the mystery of palace life
Transcription
the mystery of palace life
Issue 3 AIDA TURKEY EN VOGUE THE JEWEL OF THE AEGEAN BODRUM THE MYSTERY OF PALACE LIFE LORD OF THE RINGS SEVAN BIÇAKÇI İSTANBUL RESTAURANTS PICTURE BY DAY, JEWEL BY NIGHT MARDİN CONTENT 4 SHOPPING AIDA’S SELECTION DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATOR AND OWNER Adviye Bergemann EDITOR IN CHIEF Melek Aksoy ART DIRECTOR Ali Cindoruk CONTRIBUTERS Şirin Soysal, Zeynep Erekli, Soner Ataş, Evrim Aydın Murphy, Bengisu Gürel, Tuğçe Kazaz CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Şenol Altun, Sedef Delen, Jerry Stolwijk, Sezer Alçınkaya PUBLISHER Aksoy Cindoruk Tasarım ve Yayıncılık Adnan Saygun Caddesi No 60 Daire 33 Ulus 34340/İstanbul Phone: 0212 287 30 32 e-mail: [email protected] PRINTING HOUSE Bion Dijital Baskı Matbaacılık Tanıtım Ürünleri Reklam Bilişim Sis. ve Mak. San. Tic. Ltd. Şti. Yenidoğan Mahallesi Çizmeci İş Merkezi No 87/62 Tel 0212 576 62 62 Fax 0212 567 06 16 Turkey is a bridge between two continents, Europe and Asia. She is adorned with stories and objects of the east, while treading the ways of the west. For ages, elegance and style have blessed these lands. We have chosen just a few of these stories to spruce up your holiday. 10 FASHION THE MYSTERY OF PALACE LIFE Turkish designers’ satin, sequin and lace masterpieces fit for sultans flirt with the centennial marble of the Çırağan Palace. Life here seems to be an emulation of past eras. YEREL SÜRELİ YAYIN Printed in Turkey ADMINISTRATION OFFICE Aida Turizm Seyahat Acentalığı Ltd. Şti. İstanbul Caddesi Kartal Sokak G 1 Blokları B Blok No:3 D:10 Göktürk- Eyüp İstanbul-Turkey Tel +90 212 322 43 90-91 Faks +90 212 322 43 92 www.aidatours.net Email: [email protected] All rights reserved by AIDA magazine. Reproduction in part or in full is strictly prohibited. Issue 3 AIDA 1 24 DESIGN “LORD OF THE RINGS” SEVAN BIÇAKÇI Brooke Shields, Julia Roberts, Lady Gaga, Catherine Zeta Jones, Elizabeth Hurley, Liv Tyler, Halle Berry, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen all have one thing in common. They all adore Sevan Bıçakçı, three-time winner of “Couture Design”, America’s most prestigious award for the design of jewelry. 30 AGEAN The Jewel of the Aegean: Bodrum Bodrum is an Aegean town where dreams spring out of every corner, painting everything into the wild fuchsia of bougainvillea, where a whole world of new tastes from cocktails to marmalades await, the fresh fragrance of mandarins lifting your spirits, and the exquisite tastes of the olive tree bays cleansing your soul. 62 EAST ‘Picture by day, jewel by night’… Mardin One of the most intriguing cities of Southeast Anatolia, Mardin has always challenged time and the rapacity of civilization. Having been home to dozens of different cultures and religions, it is an old and sophisticated city. 70 NEW SPOTS Istanbul Restaurants “Istanbul, my love, let me kiss you on your neck” These are the words to a song Istanbulites know very well, for it is difficult to resist the city’s elegance, sexiness, and seductiveness. With new restaurants and clubs opening, Istanbul is becoming more and more attractive. Here is a selection of Istanbul venues to tickle the senses. 2 AIDA Issue 3 EDİTO A VISIT TO WONDERLAND Anatolia has been home to hundreds of civilizations and is one of the world’s most intriguing geographies with its astonishing variety. The history of these lands go far and deep, creating a multitude of stories. Anatolia is indeed a Wonderland and its every corner is a place of enchanting stories. This third issue of AIDA Magazine begins with one of Anatolia’s oldest places of settlement, namely Bodrum, the crown of the Aegean. Bodrum takes her ‘nobility’ from the knights and the heroic seamen in her history, and from the poets that crowned her with all her beauty. Blessed with the luring scent of mandarins, Bodrum is a centre for vacationers through all seasons, as well as seekers of an intellectual journey, with its turquoise bays, mandarin gardens and delicious Aegean food. Our story spans towards the east’s most mystical hill, Mardin. Mardin is a sparkling jewel despite the pitiless destructiveness of past centuries. A labyrinth of narrow streets, waiting to be tread upon… Her multi-cultural history invites you to play on her streets, each building you see takes you on a magical journey to the past. Here one understands that the union of different cultures and beliefs creates wisdom, which is the true treasure of mankind. Mardin is not just a place of historical, architectural and gastronomic attractions, but one of timelessness, infinity and tolerance. Istanbul, the protagonist of many a poem, painting and story, is in this issue a destination for shopping, design and gastronomy. Her mystical streets invite you to enjoy their fairytales and legends, whether captured in a suitcase, a shoe, a flying cabin or a dreamy jewel. Speaking of dreamy jewels, let us visit Sultan Ahmet, home of Sevan Bıçakçı, the man known as the ‘Lord of Rings’, who chose the Byzantine to make his dream come true. Bıçakçı tells us with full sincerity of his passion for his work. There is no end to our stories. Everywhere we go, everything we see gives us something unique to keep in our hearts. Issue 3 AIDA 3 AIDA’S SELECTION Turkey is a bridge between two continents, Europe and Asia. She is adorned with stories and objects of the east, while treading the ways of the west. For ages, elegance and style have blessed these lands. We have chosen just a few of these stories to spruce up your holiday… FOR THE CHIC AND THE SLEEK Jeanne Lanvin and her daughter have created an empire of elegance in the world of fashion with their hats, embroidered dresses, perfumes and knockout shoes. Istanbul’s most distinguished store Beymen houses no brand that is any less than ‘the best’. Make time to visit the Beymen stores, famous for their innovative décor, to catch their latest collections. This will be a shopping spree you won’t regret. 4 AIDA Issue 3 THE ART OF TRAVEL Louis Vuitton is perhaps one of the first names to be associated with travel. In 1854, Vuitton made suitcases for the wife of Napoleon. His cases were light and airproof, and shortly made him famous. Today, Louis Vuitton is the brand for those who deem travel a form of art. Issue 3 AIDA 5 FLYING POTS In her Paris atelier, Alev Ebüzziya designs pots, jugs and bowls that stand in midair. Represented by Galeri Nev in Istanbul, Ebüzziya’s flying turquoise pots are probably some of the most extraordinary souvenirs to take back with you. If you are intrigued by Ebüzziya’s work, which is exhibited in important museums around the world, you can visit the gallery in Mısır Apartment, Beyoğlu. 6 AIDA Issue 3 JEWELS FOR THE IMAGINATION The handsome war hero Achilles was shot in the heel and killed by the poisonous arrow of his enemy Hector. Sevan Bıçakçı, master of jewels, gives life to hundreds of such stories. The stories are captured in his jewels to live through generations. Bıçakçı’s stores in the Grand Bazaar and in Akaretler will sweep in you into the world of tales and legends. Issue 3 AIDA 7 VAKKO’S SIGNATURE Venturing into fashion in 1934 through hat-making, Vakko very quickly became Turkey’s biggest fashion brand with the motto “Fashion is Vakko”. Besides their vast selection of women’s, men’s, household, shoes and bridal dress collections, Vakko’s most coveted products are their scarves. Using the best quality Turkish silk, cotton and wool, Vakko produces fashionable scarves and continues to ‘produce the best for customers who wish for the best’. 