Victory Day, Ataturk Square, Antalya. A bit like a well-behaved rave with a lot of flags and a rousing soundtrack of what I can only presume is the Asian equivalent of “uplifting trance”. All sounded a bit Russian to me.
Still, if there’s one thing strikes you immediately about Turkey, it’s the prevalence of the national flag (it’s everywhere) and the sense of pride and reverence the Turks have for both country and Ataturk (seminal leader widely regarded as the father of modern-day Turkey).
History bit . . . Victory Day (Armed Forces Day – yesterday) celebrates the final battle against the Greeks in 1922. After this, the remaining invading forces were repelled from Turkey and the liberated territories thereafter joined to form the modern republic – all under Ataturk’s direction. Interesting stuff – though I guess that rather depends on whether you find this kind of stuff “interesting” right enough.
Read more on this link
Check out more summer guides and winter guides on the iRide website or take a look at these other Antalya attractions
Guide to the Antalya Museum
Guide to the Tunektepe gondola
Guide to the Olympos gondola
You may also be interested in reading about how Ataturk shaped modern Turkey or find out more about his mausoleum in Ankara in this guide to Ataturk’s Anitkabir.
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