Gallipoli Is Dear to the Heart
It is not only people who have a personality; the city, town or neighbourhood you live in has one too. And this beautiful town of Çanakkale, GALLIPOLI (GELİBOLU), has a personality all its own… How so?
For centuries Gallipoli has nurtured Muslims, Christians and Jews alike without distinction, so it has the tenderness of a mother.
With its history it is a sage, and with its beauty it is a romantic that inspires poetry.
As a town of saints and dervishes, it embraces everyone without making anyone an outsider.
It is tolerant, because it has seen many wars and much suffering.
All these qualities of their town are reflected in the people of Gallipoli. They are hospitable, patriotic people who cherish their culture, above all their neighbourhood culture. They are a joyful people who, especially in summer, hold their weddings in the side streets to the sound of clarinets and zurnas (traditional shawms).
The people of Gallipoli are unhurried. No one is in a rush to get anywhere. In this lovely town everything flows calmly, just as it should. You too will come to love this calm, unhurried way of life, and you will fall for Gallipoli and its people all over again.
