Gallipoli Peninsula

Gallipoli Peninsula

Destinations:

Istanbul
     Topkapi Palace
Ankara
Cappodocia
Konya
Aspendos
Perge
Antalya
Pamukkale
Ephesus
Aphrodisias
Kusadasi
Pergamum
Troy
Canakkale
Gallipoli

Today, the Gallipoli battlefields are peaceful places covered in scrubby brush, pine forests and farmers' fields, but this strategic peninsula has held the key to Istanbul for a millennium. Momentous battles have been fought here, including the 9 months of ferocious combat between Atatürk's troops and the Allies in WWI. Gallipoli is a fairly large area to tour, it's over 35 km (22mi) from the northernmost battlefield to the southern tip of the peninsula. The great battles of Gallipoli are commemorated each year during March (usually from the 12th to 19th). We visited ANZAC beach were many of the troops landed.

We visited a great museum which had donated letters from the soldiers that fought the battles. Many interesting items found on the battlefields were also displayed. There are many memorials on the battlefield.

To get to the Gallipoli Peninsula, ferry boats run from Çanakkale across the Daranelles (about 45 km) to Eceabat on the peninsula. This is how we arrived on the peninsula.

This was the last place to explore before we returned to Istanbul.

Click on a picture to enlarge.