8 AIDA Issue 3 THE EYE The “Eye” family of tabletop objects is the product of a unique collaboration between GAIA&GINO, designer Sebastian Bergne and Swarovski Elements with a thousand year old tradition of Iznik quartz ceramics. GAIA&GINO is the first company using the new “Crystal Rocks” product of Swaroski Elements in the world. London-based designer Sebastian Bergne is known for his precise, pared-down design. Inspired by a visit to the Iznik factories in Turkey, he turned to quartz ceramics for this project to introduce a range of bowls and vases. Issue 3 AIDA 9 The Mystery Of Palace Life Turkish designers’ satin, sequin and lace masterpieces fit for sultans flirt with the centennial marble of the Çırağan Palace. Life here seems to be an emulation of past eras… Photographer Jerry Stolwijk at Bybusto agency Styling Bengisu Gürel Hair and make up Osman Nuri Buruk at Bybusto agency Digital artist Levent Sülün at Bybusto agency Thanks to Çırağan Kempinski Hotels AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA Dress by Nedret Taciroğlu Shoes by Beymen AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA Dress by Nedret Taciroğlu Accessories by Sky AIDA Issue 3 Dress by Zeynep Tosun Shoes by Beymen Issue 3 AIDA Earrings by Lanvin at Beymen AIDA Issue 3 Dress by Dilek Hanif Earrings by Beymen Issue 3 AIDA Dress by Nedret Taciroğlu Accessories by Lanvin at Beymen AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA Dress by Nedret Taciroğlu AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA AIDA Issue 3 Dress by Dilek Hanif Shoes by Beymen Issue 3 AIDA Lord of the Rings Sevan Bıçakçı Brooke Shields, Julia Roberts, Lady Gaga, Catherine Zeta Jones, Elizabeth Hurley, Liv Tyler, Halle Berry, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen all have one thing in common. They all adore Sevan Bıçakçı, three-time winner of “Couture Design”, America’s most prestigious award for the design of jewelry. Photography Sezer Alçınkaya Text Melek Aksoy AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA We try to make rings that people will want to leave to their grandchildren one day. We spend a lot of time on them, weigh them on our scale of conscience, before we lock them in the safe… If a ring has made it into the safe, it has most definitely been examined 35 times. AIDA Issue 3 S evan Bıçakçı is an offspring of a city of palaces, ancient city walls, fountains and minarets… A city that has set the stage for three great empires spanning a history of 8500 years, rich with culture and variety, housing Armenians, Greeks, Jews, Moslems, Circassians, Bosnians, Romans and Caucasians… He is an artist who has thrived on the heartbeat of a city that has the silk road running through it… He is an Istanbulite who lives by the pursuit of her dreams, which he engraves onto his rings… He is a master of the art who crafts his rings with patience, a fine virtue of the soul, growing, flourishing and reaching from the centre of history out into the world… He is a pilgrim who follows stories of Ottoman sultans, the mystical world of Byzantium, stories of ancient Greece and the depths of Sufism, then brings them all together to tell and be told… He is a magician who melds his images of inspiration with his gift and technique, and transposes them onto 24, 18 carats gold, silver, and other precious stones of a thousand colors, with diamonds carved in the classical way… Apart from his favorites, which are rings, Sevan Bıçakçı makes earrings, necklaces, cufflinks, hairpins, ankle rings, armbands, shawl and jacket pins… Touching these jewels, which are loaded with stories, in his Sultan Ahmet shop facing the walls of an Ottoman tavern, one truly grasps the meaning of patience… LACK OF STUDY BECAME MY LUCK My luck has actually been that I couldn’t study past the fifth grade, and I had to start doing this job as a child. I began my apprenticeship in second to third-rate carpenters’ workshops. At the age of 12 I had already developed my own ideas about all sides of the craft. I was curious too. I started working in the Grand Bazaar at age 12 and I had an excellent master. Then, before I knew it, I was 18 and opening up my own shop. My capital was my art. I started by making moulds for jewelers. Moulds were customarily made of gold, but I used silver, which is a complicated process. I had to bring silver to the same level of endurance as gold by adding certain additives. As a result, everyone started coming to me for their moulds. The most time one spends with their family and loved ones is an hour a day, two at most. The rest of the time is spent at work and if you’re doing a job that doesn’t excite you, you begin to wither and disappear. My dream was to do something interesting. To create an original style, recognizable as mine. I had three roads in front of me. I could either continue doing cheap jobs for the market, which didn’t excite me at all; I could buy the world’s best stones, for which I had no capital; or I could push my art to its limits. This was the only way. I was not going to spend just one day on a ring, but maybe a week, months, a year perhaps… Then, in 2002 I had my first collection inspired by Ottoman sultans… I’M THE EXTRAVAGANT TYPE, NOT A MINIMALIST Sometimes I say to myself, “why do I make these rings?”. I think it has to do with where I come from. I grew up playing hide-and-seek amidst the Yedikule walls. Sometimes I would get tired, sit on a rock and daydream. I still love watching the sea from atop a city wall by dusk. I’m the extravagant type, not a minimalist, which is why I love historical places, places with stories. The best examples of this in Istanbul are in Samatya… MY CAPITAL WAS MY ART I was working for the market, but there came a point when I had to make a decision. I was earning good money but hadn’t lost my desire. I was not enjoying my work anymore. I had to have fun, at the end of the day. 2009 The Design Award, The Best of Men’s Jewelry: Cuff Links of rose and yellow gold, sterling silver, black diamonds with dagger stems on back and two paintings by Hasan Kale portraying Istanbul’s Bosphorus and the Marmara Sea with a Galleon and one of the Prince’s Islands. Issue 3 AIDA 25 Sevan Bıçakçı’s story is a long and adventurous one, stretching over eight years, categorized under the subheads “Brotherhood of Religions”, “Magic Bowls”, “Sadabat Collection”, “Theodorius and Justinianus” and “Ida”. It is a large collection that grows by the year. This year’s collection of 500 pieces is a product of works created over weeks, sometimes over a year, and sometimes over three years. Left The architectural style of the period of Sultan Abdülhamit II is the main influence for this ring named ‘Hamidiye’. The middle dome of the building carved into the smoky quartz stone directly resembles the dome of Hamidiye Mosque. Gold, silver and diamonds of different colors have been used here. Facing page The Hagia Sophia bracelet, composed of gold, silver and diamonds of different colors has the central dome of Hagia Sophia carved into it. Hagia Sophia was built in mid 6th Century and has been considered the mother of all eastern churches over a thousand years. The building is so magnificent that for centuries it has pushed Ottoman architects to build even grander mosques. It is the muse of Istanbul’s fairytale silhouette. 26 AIDA Issue 3 SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO KEEP KISSING THE FROG UNTIL THE PRINCE COMES ALONG I began to earn my bread with craftsmanship. For me, there is no design that can’t be achieved. Whatever I do, I have to get the desired design in the end. So I acquired a certain fame as “Crazy Sevan”. Things that the market has little faith in, we achieve with success, because we spend a lot of time on them. I’ve also never been afraid of falling. I walk on fearlessly. Say, for instance, you I a very expensive emerald and despite the risk of breaking it, I experiment. I break it too. Then I buy a second one, which I also break. This of course is not the purpose, I desperately want to make and sell. But sometimes you have to keep kissing the frog until the prince comes along. I WANT MY RINGS TO LIVE ON LIKE OLD AMERICAN CARS Though I make all kinds of jewelry, from earrings to belts, I always initially design the jewel as a ring. My artistic mind works in the shape of rings. I make rings that force the imagination and I always give the first ring of a collection to my wife. There are pieces I work on for over three years… I have to see the light in the customer’s eye. My work thrives on customers who wear their jewels with love and I don’t like pieces to have to wait in the safe, they must live. I want my rings to live on like old American cars. They must be cared for everyday, wiped dry when wet, and brought to me once in a while. I like the marks of age and experience. THE GRAND BAZAAR HAS TAUGHT ME ALL I KNOW ABOUT LIFE The grand bazaar is my school. From my master I learned to be polite, to talk, to respect and to be a good person. I’ve always aimed to do what I do in the best way possible. What has marked the difference in my work? Something I haven’t been able to explain myself, a kind of magic, which we needn’t talk about. Perhaps it’s my grandfather’s prayers. Apart from that, I owe everything to hard work. I’ve been with the right people at the right time and I’ve trained many good students. My wife has been very tolerant throughout it all, I’ve stolen much of her time because I’ve chosen to share and grow as one. Also, I’ve never been afraid of being brave. Had I been afraid in the beginning, I may not have made it… WHAT IS A JEWEL? This is the question which in fact begins the whole process. I find that if my wife, my mother, my children are all individual beings, then my gifts to them must each be one and individual. I don’t want to give them a ring worn by 550,000 other people. This is what paved my way.” I BELIEVE IN ‘NAZAR’ AND IN LUCK My first store is in the tavern opposite, I’ve been renting it for 