Çanakkale is a historically significant province straddling the Dardanelles strait in northwestern Turkey, world-renowned as the site of the ancient city of Troy and the Gallipoli battlefields. Its charming city center, Aegean coastline, and position as guardian of one of history's most strategic waterways make it a compelling destination for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Çanakkale.
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1
Troy I — first settlement at Hisarlik hill; Bronze Age fortification
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2
Troy II — wealthy city destroyed by fire; Schliemann controversially identified this as Homer's Troy
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3
Troy VI/VIIa — the most likely candidate for Homer's Troy; destroyed around 1184 BCE
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4
Persian King Xerxes crosses the Dardanelles at Abydos (near Çanakkale) during Persian invasion of Greece
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5
Alexander the Great crosses the Dardanelles to begin his conquest of the Persian Empire
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6
Aristotle arrives in Assos; teaches philosophy under the patronage of Hermias; later marries his niece Pythias
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7
Roman Emperor Augustus rebuilds Troy as a symbolic gesture to Rome's legendary Trojan ancestry
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8
Ottoman forces cross the Dardanelles for the first time, beginning Ottoman expansion into Europe
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9
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II controls the Dardanelles, cutting Byzantine Constantinople's supply lines before the city falls
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10
Heinrich Schliemann conducts controversial excavations at Hisarlik, identifying it as Homer's Troy
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11
Allied naval fleet fails to force the Dardanelles — three battleships sunk; the failed naval assault triggers the Gallipoli land campaign
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12
Gallipoli Campaign — ANZAC, British, French and Ottoman forces fight for the Gallipoli Peninsula; over 130,000 killed, Allied forces evacuate
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13
Troy added to UNESCO World Heritage Site list
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14
Çanakkale Museum of Troy opens — state-of-the-art museum with Schliemann's original finds
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15
Çanakkale-1915 Bridge inaugurated as world's longest suspension bridge (span: 2,023m)
Historical sites
Places where Çanakkale's past comes alive.
Ancient City of Troy (Truva)
Where: Tevfikiye, Çanakkale Province
Admission: Adult: TRY 400 / ~$12 | Child: Free under 12
Çanakkale Museum of Troy (Troya Müzesi)
Where: Tevfikiye, adjacent to Troy ruins
Admission: Adult: TRY 350 / ~$10 | Child: Free under 12
Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park
Where: Gallipoli Peninsula, Eceabat side
Admission: Adult: Free (all outdoor sites); Kabatepe Museum TRY 80 / ~$2.30 | Child: Free
Çimenlik Castle and Military Museum
Where: Çanakkale City Center Waterfront
Admission: Adult: TRY 100 / ~$3 | Child: TRY 50 / ~$1.50
Assos Ancient City (Behramkale)
Where: Behramkale, Ayvacık District
Admission: Adult: TRY 200 / ~$6 | Child: Free under 12
Alexandria Troas
Where: Dalyan, Ezine District
Admission: Adult: Free (informal entry) | Child: Free
Kabatepe Museum (Gallipoli)
Where: Kabatepe, Gallipoli Peninsula
Admission: Adult: TRY 80 / ~$2.30 | Child: TRY 40 / ~$1.15
Çanakkale Archaeological Museum
Where: Çanakkale City Center
Admission: Adult: TRY 120 / ~$3.50 | Child: Free under 12