Gallipoli, Turkey Cruises

Gallipoli, Turkey Cruise Port

Gallipoli, Italian for “Beautiful City,” is located in the European part of Turkey, nestled between the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles Strait. In antiquity, Gallipoli’s great peninsula was protected by the Long Wall, a powerful defensive structure set up at the base of the Thracian Chersonese. Today, Gallipoli makes up most of what historians believe to be the Thracian Chersonese, but the exact location of the mighty wall remains unknown. Some of the remains were discovered near the entrance of the peninsula between the 19^th and 20^th century, but did little to determine the actual size or scope of the ancient wall. The Port of Canakkale acts as the main entry point into the region and is large enough to accommodate most cruise ships. It’s also adjacent to the ancient city of Troy, one of the most significant archeological sites in the world. Cruisers can explore this archaeological wonder in person by taking advantage of daily ferries operating between Gallipoli and Troy.

• Bolayir Plaji is a rustic yet eerily beautiful seaside beach. Tourists are encouraged to swim, fish and dive, making the most of this enchanting locale.
   
• Hellas Memorial is a tall, striking monument to the Turkish soldiers who lost their lives during World War I. The structure is particularly poignant in the light of the moon.
   
• Fransiz Mezarligi is a large, well-taken care of cemetery that holds mostly French soldiers who lost their lives during the mid-19^th century Crimean War.
   
• Azaplar Camii is an open-air mosque where the sailor, Azaplar, said his final prayers before embarking on his expedition during the Ottoman Empire. The serene atmosphere is still a great place for reflection, regardless of religion.