazari itself, the Atatürk and Ethnography Museum displays personal effects of the founder of the Turkish Republic as well as regional artifacts. The Besköprü Bridge, built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in 553, stretches for 429 meters across the river. Eight arches connect the two shores.

A few kilometers away at Lake Sapanca, quiet restaurants, hotels, and summer residences line the lakeshore. Istanbulites escape to this retreat in the Saman Mountain basin throughout the year. The Artifiye Forest on the highlands of Lake Sapanca has nice camping and picnic areas and an excellent panoramic view of the lake below.
The Akgöl Lake lies just inland from the Black Sea Karasu holiday center; both places offer scenic surroundings. At Tarakli you can wander through a town that preserves many of its old buildings.
The province of Bilecik lies southeast of Iznik in the verdant and fertile Sakarya River Valley. In the old quarter of the city stands the mausoleum of Seyh Edebali, who was an important influence in the founding of the Ottoman Empire. Every September, a commemorative ceremony and a culture festival are held here in his honor. The Orhan Gazi Mosque is near his tomb.
Set amid the numerous willows which give Sögüt its name, a detour to this town is well worth the effort. The migrating Kayi Turks first settled here, and the tomb of their leader Ertugrul Gazi stands in the town. In September, a commemorative ceremony is held in his honor. Other tourist attractions include the life-size busts of famous figures from Turkish history and the Ethnography Museum which traces, through its displays, the history of Turkey.