20 years… My second one, which I also still keep, is in the next building. I believe in the luck of the old. Our jewels are handmade, which means you put something of yourself into every piece. Thus the ring is a charm. Nazar (the evil eye) is an important part of our culture. I even have a collection named “Nazar”. Issue 3 AIDA 27 The Jewel of the Aegean BODRUM Bodrum is an Aegean town where dreams spring out of every corner, painting everything into the wild fuchsia of bougainvillea, where a whole world of new tastes from cocktails to marmalades await, the fresh fragrance of mandarins lifting your spirits, and the exquisite tastes of the olive tree bays cleansing your soul. Photography Sedef Delen Photography Asssistant Soner Ataş Text Zeynep Erekli AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA “When you get to the tip of the slope you’ll see Bodrum. But don’t think you’ll go as you’ve come.” These are the words of Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı, known as “Halikarnas Balıkçısı” (The Fisherman of Halikarnas) in Turkish and world literature, describing Bodrum in the 1920s. Kabaağaçlı moved to Halikarnas Bodrum in the latter part of his life, where through his encounter and experience with this natural splendor, he produced his famous masterpieces. He rented a boat with some of his writer and artist friends, opened up to the gulf of Gökova and explored this breathtaking landscape. These quests, which were the source of inspiration for his stories about the sea and its coastal beauties, were repeated every summer from 1957 onwards, and each time with a bigger and more regular crew. The Halikarnas Fisherman would tell of the past and present of Bodrum with such interesting and curious information, that these ten day trips would turn into unique exploits. Whichever part of this romantic peninsula you are staying at, it is a good idea to rent a car to see all sides of it. If you are traveling as a couple especially, you should have your map and a good playlist of songs to accompany you, while you drive through the oregano scented roads. You can be sure to encounter fresh surprises and first-rate experiences in every corner of the peninsula. The 200 year-old stone-houses, which you’ll come across walking through Bodrum’s narrow little streets are the sole embodiment of this town. These houses with their white exteriors, their tiny windows and the bushes of pink bougainvillea hanging from their high garden walls are typical especially of central Bodrum, Bitez, Ortakent and Gümüşlük. The curvy bays carved into the Aegean shore are covered with blankets of olive and pine trees. Once one of the most important sea trade centers of the antique era, this small town, which inspired the literature of the Halikarnas Fisherman, has come a long way. According to Herodotus, Bordum was built by the Dorians, who were seaman folk. Named Halikarnassos in those days, the town had its most fruitful period in 353 B.C. when it became the capital of Karya. The Bodrum Mausoleum (Mausoleoin), one of the world’s seven wonders, was built at that time in memory of King Mausolus by his sister and wife Artemisia. Halikarnassos was taken by the Byzantines in 395 A.C., by the Turks in XI A.C., then by the Knights of Rhodes in 1415, and bequeathed back to the Ottoman Empire by the Sultan Süleyman in 1522. Its castle was a notorious prison in Ottoman times. The town was finally named Bodrum after the proclamation of the republic. The wondrous Mausoleoin Open Air Museum, the Bodrum Castle, one of the best preserved historical sites 32 AIDA Issue 3 AFTER SUNSET A NEW RUSH OF EXCITEMENT ENGULFS THE STREETS OF BODRUM. WITH THEIR MOUTHWATERING MEZES, SEAFOOD AND DESSERTS, POPULAR RESTAURANTS COMPETE TO CATCH YOUR ATTENTION Issue 3 AIDA Like the poet said, when you get to the tip of the slope you’ll see Bodrum Bay, its white stone houses with gardens of bougainvillea and mandarins, its mysterious castle capturing the spirit of knights, sophisticated yachts and their gullets, its turquoise bays and the surprise bay Karaada. Bodrum waits to take your breath away… AIDA Issue 3 SARAY SOKAK (“PALACE” STREET) IS HOME TO BODRUM’S MOST MAGNIFICENT HOUSES, WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE PAST HIDES IN THE SHADOWS OF PALM TREES, BANANA TREES AND BOUGAINVILLEA WRAPPED IN BAMBOO, AND THE SCENT OF MANDARINS… Issue 3 AIDA THE KOCADON RESTAURANT IN THE TOWN CENTER AWAITS GUESTS WHO WISH TO DISCOVER A DIFFERENT WORLD OF TASTES AMIDST PALM AND BANANA TREES AND SURROUNDED BY BUGLE FLOWERS in the world with a history going back to the Middle Ages, and the Bodrum Underwater Museum which it houses will take you on an unforgettable journey. Bordum’s sponges, leather sandals and olive oil soap. Until the 1960s, this little fisher town’s main means of existence was the production of sponges. Today it offers the wonders of its bays, its fertile flora, yacht tourism, stylish and luxurious hotels, unique restaurants with fist-class dining, a vibrant nightlife and ceaseless surprises jumping out of every nook and corner. The narrow streets of the town center are lined with shops selling leather sandals whose style is inspired by ancient models, herbalists selling natural skin care 36 AIDA Issue 3 products as well as soaps and sponges, centennial patisseries and tiny buffets for snacks, charming Italian trattorias and countless rock bars. The town is crowded with stores that resemble one another. Some of these however have been around for years. The most famous handmade sandal shop for instance belonged to the late Ali Güverin, whose name has become one with Bodrum. It is anticipated that his daughter continue the business. If you are a lover of olive oil soaps and natural skin products, we recommend a store called ‘Sahan’ inside the market. Be sure to visit Hasan Fidan’s shop for coffee in one of these pathways. This is Bodrum’s oldest Turkish coffee ALONG WITH JERUSALEM AND VENICE, MARDIN IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S ‘THREE OPEN CITY MUSEUMS’. Issue 3 AIDA FAMOUS FOR ITS HARD-SHELLED SEAFOOD, ORFOZ RESTAURANT SERVES DELICIOUS BAKED MUSSELS, GRILLED BLUE CRAB AND OYSTERS AIDA Issue 3 The Kısmet restaurant in Konacık promises a feast with its daily local dishes. The peninsula is thus home to countless restaurants of flavor and taste. The Kocadon restaurant in the town centre is a 19th Century stone house which detaches itself from the outside world with its garden of palm trees, banana trees and bugle flowers. A service team dressed all in white welcome visitors who wish to delve into the tasty world of discoveries. The word ‘discovery’ in fact perfectly defines this place, opened in 1987 and situated diagonally to the Bodrum Marina, and the experience its cuisine will give you, offering a menu that uniquely blends flavors of both the sea and the mountains. The squid with fennel; sole fish with turnip sauce; octopus carpaccio with mastic; the caviar with cranberry and bonito with beetroot are some examples. The ‘ocean bubble shrimp dish’ or the mountain mushrooms with aniseed essence are also highly recommended. Another restaurant that takes its place among the list of young Bodrum fine-dining houses is Adasofra. Located in Ortakent, at the foot of the grandiose Mustafa Paşa Tower from the 1600s, which was admirably turned The Yunuslar Karadeniz Bakery, serving since 1876, lures you in with its smell of fresh oven-baked goods, and is open 24 hours a day. house, perfect for those who can’t wake up without a good coffee kick in the morning. After shopping you may dine at the tasty Italian Piu Piu, where a refreshing mandarin flavored ice-cream will lift your spirits, or you can enjoy a drink or two at the Bodrum Marina while watching the sun set languidly over the Bodrum Castle, the soft breeze of the Aegean caressing your skin. GASTRONOMIC DISCOVERIES Bodrum’s olive oil dishes, lemons, mandarins and fish are as distinctive as its sea, sun and nature. A breath of fresh air visits the bazaars of Bodrum each season, adding new spice to the dining tables. Spring brings the fresh herbs of the Aegean and adorns tables with delicious salads, mezes and olive oil dishes. Blackeyed peas, kidney beans and okra are consumed in abundance, and squash blossoms are seen everywhere. The season of herbs, from April to mid June, cools the hot summers days with cold mezes, fish, calamari, octopus, shrimp, mussels and olive oil dishes. A strong Aegean cuisine reigns over this town, which is a boat drive away from the Greek Islands, with olive oil, tomatoes and garlic as the main actors. Issue 3 AIDA 39 UNTIL THE 1960S, BODRUM’S MAIN ENTERPRISE WAS SPONGE PRODUCTION. TODAY, THIS TRADITION LIVES ON IN THE HERBAL STORES AROUND CENTRAL TOWN AIDA Issue 3 into a one-room hotel called