Past to Present 🇹🇷 🇪🇺
From Anatolia to the
Ottoman Empire &
POSEIDON 🔱
A City Break in Istanbul 🇹🇷
From Asia to Europe 🇪🇺
Explore the lost world of Old Europe and modern-day Kuşadası — where history meets the sea — and discover Istanbul through a city break to the Tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent 🇹🇷
The Mediterranean Trade
Amphorae: the term amphora comes from the Greek words “amphi” (meaning two-sided) and “phoros” (meaning portable). Together, they describe a vessel designed to be carried by its two handles. Since the 2nd millennium BC, amphorae played a vital role in Mediterranean trade. They were used to transport a wide variety of goods, including almonds, #oliveoil, dried figs, barley, cereals and #wine. The shape of an amphora often depended on both its contents and regional traditions. Their design offered practical advantages: amphorae took up minimal space, stacked efficiently, and created a stable cargo structure—ideal for withstanding stormy seas and preventing cargo from tipping.
AMPHORA STAMPS
Many amphorae used for transporting goods carried a stamp, usually placed on the neck, rim, or handles before firing. These stamps served multiple purposes: workshop Identification – the stamp indicated the workshop where the amphora was produced, functioning as a kind of #brand. Quality Assurance – It certified that the amphora had been inspected and met the required standards of volume and quality. Symbols and Emblems – Alongside the name or monogram of the manufacturer, regional symbols were often included. For example, Rhodes used the rose emblem as its civic symbol. Wine Information – stamps could note the age of high-quality wines or the expiry date of cheaper varieties. Customs and Trade – Officials used stamps to enforce customs duties. Stoppers were sometimes stamped for the same purpose. Additional Markings – The Romans also painted information labels on amphorae to ensure the contents could be easily identified.
Barbarosa Hayrettin Paşa 🇹🇷
One of history’s greatest admirals ⚓
16th Century – The Legend of Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa. The Ottoman Empire’s seas were safeguarded by one of history’s greatest admirals—Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa. His unmatched naval strategies secured dominance across the Mediterranean, carving his name into maritime history.
Modern Kuşadası – A Monument to Greatness.
Centuries later, his legacy stands tall in the heart of Kuşadası. The Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa Monument rises proudly, a powerful reminder of Turkey’s rich naval heritage First impressions, approaching the monument. Visitors are greeted by the heroic stance of the admiral, his figure cast in striking detail. The statue’s craftsmanship reflects both strength and reverence, evoking admiration from all who come near. A Serene Setting – nature meets history. Surrounded by lush greenery and overlooking the vast Aegean Sea, the monument offers more than history—it provides peace. Panoramic views stretch across the horizon, making it a perfect place for reflections.
A Traveler’s Memory – capturing the Moment. The sea’s shimmering blue forms a breathtaking backdrop, turning every photo into a timeless keepsake. Here, the blend of natural beauty and cultural pride shines brightest. Kuşadası Today – where history meets the sea. Walking through this coastal town, the monument becomes more than stone—it is a living story. It reminds every visitor that the past still echoes in the waves of the Aegean, inspiring awe and respect 🇹🇷
POSEIDON ⚓
Swim in Zeus’ Cave 🔱 Myths of Ancient Pelasgians Aphrodite & Poseidon at Milli Parc Güzelçamlı. National Park of Dilek, the natural reserve, felt like a passage through time 🔱 from the mysterious Pelasgians to the myths of Zeus, Poseidon, and the enchanting Aphrodite — culminating in a mythical swim in the sacred Cave of Zeus, where springs of life and legend still flow.
Springs are formed when groundwater naturally reaches the surface of the Earth. There are four main types of springs. One of these is called a karstic spring, which occurs when groundwater, in the presence of calcareous structures, erodes limestone and rises to the surface. When caves that serve as groundwater beds collapse, depressions known as potholes form in karst terrains. Within the borders of the Büyük Menderes Delta on the Dilek Peninsula, the Cave of Zeus is one such pothole.
Over time, many stories have been told about the cave and its surroundings. The cave is called “Zeus” perhaps because of legends that Zeus, the god of the sky, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, once bathed in its waters. When you step into the cave, you immediately feel that it deserves its name, as if you had glimpsed the mighty face of Zeus himself. The cave’s pool, about 10–15 meters deep, is formed by a mix of seawater and fresh water from the mountains. This blend gives the blue-green waters a unique, mineral-rich character.
According to myth, Zeus used to retreat here to rest and cleanse himself while waiting for his brother Poseidon—who could stir the sea into chaos with his trident—to calm down. Today, residents of Güzelçamlı and tourists alike swim in the cave, just as Zeus once did, and enjoy the refreshing air on days when the sea is rough and the weather unfavorable.
The tomb of
Suleiman 🇹🇷
As your footsteps echo through the solemn corridors of the Süleymaniye Mosque, standing before the tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent — the Sultan who once ruled continents — you begin to grasp the sheer scale of heritage carried forward by empires, amphora by amphora, story by story.
This legacy flows not only through Istanbul’s grand domes and maritime routes, but resurfaces today in the Carpathians, where the “First Farmers of the World” gather once more — not to conquer, but to reconnect.
Join us this October in Craiova, as we uncork the amphorae of ancestral knowledge and taste 🏺 the future of MICE DMC industry 🇹🇷 Anatolia Çatalhöyük The World’s First Farmers 🇷🇴