Ancient Troy is famous for the legendary Trojan Horse from the times of an equally legendary couple: Helen and Paris. The remains of the city were excavated by Heinrich Schliemann, a German archeologist who used Homer’s Iliad to locate the site, and who also took all of the invaluable treasures he found there back to Germany with him. Homer had immortalized Troy with his immortal narration of the stories of King Priam, Hector, Paris and the beautiful Helen. Excavations revealed nine separate periods (layers) of settlement. The ruins include a temple, a theater and foundations. Today, a recent wooden copy of the famous Trojan Horse symbolically stands on the site to recall its legendary original since long vanished. The earliest - known inhabitants of the region lived in the Chalcolithic sites of Besiktepe and Kumtepe. They were followed by Trojans who lived in this land dating back from 3000 B.C. to 1200 B.C. without being influenced. After Troy had been sacked, Achaeans settled. During the migrations across the Aegean Sea, some others came and settles. Finally, after the death of the Commander Roger De Flor, the Catalonians controlled the region but they handed it over to Turkish Bays after reaching an agreement with them.

TROY: It is located on a mound called "Hisarlik" on the south - east side of the plain of the River Scamander, where the Straits join with the Aegean and are tat-her narrow, within the boundaries of the Province of Canakkale.  Troy is famous for different reasons. First, it is associated with the sagas of the Trojan War told by Homer in the "Iliad" and the “Odyses". Second, it is linked with the German excavator Schliemann who dug the ground the first time. At the end of the excavations nine cities have been unearthed. Later on they have been subdivided into 46 strata.

TROY 1 (3000-2500 B.C.): This layer, which consists of ten strata, is the initial settlement of the Early Bronze Age. It occupies a small area. Judging from the walls, it may be considered that the city's civilization at the time surpassed the neighboring civilizations. One story - houses have been found during the excavations. As a construction material sun dried the people of Troy have used bricks.

TROY II (2500-2200 B.C.): It is the first settlement where we see town planning first. The area covered by second city is larger than the first one. This settlement composed of seven layers. Stones were used as a construction material at the bases. The upper parts of walls were sun - dried clay bricks. The most interesting building from this period is the megaron house with the pillars. Troy 11 has been the center of contemporary civilization at the time. It ended in a raging fire.

TROY III (2200-MO B.C.): The city, which covers a larger area than the previous one, is again surrounded by the walls. The settlement is not well planned, there are irregular blocks of ho- uses scattered on the site. The most striking feature of the period is that the stones were used in the construction of the city walls. The buildings became larger and developed. The base was earth. They were constructed on the ground.

TROY IV (2052-1900 B.C.): This settlement, which has be- en founded on the second city, is about 17.000 square meters. This settlement was subdivided into five layers. Main future of the settlement is that the blocks of the houses were attached to each other. The most striking feature of the period is that by building birch houses based on stones, they have returned to the technique of the second city.

TROY V (1900-1800 B.C.): We see a development both in the building technique and the workmanship in the construction of the walls and the houses. The walls are neat and well - designed. The houses consisted of a big hall, a courtyard, and a few rooms.

TROY VI (1800-1300 B.C.): It was a very prominent Acropolis of the period with its strong walls, and very well - planned, beautiful houses. It consisted of 8 strata and was founded in the Middle Bronze Age; the layer is very different from the other layers. Both in the construction technique and the fortifications a big advance occurred. It can be sa- id that a kind of architectural technique was realized. Houses were not attached to each other. They advanced both in size and com- fort. Ten houses are still in a good condition surviving till our time on the site.

TROY VII / A (1300-1260 B.C.): The most striking feature of the period is the pithoi in situ under the floors of the houses. It is believed that they were used to store food and liquid supplies for an emergency. The houses huddling together were roughly built. They raise one above the other in concentric circles. According to Carl W.  Blegen this was Priam's city.

TROY VII B 1 (1260-1190 B.C.): It was founded on Troy VII A. The debris of the devayed city varies from 0.50 meters to 1.00 meters. The style of the construction continued in this city.

TROY VII B 2 (1190-110 B.C.): In this period we see that the new people settled in Troy changed the building technique. They combined the single roomed ho- uses. So they were enlarged to get more room. The most prominent feature of the buildings is the use of orthostats. They were used to strengthen the lower courses of the walls. Fire and left again destroyed it.

TROY IX (350-400 A.D.): In this period the city spread and covered the whole monud. It was the biggest city ever known. -During the reign of Augustus the city was repaired. The temple of Athena was the most important building. It was erected on the mound in Doric order supported by a podium with three steps. Ro- man ruins are on the south - western section between the temple of Athena and the town walls. The Bouleuterion, theatre, and the auditorium all date from the Roman period.

Gallipoli 

Dardanelles played an important role at World War I. British and its Allies, who wanted to take Istanbul, could not pass through the Dardanelles. The eight month-long struggle between the Allies and Turkish forces is known as the Battle of Gallipoli. So serious were the casualties on both sides, that Winston CHURCHILL, Prime Minister of England, was removed from office. 

Every year of April 25th, Gallipoli is invaded again not by Allied troops, but by their descendants, other veterans, and tourists. The sounds of the riffle fire ring out at Anzac Cove, but this time as a salute to heroes by the Turkish Honor Guard. When you reach Gallipoli Peninsula you can feel the spirit of the heroes of the battle. Today Gallipoli peninsula is a national park and is open to all visitors who come to pay respect in many military burial grounds. 

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