Adaev. The restaurant, placed within this, one of the most beautiful architectural sights of the peninsula, overlooks a peaceful green valley, offering a very intimate atmosphere. The seabass with mustard sauce, smoked salmon salad, mackerel smoked in tea, grilled calamari with cress sauce and fish patties are just some of the specialties offered in this fairy-tale atmosphere, topped by wonderful music and candlelight. A very common preference for a classical Bodrum dinner is Yalıkavak. This charming village houses established fish restaurants like Sait, Hasan, Memedof and Çimentepe, all promising best quality dining standards. To go with your fish and raki, mezes like ‘köpoğlu’ (a cold dish made with yoghurt), squash blossom rolls, fava, calamari and octopus are highly recommended. Fast and simple service by friendly waiters create a fine atmosphere for a feast. DIFFERENT VILLAGES, DIFFERENT TASTES Whether you drive through the curvy Bitez roads amidst mandarin trees or through oregano scented village roads on either side of Yalıkavak, Bodrum will lift your senses and fill them with freshness, happiness, peace and joy. All roads of the peninsula lead to a different seaside village. Built over the antique ruins of ancient Karya, Göltürkbükü is reachable via the Torba road. When you reach the village via Torba and go down towards the seashore, you are suddenly surrounded by mandarin trees. These are the famous Bodrum mandarins, small, green and wonderfully fragrant, the missing ingredient of a cooling gin and tonic. Top 100% natural olive oil soaps are the skin’s best friend. Below The most famous handmade sandal shop belonged to the late Ali Güverin, whose name has become one with Bodrum. Issue 3 AIDA AIDA Issue 3 BUILT IN THE 1600S, THE MUSTAFA PAŞA TOWER HAS BEEN RESTORED TO SERVE AS A ONE-ROOM HOTEL CALLED ADAEV Issue 3 AIDA With its clear seawater, countless beachclubs and boutique hotels, Göltürkbükü is always crowded, energetic and vibrant. The piers reaching into the sea resemble podiums at daytime, showcasing the latest bikinis and bathing suits in fashion, flashy accessories and tanned athletic bodies. The beach club life begins with a swim and tan session in the morning, then sprites up with music in the afternoon. The evening brings a party breeze and stretches into a night of feasting at tables set on the very same piers. After midnight, music and dancing take over. The most popular of these beach clubs are Ship Ahoy, Fidele and Maki. Going westwards from Göltürkbükü, you arrive at Yalıkavak, one of Bodrum’s best-kept bays. First you encounter a windmill, which signals that you’re about to come across a fantastic view. The manufacture of sponges was once the sole enterprise here, and thus it is the birthplace of Bodrum’s most famous sponge-makers. Today it is a village of quality housing complexes Left and top Adasofra is a bright new star in Bodrum’s vibrant fine-dining scene, overlooking a matchless green valley. Facing page With its design, quality of service, distinguished guests and hyper-cool beach club and famous DJ’s, the Xuma turns summer nights into a one big festival. AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA and beach clubs. Xuma Beach and Dodo Beach are the oldest, and just as attractive as their counterparts in Göltürkbükü. Gümüşlük apparently takes its name from the silver shine cast over the sea by sunset. The bay is frequented mostly by intellectuals and artists, since it is the home of the Gümüşlük Academy, a cultural foundation built over years through the efforts and resourcefulness of Latife Tekin, an author whose books have been translated into many languages. The foundation is open to all kinds of projects and ideas. With such a big cultural structure as this at its heart, Gümüşlük naturally attracts philosophers, and literary and artistic people. The most notable fish restaurant in Gümüşlük is located at the very end of the bay. Colorfully lit and decorated, Mimoza offers delicious food with good music and friendly service, combining the charm of both the bohemian and the chic. CITY OF MARBLE We find it hard to imagine what it was like in 6000 B.C. until we actually visit an ancient city. This is one of Bodrum’s most appealing surprises. Just a two and a half hour drive away you can find yourself in the depths of history, in a city built in the Neolithic age, walking through the marble streets, wandering around its agoras, catching your breath in the shade of its library, sitting in the audience of the antique theatre and imagine you’re watching an ancient play. You can lose yourself in deep thoughts about time, just sitting at the bottom of a column. The place has a history of 6000 years. Recent research and excavations around Ephesus have brought about settlements of the Bronze Age and Hittites. In the time of the Hittites, 1050 B.C., Ephesus was called Apasas, a port were emigrants from Greece were coming to settle. The city was then moved to the Temple of Arte- The westernmost bay of Bodrum, Gümüşlük is a peaceful and modest hideout by the sea mis in 560 B.C. Today’s Ephesus was built in 300 B.C. by Alexander the Great’s general Lysimakhos. Ephesus lived its most glorious times during the Hellenistic and Roman ages. It was constructed with great awareness of city planning, in accordance with the “grill plan”. One of the biggest gateways of trade to the east, Ephesus marked history as an independent city that played a great role in politics, art and culture. One of the reasons for this is that the city was in possession of the famous Temple of Artemis, and was therefore sacred. The story goes that when the Hellens came to Anatolia, they began to worship the peoples’ goddess Kybele, as they did their own goddess Artemis, in order to form good relations with the people. With time, Artemis took the place of Kybele in the eyes of the people. ‘Magnificenct’ is the word to describe Ephesus. Being the first to enter Ephesus through the doors of the museum makes one feel special, as the morning sun blinks at the solitude of history, and you gaze at a city that was once the center of the world. The first temple to be made completely out of marble, the Temple of Artemis was once one of seven world wonders. The amphi-theatre is the world’s biggest with a capacity of 24,000. The extraordinary Celsus Library built in the Roman era between 115-117 and the Port Road lined with pillars and lit with oil lamps at night. All are exquisite works of architecture. Left With its chic décor and attention to detail, Mimoza marks its place in Gümüşlük’s list of fish restaurants. 46 AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA AIDA Issue 3 A Place of Passion: MAÇA KIZI The maestro of the Maça Kızı kitchen Aret Shakyan dazzles his guests with his dishes. Taking its name from a card game, Maça Kızı is one of Bodrum’s oldest and finest venues. Located in Türkbükü, one of the town’s classiest bays, this dreamlike place has hosted many a guest from high society as well as intellectual circles, and international celebrities such as Nuruyev, Ahmet Ertegün and Mick Jagger. The character of the venue has been shaped by its perfectionist owners Ayla and her son Sahir. Its guest describe Maça Kızı as simply a manifestation of paradise on earth. Maça Kızı is the most pleasant and distinguished hotel in Göltürkbükü. Issue 3 AIDA 49 Ephesus was a seaport in 6th Century B.C. and a crucial base for trade and politics. It is home to the Temple of Artemis, Anatolia’s ancient goddess, and is thus considered a sacred place AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA THE LIBRARY OF CELSUS, ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE EXAMPLES OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE, WAS BUILT IN 106 A.C., BY THE SON OF CELSUS IN MEMORY OF HIS LATE FATHER AIDA Issue 3 Ephesus was a leader in science, art and culture in 6th Century B.C., and raised great men such as Herakleitos the wise; Artemidoros, interpreter of dreams; the poets Callinos and Hipponaks; Zenodotos, master of grammar; and the doctors Soranos and Rufus The Cave of the Seven Sleepers, which was proclaimed sacred in the Byzantine era and turned into a mortuary chapel, and Christ’s mother St. Mary’s house where she and St. John spent their final years together, hereto visited by many popes, are holy places that must be seen. A HOUSE HIDDEN IN THE MOUNTAINS Having lost your sense of time in the ancient city of Ephesus, you venture on a mystical journey up a mountain, zigzagging your way for 6 km, until you reach the house of St. Mary. The house, which is visited by Christians from all over the world is situated on top of the Bülbül Mountain, 420 km high. Peeking out from amidst trees, the house opens up its door each day to accept prayers in silence and