The blue waters that caress Turkey's western coastline have given their name to the entire region, known as the Aegean. These lands were once home to many great civilizations, empires and states, out of which sprung some of the world's finest mathematicians, scientists, architects and sculptors.

The mountains of the Aegean drop vertically into the sea, crossing fertile plains and ensuring a temperate climate. The people who once lived here were mostly engaged in agriculture and commerce through which they achieved a certain prosperity. They built beautiful cities and monuments and developed new techniques of both farming and construction. A visitor wandering through the ruins of the region today, spread like an open-air museum, can sense how this land was once a cradle of civilizations, inspiring admiration and fascination throughout the ages. Indeed, the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey encompass the world's richest collection of ancient ruins and monuments. The people who live in the region today, now the second most developed area of Turkey, continue to be blessed by nature. The inland cities have also experienced a remarkable growth in recent years.