The famous Trojan Wars took place in Western Turkey, around the site where the Trojan horse rests today. 

The first church built by man (St. Peter’s Church) is in Antioch (Antakya), Turkey. 

The oldest known human settlement is in Catalhoyuk, Turkey (7th Millenium B.C.) 

Ephesus and Halicarnosus – two of the wonders of the ancient world – are in Turkey. 

St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Clause, was born in Demre, on Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast. 

Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi) in Eastern Turkey. 

The last meal on Noah’s Ark, a pudding of sweet and sour taste (asure) ,is still served throughout Turkey. 

Turks introduced coffee to Europe. 

Turks gave the Dutch their famous tulips. 

Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents. 

Tradition in Turkey says that a stranger at one’s doorstep is considered "God’s guest" for at least three days. 

Turkey is noted for having one of the three most famous and distinctive traditional cuisines in the world. 

The First Ecumenical Council was held in Iznik, Turkey. 

Writing was first used by people in ancient Anatolia.  The first clay tablets – in the ruins of Assyrian Karum (Merchant Colony – date back to 1950 B.C. 

The oldest tin mine was found in Goltepe, 60 miles south of  Tarsus. 

The first Neolithic paintings found on man-made walls are in Catalhoyuk, Turkey. 

 Anatolia is the birthplace of historic legends, such as Homer (the poet), King Midas, Heredotus (the father of history), and St. Paul the Apostle. 

Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered)" in Turkey when he defeated the Pontus, a 

formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey. 

Female goddesses dominated the Central Anatolian pantheon for thousands of years before these supernatural powers were transformed to male gods. 

The Hittites sold Abraham the cave where he buried his wife Sarah, when the Israelites came to Palestine.

(Source:Turkish Embassy Web Pages, Washington D.C.)