patience. It is believed that here in this house resided St. Mary, mother of Jesus, with St. John after Christ’s crucifixion. The house certainly carries the spirit of that time. St. John, whom Christ asked to take care of his mother before he was crucified, decided that Jerusalem would be too dangerous, and so brought Mary to Ephesus, which was quite a popular city in 33 A.C. The people of Ephesus, who were under the Roman regime, hid Mary in a forest on the back hill of Bülbül Mountain and built a house for her. Centuries later, in 1891, four priests discovered house with the help of Greeks that lived there. The house, which was in ruins, was restored and beside it a small church was built. The House of St. Mary was declared a ‘place of pilgrimage’ by the Vatican, and was visited by Pope Paul VI on 26 July, 1967; Pope Jean Paul II on 30 November 1979; and lastly by the present Pope Benedict XVI, head of the Catholic Church in August of 2007. Catholic priests hold mass every Sunday here, prayers are said, candles are lit, and thousands of wishes attached to the walls. Even if you’re there simply on a history visit, Mary’s protective and caring spirit envelops you, and you feel light and purified. TURQOISE BAYS A Bodrum holiday should never end without a boat The Temple of Domotian, built in honor of the Emperor Domotian who gave the people of Ephesus the right to guard the empire. Issue 3 AIDA The holy house of St. Mary, where Catholic priests hold ceremonies every Sunday, lighting candles in prayer AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA Pronounced as ‘holy’ by the Vatican, the House of St. Mary is a place of pilgrimage for Christians around the world The statue of St. Mary at the entrance of the house. The House of St. Mary amid trees in peaceful acceptance of prayers; candles are lit; little ‘wish’ notes are attached to the walls of the house. AIDA Issue 3 trip. Sucking in the geography from from a small sail boat or a chic schooner taking off from the Bodrum Marina in the early hours of the morning, is quite something. You will experience tones of blue you’ve never seen, swim along with the colorful fish and feel the fresh water revive your skin. Karaada, an island just opposite the Bodrum Marina where hundreds of boats rest every year, is the priority choice for daily excursions. When you arrive at Karaada, just four miles away, and see its bays and beaches, you’ll understand why this is the captains’ choice of island. The biggest and most beautiful of these bays are Poyraz and Yalancı Poyraz, where the sea is as clear as an aquarium, and its bottom is pure sand. The light breeze creates little waves that dance with the sunlight. While swimming, you are accompanied by fish of all sizes and color. Each bay on the peninsula houses dockyards for the building of wooden boats by Bodrum’s best boat masters. These boats have come a long way from the Karyan fishing boats called “tirhandils” to today’s Situated amidst sublime trees atop the Bülbül Mountain at a height of 420, the House of St. Mary opens its doors to hundreds of visitors each day, accepting their prayers in peace and quiet Issue 3 AIDA AIDA Issue 3 The sailboat named ‘Bodrum’ belonging to the Municipality of Bodrum holds open sailing courses with famous captains on board Issue 3 AIDA AIDA Issue 3 schooners, and they sail the seas in Turkey and all over the world. The word ‘tirhandil’ evolved from ‘trikandini’, which comes from the Greek ‘triakena’ meaning ‘one third’. The word ‘triakena’ describes the main structure of the boat. The most crucial characteristic of this boat is that its width is a third of its length. Its head and tail are similarly curved like a crescent, opening to a wide and round body. Its low and arched structure boosts its seamanship as giving a highly aesthetic look. These tirhandils go back to the ancient Finikians and even Egyptians. They took their form from the Egyptian papyrus boats, with their heads and tails one and sharp, and with time evolved into their present shape. It is no coincidence that Bodrum has always been a leader in seamanship. Perhaps this is why Turkey’s most important museum of underwater and submerged ruins is placed in the Bodrum Castle, whose major piece is a submerged wooden boat. The famous captains of the time were raised in these waters. According to the great historian Herodotus, the captain Skylax from Kayranda (today’s Gündoğan), held captaincy for years on the Persian fleet. Winning glory after glory against the Greeks, he eventually opened sail even to the Indian ocean. The notes he took on the Mediterranean and other seas later became “The Secrets of Skylax”, the world’s first navigation book, which was a major guide THE BAYS, PERFECT FOR SAILORS AND DIVERS ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR REEFS WITH AMAZING DEPTH for Alexander the Great when he was directing his fleet. Another famous captain is Turgut Reis who was raised as a shepherd in Karatoprak (today’s Turgutreis), and made it all the way to the captainship of the Ottoman fleet. While the sea surface has been and is the stage for famous captains and their skill, its depths provide a world for every kind of sea creature, for caves and sponges of every color. The Bodrum Antik, famous for its reefs, is a diver’s paradise. The soft breeze on top of the boat turns your head with calm and joy. This is after all the home of the Halikarnas Fisherman, and in his words, those who come here do not leave unchanged. Each bay on the peninsula houses dockyards for the building of wooden boats by Bodrum’s best boat masters. Issue 3 AIDA Picture by day, jewel by night MARDİN THIS IS HOW THE PEOPLE OF MARDIN DESCRIBE THEIR TOWN. POETRY IS IN FACT RESIDENT IN THE VERY STONES OF THIS MAGNIFICENT CITY. Photography Şenol Altun Text Zeynep Erekli AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA Then came the first Christians, the Romans in the 2nd Century, Sassanians and Byzantines. In the 9th Century came the Arabs, then Turkmens in the 11th Century and Artuklus in the 12th Century. After the swords of the crusaders came the Eyyubis and the Ilhanians. In the 16th Century the Sefavis preceded the Ottomans, before the city was bequeathed to the Turkish Republic. According to sources, this all-embracing city takes its name from its Persian leader’s son. Others say the name comes from an Arab tribe, while Byzantine historians write that Mardin means ‘city of castles’ in the Mardes or Syrian language. Though Mardin has lost its multi-cultural character, it is still a meeting-point for different cultures and beliefs. Almost all its inhabitants speak Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish. You can even hear Syrian, Armenian and Greek in the bazaar. Only about forty families of Syrian culture, history’s oldest Christian community, are left in the center. The majority of the Armenian population has migrated. One of the most intriguing cities of Southeast Anatolia, Mardin has always challenged time and the rapacity of civilization. Having been home to dozens of different cultures and religions, it is an old and sophisticated city. Its sophistication lies in its 5000 year history. Bonding Anatolia to Mesopotamia, Mardin has nurtured many civilizations, religions, ethnic groups and beliefs, and has kept the lives of these different cultures together in peace, love and tolerance. Communities of Moslems, Syrians, Yakubis, Chaldeans, Nestorians, Yezidis, Jews, Kurds, Arabs, Chechens and Armenians lived here side by side in understanding and solidarity. The birth of the city goes back to 3000 B.C. and its first inhabitants are listed in the following order: First it was the Sumerians, Hittites, and Midilians from Iran. Later came Assyrians, Urartians, Aramis and Persians. Alexander the Great arrived 2000 years later. 