SHOPPING

Turkey is a fun place to shop, but where to begin? These pages will give you an overview of where to shop as well as listings of shop owners. Do you have a favorite place to shop? E-mail us and let us know about it!

Carpets

Turkish carpets are more than just floor covering. For a historical view of this art form, please visit http://www.turkishculture.org/tapestry/anatolian_carpets.html

ISTANBUL

Firat Trading

Address: Peykhane Cad, Asmall Cesme Sok, Hurriyet Han No.6, Sultanhamet-ISTANBUL Phone: 90-212-638-1487 Fax: 90-212-638-7659 Are you looking for that special kilim, sumak or carpet? We have a good selection of new and antique handmade rugs from Turkey, Eastern Europe, Persia and other Asian countries. Our small shop serves customers from all over the world. We buy, sell, trade and do repairs. We are in Sultanhamet next to the Turkoman Hotel. We look forward to your visit! Fatih Firat - owner.

Valide Collection

Address: 55 Ticarethane Sokak

Sultanahmet Istanbul, Turkey 34410

Phone: 90-212-527-2522 90-212-527-6436

Fax: 90-212-512-5783

E-Mail: info@valide.com

For those looking for high quality, naturally-dyed wool carpets Michele Cok (formerly of South Carolina) and her husband, Recep, welcome you to their home. Here you’ll find rugs woven by woman in rural Turkey especially for the Valide Collection. These women carry on a thousand year tradition long recognized for its artistry and quality. Visits to the Valide Collection are by appointment only. A special gift awaits those who decide to make a purchase.

SELCUK

Solomans Carpets

Address: Ataturk Mah, 1054 Sok No2, Selcuk, Izmir, Turkey

Phone: 90-232-892-2966

Fax: 90-212-891-4981

E-mail: solomanscarpet@usa.net

Selcuk is one of the travellers most special stop off points in Turkey so why not make it even more special by taking a look at Solomans Carpets. They offer carpets and kilims from all over Turkey at special backpacker's prices, which make your purchase affordable and memorable. You don't even have to carry them as they ship door to door. Take a look at their website for more information.
For more information on shopping in Istanbul, please visit Focus on the World Magazine On-line at http://www.focus.mm.com/istshop.htm.

TRAVEL TURKEY STORE

You will add enjoyment to your journey by knowing and understanding more about Turkey. With that in mind, Travel Turkey is proud to annouce the opening of its on-line store in affilliation with Amazon.com.

You will add enjoyment to your journey by knowing and understanding more about Turkey. With that in mind, Travel Turkey is proud to annouce the opening of its on-line store in affilliation with Amazon.com.

Books
You can purchase any of these books directly from our pages by following the links to Amazon.com. Here's our short list of suggested reading:
A Traveler's History of Turkey by Richard Stoneman ISBN 1566562090 Stoneman’s book is a MUST for tourists and travelers alike.

This slim volume covers 5,000 years of Turkish history and will give you an even better appreciation of this unique country that sits between East and West. It’s an “easy” read and well-organized. One caveat: Read it before you go!

Classical Turkey: An Architectural Guide for Travelers by John Freely ISBN 0887017298 You needn’t be a student of architecture to find this book useful for planning what ancient sites you want to see while in Turkey. If you’re planning to visit Ephesus (Efes) without a tour guide, then the maps, the explanations of the site, and its history are worth the purchase of the book alone. On other sites, the book provides sketches and photos that help you envision what the lumps of dirt you’re looking at once were! For architecture novices there is a handy glossary of common terms.

The Companion Guide to Turkey by John Freely ISBN 1900639122 Another useful tome on Turkey by author of Classical Turkey.

A Fez of the Heart by Jeremy Seal ISBN: 0-15-600393-7 Jeremy Seal lived and traveled throughout Turkey. It’s difficult to say if you’ll enjoy reading it before or after you leave home. It offers a British perspective on the Turkish experience with the added benefit of being well written.

Op Center: Acts of War by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik ISBN: 0-425-15601-X Tom Clancy is best known for his novels that have been made into movies: Patriot Games, Russia House and the Hunt for Red October. His Op Center books have his trademark of military details and history. Visitors to Turkey will enjoy this thriller that takes place in, well, Turkey. The early pages of the book provide a nice overview of Turkish history in this century. Beyond that it will give you some insight of the geopolitical significance of Turkey in the Middle East and U.S. interests there. It’s a nice book to read on the plane and then either swap or sell once you’re in Turkey!

Lycian Turkey by George E. Bean ISBN 0393057089 Although George Bean wrote this guide nearly 50 years ago, it’s still an important book for those interested in finding and visiting the old Lycian, Roman and Greek ruins that Turkey is world famous for. Many of his books are out of print, but I found Lycian Turkey in the bookshop at the British Museum (London). Aegean Turkey is also an important book. You best bet would be to try your local library.

The Histories by Herodotus There are many translations of The Histories. My favorite is by Aubrey De Selinco. Herodotus is considered the “grandfather” of written history. He was born in what is now the resort town of Bodrum nearly 3,000 years ago. He wrote about ancient Greek history and especially about the Persian Wars. As you take your Bosphorus boat trip, you’ll have a better idea of the history that happened on its banks. If you’re interested in the Greek history that transpired on what is now Turkey then you will find this delightful reading.

The World of Herodotus by Aubrey De Selinco ISBN 0965470707 Mr. de Selinco’s love and admiration for the ancient Greeks is contagious. He writes about the Greek world in Herodotus’s time and shares his insights with readers.

It’s scholarly, but written for those who simply have an interest or curiosity about the ancient Greeks.

Herodotus: And the Explorers of the Classical Age by Ann Gaines ISBN 079101293X A beautifully illustrated children's book.