Canakkale, Turkey. Kilitbahir Fortress and Canakkale Sea

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Çanakkale

If you thought Çanakkale was worth visiting only as a launching point for Gallipoli's battlefields, think again. The presence of the highly regarded Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University endows this small city with a sizeable student population that loves nothing more than to eat, drink and party in the atmospheric cobbled lanes around the saat kulesi (clock tower; 1897) and along the sweeping kordon (waterfront promenade). Joining their revelries is a highlight of any visit.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Dardanelles Straits Naval Command Museum

    Dardanelles Straits Naval Command Museum

    Çanakkale

    At the southern end of the kordon (waterfront promenade), a park lies dotted with guns, cannons and military artefacts. Near the park entrance is this…

  • Çanakkale'nin Evlatları

    Çanakkale'nin Evlatları

    Çanakkale

    Located right on Çanakkale's waterfront, this compact installation combines black and white battle footage and contemporary interviews to tell the story…

  • Kent Müzesi

    Kent Müzesi

    Çanakkale

    The lives of Çanakkale's residents since Ottoman times are the focus of this small museum, which has drawn on oral histories for the content of many of…

  • Çimenlik Kalesi

    Çimenlik Kalesi

    Çanakkale

    This compact castle was built by order of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452, and is now a small military museum containing exhibits on the Gallipoli battles…

  • Nusrat Mine-Layer

    Nusrat Mine-Layer

    Çanakkale

    Board the replica of the Nusrat mine-layer, which played a significant role in the Çanakkale Naval Victory. Admission is included in the ticket for the…

  • Trojan Horse

    Trojan Horse

    Çanakkale

    Wolfgang Petersen's 2004 movie Troy had a big impact on the Çanakkale region, including boosting visitor numbers to the archaeological site and endowing…

  • Korfmann Library

    Korfmann Library

    Çanakkale

    Housed in a 19th-century former school in the old town, this library opposite the Tıflı Camii was the bequest of the late Manfred Osman Korfmann (1945…

  • Clock Tower

    Clock Tower

    Çanakkale

    The five-storey Ottoman saat kulesi (clock tower) near the harbour was built in 1897. It was paid for by an Italian consul and Çanakkale merchant who left…

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