64 AIDA Issue 3 Mardin’s ‘old town’ is composed of yellow stone houses. It is a neighborhood with a single road dividing it into two. The best way to explore the old town is by getting lost in its tiny streets, which are too narrow for any vehicles to drive through. Even the rubbish from the houses is picked up by municipality workers, on the backs of donkeys and mules. Walking through these magical streets, you are sure to be invited in for tea by the house owners sitting on their terraces, so you’ll even get to see some interiors. It is quite probable that you’ll find yourself squatting on the floor of a highceiling salon of a Mardinian family, sipping tea and listening to the enchanting stories of the city. In recent years, the city has been discovered more and tourists have been flowing in, so residents are quite enthusiastic about hosting their guests. Shop-owners too are uncommonly friendly. In the Coppersmiths’ Market, you’ll be treated with an extra gift for even a tiny bit of shopping. The city simply seems detached from the rest of the world with its rhythm, buildings, atmosphere and its charming folk. In the middle of the old town a series of old stone houses have been turned into the Erdoba Lodgings, a boutique hotel both authentic and chic. The Artukian Caravansaray, a giant monument showcasing Mardin style architecture, is a restored 4 Top left Mor Hananya Monastery (Deyrulzaffaran) established in the 8th century. The monastery is the oldest known temple of Semsilik (belief of worshipping the sun). Facing page The Great Mosque is located in historic core of Mardin. It has numerous inscriptive plaques from the Seljuk, Artuqid, Aq Qoyunlu and Ottoman periods, showing that the mosque was probably founded in the eleventh century by the Seljuks and developed to its current state under Artuqid rule during the last quarter of the twelfth century. In the capital of different beliefs, everything is still as magical and unique as it was thousands of years ago Issue 3 AIDA AIDA Issue 3 star hotel, bequeathed to Mardin by the Artuklus who reigned here for a long time. The main feature that gives Mardin its character is its architecture. It has carried 2500 years of a city planning tradition to our day, with its distinctive stone and architecture. The Mardin houses sit on the southern slope of a rocky hill, a line of rising terraces stretching from the skirts of the Mardin Castle towards the meadow. Their front courtyards face the south. The doors which open up to the Mesopotamian meadow, are situated on the incline of the hill and so are generally at least two floors high. None of the houses’ shadows fall on the next one; the narrow streets are organized so that sunrays do not reach them, providing cool shades in the summer. of Caves’. Midyat was an important settlement of upper Mesopotamia. Civilizations like the Agadians, Assyrians, Hittites and Urartians are known to have lived here and nurtured the lands. Throughout history, Midyat’s means of living has been farming, stock farming and crafts. Midyat is famous for its traditional crafts, stonework, silverwork (Telkari), coppering, carpentry, fabric dyeing, pottery and jewelry. Old Midyat is home to 25 adjacent little ateliers, where handmade accessories such as rings, necklaces, vases, belts, keychains, teaspoons, and saucers are processed in the traditional style. DEYRULZAFARAN MONASTERY The Deyrulzafaran Monastery is to Syrians what the The stone used for Mardin houses known as ‘kalker’ is of a light yellow color and is easily cut, and thus very prone to modeling. The engravings found on the sides of windows, pillars and courtyards are the work of Syrian stonemasons. The most interesting feature of the houses is perhaps their open stone terraces, and the wooden beds placed there during summer and spring months. These beds are called ‘thrones’ which residents use to sleep on hot summer nights. The thrones are generally of blue color as supposedly blue wards off scorpions. Along with Jerusalem and Venice, Mardin is one of the world’s ‘three open city museums’. The old town, which consists of the one way First Street stretching from the Mardin Castle, is a protected area. The socalled new town is downtown, where the governorship, apartments, concrete buildings and shopping centers reside. Unfortunately, there is nothing attractive about this part of the city. MİDYAT Another ‘museum town’ is Midyat, Mardin’s most characteristic district, also under the spell of antique yellow stone houses. The surroundings of Midyat are the holy land of Syrians. They call it ‘Turabdin’ in their own language, meaning ‘The mountain of the servants of God’. In the first half of the 20th Century, a total of 10,000 Syrians lived in Midyat. Due to economic problems in the 1960s, they migrated towards Europe. Migration increased in the 70s and 80s with the onslaught of terror. Today, Midyat is home to 60 Syrian families. The traces of Midyat’s multi-cultural structure can be seen throughout history. Its name comes from ‘Matiate’, according to Assyrian tablets of 9 B.C., meaning ‘City Left The Monastery of St. Gabriel is the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monastery in the world. Right The Kasımiye Madrasah owns a façade opening up to Mesopotamia and is one of Mardin’s biggest structures. Issue 3 AIDA Vatican is to Christian Catholics. Built in the 5th Century after Christ, the Deyrulzafaran Monastery was the residence of the Syrian Orthodox patriarchs for 640 years, up until 1932. The monastery stands in its full glory on a hillside overlooking the Mardin Meadow, 4 km east from Mardin. Originally composed of three floors, the monastery was continually transformed into its present state up to the 18th Century. It was built over a complex, which in B.C. was used as a temple to worship the sun, and later as a castle by the Romans. When the Romans retrieved from the area, St. Şleymun brought the bones of certain saints and turned the castle into a monastery. It used to be known as the Mor Şleymun Monastery. After the 15th Century, the monastery was renamed Deyrulzafaran due to the ‘zafaran’ (saffron) herb that grew in its environment. With its domes, cambered pillars, wooden handworks and interior and exterior stone works, Deyrulzafaran is a tremendous structure. The monastery is an important religious center of the Syrian Church, and has pilgrims from all over the world coming to pray. Its most esoteric part is its oldest section, the temple of the sun. This place Below Diversity in Mardin Mardin is called the city of seven languages and seven religions. Today Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Yezidi and Syrian Christians live friendly in Mardin. Right The Kasimiye Madrasah was completed around 1500 by Sultan Kasim of Aq Qoyunlus’. The complex comprises of a madrasah, a mosque and tombs. Facing page Deyrulzaffaran Monastery includes the Sun Temple, the Virgin Mary Church, the Saints’ House and the Domed Church. AIDA Issue 3 was built with blocks of stone, some of them weighing tons, meticulously placed on top of each other, without mortar. It is complete balancing act. Going up to the terrace of domes, you come face to face with the vast panorama of Mesopotamia. KASIMİYE MADRASAH This is one of the most important destinations in Mardin. Situated in the southwest of the city, the madrasah owns a façade opening up to Mesopotamia, and is one of Mardin’s biggest structures. It is composed of a mosque and a hermitage. Though there is no inscription, it is believed that the construction began in the Artukian era, and completed in the Akkoyun era by Sultan Kasım, between 1487-1502. The madrasah is a two-floor building, has an open courtyard and was built in accordance to a scheme of one or two iwans (vaulted rooms with one side open to a court, typical of Mardinian structures), using both hewn stone and brick. The pool in the main courtyard with an iwan over it has an enormous cooling as well as calming effect, with the tingling sound of its flowing water. ALONG WITH JERUSALEM AND VENICE, MARDIN IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S ‘THREE OPEN CITY MUSEUMS’. Issue 3 AIDA Istanbul, my love, let me kiss you on your neck These are the words to a song Istanbulites know very well, for it is difficult to resist the city’s elegance, sexiness, and seductiveness… With new restaurants and clubs opening, Istanbul is becoming more and more attractive. Here is a selection of Istanbul venues to tickle the senses… A Port Restaurant Open for lunch and dinner, Karaköy Restaurant runs in the tradition of the Istanbul taverna or ‘meyhane’ culture. Removed from the craze and fuss of Beyoğlu, this is a great little nook for deep conversation, celebration and comradeship; a place where raki is drunk for happy purposes. The pot dishes served at lunch revive the artisan’s luncheon tradition, while a selection of tasty mezes tease the appetite in the evening, preparing the way for a filling fish meal. The turquoise ceramics used in the décor complement the friendly atmosphere. AIDA Issue 3 A Modern ‘Meyhane’ With its distinguished dishes like Çerkez (Circassian) chicken puree with duck and mint fava (mashed broad beans), mullet with sesame paste and baby octopus, village bread from Akhisar and butter with anchovies, this is a restaurant in tune with its name, ‘Münferit’, meaning ‘singular’. Münferit has added a new touch, a new understanding to Istanbul’s bistro culture. Beginning with a ginger or strawberry cocktail at the bar, you can seduce your appetite with mussels in vinegar steam, tarator, marinated seabass or cold lamb in rice dough; grilled shrimps with hummus served on warm plates; porcini mushrooms and white cheese baked with truffle oil; goosefish with corn cream; black