History buffs will rejoice in Çanakkale. Located on the southern shore at the narrowest point in the Dardanelles Strait, Çanakkale was a major point in the defense of the Dardanelles from the time of the mythological Trojan War. A gateway to both Troy and battlefields of Gallipoli, travelers have plenty of compelling options for exploration here. In town, top choices include Çimenlik Castle and the accompanying naval museum and photo opportunities with the Trojan Horse statue used in the movie Troy. For epicureans, there is a vast array of Turkish dishes to indulge in, including piruhi, a type of dumpling; tumbi, a bite-sized fried appetizer of bulgur, tomato and eggplant; and of course, meze, a platter of shareable small dishes such as olives, cheeses, meats, stuffed mussels and more.