couscous with mussels; seabass with sand mussels; spareribs well done; cheek of veal with barley noodles. This restaurant promises quite a feast. DISCOVER THE SUBTLETIES OF TURKISH CUISINE IN THE MOST COVETED SPOTS OF İSTANBUL Modern renditions in Turkish cuisine The Istanbul Foundation for Art and Culture, with a 37 year history within the arts scene of Istanbul, houses ‘X Restaurant’ on the top floor of its 100 year-old building. This Art Nouveau building embraces a spectacular view of the legendary Golden Horn. Run by the managers of Istanbul’s iconic restaurants Borsa and Masa, this fine-dining house has marked its place among the finest of the city, with its modern renditions of Turkish cuisine. On the first floor of the building is the arts venue ‘Salon’, where all kinds of performances from jazz and alternative music to theatre take place. This floor also boasts a gift shop, especially attractive for art and design buffs. The building invites you for a night of fine dining and class entertainment. Issue 3 AIDA IN LOVE WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN The Gloria Hotel&Resorts on the shores of Antalya guarantee a holiday to remember. Falling in love with the Mediterranean is something else. The palm trees, the pines, the scent of oranges… The blues, the greens, the skies and the fragrances are quite matchless… Love and adventure make up this paradise. The Gloria Hotel&Resorts is the perfect place to spend a week with your kids. The Gloria Hotel&Resorts has something in store for each family member… While parents flirt with the turquoise sea amidst all tones of green, their kids lose themselves in the adventures of the kids’ world. At Gloria, the day begins with the song of birds. After the first night in the modern family villas, you may call the professional trainers to pick up your kids and take them to the mini club. Your children will be delighted by this opportunity and find themselves in the throes of a weeklong adventure. This leaves you free to jump in the pool in front of your villa, without a care in the world, breathing in the beauties of the Mediterranean. 72 AIDA Issue 3 With the healing power of the water still on your skin, you are now ready for an invigorating breakfast. Instead of lining up for the open buffet, you can have your breakfast brought to your room, and feast on the unique tastes of the Mediterranean and the Aegean. After breakfast it is time to move to your own private pavilion on the shore, which you can rent. Feel all stress and tiredness leaving you as you nibble on fresh fruit and sip on a drink of your choice, lying on your pavilion, the vast panorama of the Mediterranean reaching out before you. Enjoy getting together with the kids for lunch in the main restaurant. Listen to their day’s adventures as you compose your food tray with an array of delights from the buffet. Let the Spa take you to a realm of calm and peace, where the full body treatments will make you feel as though you are reborn, and prepare you for the evening. Designed with themes of the Far East, the Spa has much to offer in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. After leaving the Spa, put on your chic summer outfit and let the seaside invite you to take an appetizer, and the crimson of the setting sun take your breath away. Your cocktail and the music will accompany you at this magical hour. Now for the finale: Aegean cuisine, with its selection of olive oil dishes, Aegean herbs, meze and fish, is a treat to have in the Mediterranean. The night has started, and by the end of it, you will most probably feel like an ancient Greek god or goddess. While the kids dance the night away in the Mini Disco, you’ll be asking yourself why you choose Gloria for your holidays every summer… The answer is simple: the best days are spent here in the Mediterranean, at Gloria… Issue 3 AIDA İSTANBUL HOTELS FOUR SEASONS HOTEL İSTANBUL AT THE BOSPHORUS B eside the shimmering strait, a landmark 19th century Ottoman palace is reinvented as Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus. Rising on the European side of the waterway, the Hotel’s unfolding panorama takes in the busy watery highway to the green hills on Istanbul’s Asian shores, and the domes and minarets of the Old City. Within easy distance of designer stores and avant-garde galleries, Four Seasons is splendidly placed for exploring the opulent palaces and waterfront parks of Upper Bosphorus. 74 AIDA Issue 3 FOUR SEASONS HOTEL İSTANBUL AT SULTANAHMET S urrounded by the meandering alleys of Istanbul’s historic core, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet has been created from a century old neo-classic Turkish prison. Set around a tranquil sunny courtyard, Four Seasons has fashioned an intimate and rare treasure house of astonishing beauty the ochre-tinted stonework, faience tiles, artwork and antiques, tapestries and kilims proudly proclaiming its Ottoman heritage. One of the most perfectly located hotels in the entire city, Four Seasons is within easy walking distance from most of the main sights including the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace. Issue 3 AIDA 75 İSTANBUL HOTELS THE RITZ-CARLTON İSTANBUL L ocated on the shores of the Bosphorus on the European side commanding fabulous views of the mighty Bosphorus, The Blue Mosque and the ancient Saint Sophia, The RitzCarlton, Istanbul is a practice in culture, hospitality and luxury. Featuring exceptional renovated accommodations, world-class cuisine, a nurturing spa and impeccable service, this Istanbul luxury hotel’s amenities and services provide an unforgettable retreat in the heart of one of the world’s most fascinating and inspiring cities . 76 AIDA Issue 3 ÇIRAĞAN PALACE KEMPINSKI İSTANBUL W ith its splendid style, superb location, fascinating view and its resort ambiance complemented by a spacious green garden with palm trees, the only Imperial Palace and Hotel by the Bosphorus in Turkey, Ç›ra€an Palace Kempinski offers 11 suites in the historical Palace including the glorious Sultan Suite along with 302 guest rooms including 20 suites in the hotel. Being the 2nd largest suite in Europe 376 square meters Sultan Suite combines the best of today’s modernism with classical Ottoman architecture to recreate the splendour of the Issue 3 AIDA 77 W HOTEL W İstanbul is the first expansion of the W Brand and culture in Europe. Istanbul is selected for this mission for being one of the unique hubs of the nostalgic and elegant old continent where - compared to rest of the region - Eastern flavors are also mixed and matched with European Hip Trends. It is basically the New Yorker Style, European Trend Setters Gusto and somehow the Asian/ Middle Eastern Sacred Hospitality crossed each other in a unique ambiance. The very street the hotel is located is even a reinvigorated Ottoman Style High End Residential Area, reconfigured into a fabulous shopping and dining district where W Istanbul is the leading center point. W in Istanbul represents high society gatherings, latest fashion, “now”, beauty and sparkle and most importantly great five star value proposition with a great twist in town. 78 AIDA Issue 3 ÇEŞME HOTELS RADISSON BLU T he inviting Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Çeşme is the perfect destination for satisfying body and soul. Elegant and modern throughout, the resort boasts 312 guest rooms including 42 large Senior and Junior Suites, 2 King Suites and 4 luxury duplex villas. The Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Cesme boasts one the most impressive meetings and events facilities in Cesme. This resort hotel offers five stylish meeting rooms that range in size from 81 m2 to 100 m2. For larger events, the hotel also offers the Cesme Ballroom, a 600 m2 space. In addition, the stylish Blue Restaurant & Terrace, and the Wedding Platform with stunning views, are both wonderful choices for events with a difference. Issue 3 AIDA 79 BODRUM HOTELS KEMPINSKI HOTEL BARBAROS BAY BODRUM L etting time stand still, escaping to be pampered in a place where the blue of the Aegean and the cobalt sky merge seamlessly into infinity, that’s a luxury not everyone gets to experience… At the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay, we bring you an oasis of serenity, kissed by the pure sea and caressed by the gentle breeze, where you can luxuriate in the world renowned Six Senses Spa, lose yourself in daydreams on our private beach, or discover 3,000 years of history that feels like yesterday. Don’t ask why, just ask when… And discover the luxury of making time stand still. 80 AIDA Issue 3 RIXOS BODRUM O n Milas – Bodrum highway, built on a 187.000 sq m. field surrounded by pine trees, in a charming atmosphere, Rixos Premium Bodrum is located on the most precious area of Bodrum Peninsula, Zeytinlikahve Bay, covered with Mediterranean Turkish Pine union and with scrubs of the same union. Issue 3 AIDA 81 FETHİYE HOTELS HILLSIDE BEACH CLUB H illside Beach Club, the holiday village at Fethiye on the Mediterranean coast, with 330 rooms and 781 bed capacities. It is a worldwide, first class resort, which realizes the “nature and fun in style” concept. It is a unique holiday club set on a private bay designed amid pine trees respecting nature and environment, where one may find not only a peaceful atmosphere, clear blue crystal water and the “sunny side of life”, but also a unique combination of warmth, enthusiasm and hospitality. Besides the festival of delicious top quality food and beverage all day long, Hillside Beach Club offers the guests innovative opportunities for a different vacation experience to enrich him/herself and to learn something new. The guests have the chance to have a lazy or crazy day according to their preferences. They can experience a variety of superior rituals by experienced therapists to attain wellness, beauty and health in relaxed and peaceful settings of Sanda Spa and Sanda Nature Spa or they can enjoy the stylish ambiance with amazing entertainment. 82 AIDA Issue 3 ANTALYA HOTELS CALISTA LUXURY RESORT C alista hotel is named after a Goddess in Mythology, a young woman of rare beauty. For its exacting guests hotel Calista Luxury Resort offers unique concept with VIP «A’la Carte All Inclusive». Luxury Rooms and exclusive Villas have been specially designed for a secluded holiday experience. Located in Antalya, Belek, Calista Luxury Resort is waiting for you, with it’s culture of service perfection. Issue 3 AIDA 83 ANTALYA HOTELS MARDAN PALACE T he Mardan Palace Antalya marks a long return to the days of experiential luxury, paying homage to the elegance of an enchanting past. An awe inspiring world where the royal splendour of illustrious empires meets today’s modern luxuries. A sense of place recreating the extraordinary palatial architecture of ancient ottoman days combined with a great passion for service and quality are the prime ingredients to tailor make oriental fairytales. 84 AIDA Issue 3 RIXOS TEKIROVA T he hotel is located on a territory of 95.000 sq. m in the resort area of Tekirova where the blue waters of the sea merge with emerald greenery of pine forest at the bottom of Taurus mountains. The distance from Tekirova shopping center - 10 minutes walking, 15 minutes drive to Kemer tourist center and 73 km to the Antalya airport. Issue 3 AIDA 85 ANTALYA HOTELS RIXOS PREMIUM R ixos Hotel Premium Belek is situated in charming pine and pine nut trees forest alongside Mediterranean Sea in Belek, the area mostly known as Turkish Riviera. The Hotel has uninterrupted 1000 meter long, 100 meter wide private beach. Rixos Hotel Premium Belek is 50 km away from Antalya city center and 40 km away from Antalya International Airport. 86 AIDA Issue 3 RIXOS SUNGATE R ixos Sungate presents a perfect combination of nature, comfort and relaxation all year round. Rixos Sungate has different types of A’la carte restaurants offering delicate dishes of Turkish, Far Eastern, French, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Russian, and Lebanese cuisines, bars and places of entertainment Rixos Sungate reveals its 720m long golden sand beaches by the Mediterranean sea as well as refreshing swimming pools, a Marina, two ports, fashionable boutiques and fine jewellery shops combined with luxurious accommodation options in exclusive design and attentive personal to look after our guests’ comfort and wellbeing. Issue 3 AIDA 87 ANTALYA HOTELS GLORIA VERDE RESORT G loria Verde Resort is located on a stunning beachfront and surrounded by a fragrant pine forest. The hotel, which is connected to Gloria Serenity Resort, Gloria Golf Resort and Gloria Golf Club by a picturesque walkway, embraces 293 stunning rooms and vast SPA complexes. Gloria Verde Resort guests also have the privilege of using the courses of Gloria Golf Club, the only 45-hole course in a region described as Mediterranean Riviera, including two 18-hole championships courses and a 9-hole academic course designed by eminent architect Michel Gayon and preferred by both professional and amateur golfers. 88 AIDA Issue 3 GLORIA GOLF RESORT G loria Golf Resort offers an excellent base with its 515 rooms to explore the beauties of the Mediterranean Sea and golf sport at an utmost service quality. Situated in Belek, Antalya in the midst of pine forests and at the seaside along Acisu River, in a region which embodies all natural beauties of the Mediterranean, Gloria Golf Resort offers easy access to golf greens, exquisite beaches, spa and thalasso centers, a fabulous aquapark and, conference and entertainment facilities... Restaurants with delicious examples of international cuisine... The healthiest of air... The cleanest of seas in all shades of blue... You will find all of these in the heavenly atmosphere of Gloria Golf Resort… Gloria Golf Resort welcomes its most valuable guests, the children, at ‘Gogi Kids Club’ catering to all age groups with unique play and entertainment opportunities. Issue 3 AIDA 89 ANTALYA HOTELS GLORIA SERENITY RESORT T he latest addition to the renowned Gloria Hotels & Resorts, Gloria Serenity Resort is an ultra-luxurious resort boasting 369 rooms, a pristine beach, a modern styling, exclusive restaurants, sophisticated shows, relaxing SPA’s and a challenging golf course. Being a short distance away from Gloria Golf Club, the only 45-hole course which is the largest in Turkey, including two 18-hole championships courses and a 9-hole academic course designed by eminent architect Michel Gayon, Gloria Serenity Resort allows its guests indulge their passion for golf within a unique resort. 90 AIDA Issue 3 LYKIA WORLD ANTALYA L ykia World Antalya is beautifully located between the Mediterranean on one side, lush green forests and the Taurus mountains on the other. It offers a unique scene where blue and green become one; one step away, you enjoy historical places and archaeological sites that are well worth visiting. Lykia World Antalya comes you with a beach of 2.5 km. the very first and the only links golf course on the shores of the Mediterranean; it also offers a hotel providing comfort, luxury and excitement amid Turkey’s finest architecture and natural surroundings. Issue 3 AIDA 91 ANTALYA HOTELS KEMPINSKI THE DOME S et in an area of natural beauty also known as the Turkish Riviera, Kempinski Hotel The Dome is located directly on the beach in only 20 minutes from the international airport of Antalya. Luxuriously appointed guest accommodation units includes 18 villas with private pools located on the golf courses. Hotel guests can enjoy the privilege of access with the best tee times to Antalya Golf Club’s “The Pasha” and “The PGA Sultan” course, which is the only PGA golf course in Turkey. The Dome Spa is a true oasis of relaxation. Spread over 3,600 sqm, The Dome Spa offers facial, body and Thalasso treatments as well as a variety of saunas, a heated indoor swimming pool and a genuine Turkish Hamam in exclusive, refined settings. 92 AIDA Issue 3 CAPPADOCIA HOTELS MUSEUM HOTEL CAPPADOCIA T he Museum Hotel, established in a beautiful area of Uchisar, was came into existence after the restoration of old ruins, paying utmost attention to the preservation of their originality. Due to its unique location all the rooms, restaurant and terraces overlook the unique panorama of Cappadocia. The Museum Hotel which has aimed to serve its distinguished guests in the best way is the sole preference of the majority of prominent guests visiting Cappadocia. Issue 3 AIDA 93 CAPPADOCIA HOTELS CAPPADOCIA CAVE RESORT & SPA T he only spa hotel in the region with cave therapy rooms, overlooking to beautiful Red Valley with uninterrupt panorama offering great sunrise and sunset complemented by its guests to be charming, luxurious and amazing. Sleeping in thousands of years old caves, rock cut rooms bringing old settlements of village alive. Cappadocia Cave Resort & SPA offers you an irresistible escape to visit Cappadocia. For its extraordinary geographical landscape, its rich history and culture, this region now provides you boutique service thanks to CCR Hotels & SPA. Among the boutique hotels in the region, CCR Hotels & Spa exhibits its difference with its 79 rooms, 2 meeting rooms, 2 swimming rooms ( indoor and outdoor), 3 restaurants, 4 bars and Leea Spa serving in 1500 m2 closed area. CCR Hotels & Spa aims to exceed your expectations in every way for an endless memory. Because you deserve the best. 94 AIDA Issue 3 Issue 3 AIDA AIDA Issue 3 AIDA PLATINUM CARD Enjoy your exclusive privileges at the most luxury addresses AIDA The best is just good enough