Mecca

Pope’s visit to Turkey fuels hopes for rise in faith tourism

Turkey has been unable to exploit its full faith tourism potential and the number of faith tourists visiting Turkey last year hit a 10-year low, according to the latest report by the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB). Sector representatives, however, are hopeful for a rise in the number of faith tourists in the near future after Pope Francis’ visit to Turkey in November. 

Pope hopes for opening of Turkey-Armenia border

Pope Francis has voiced his hope for the opening of the Turkey-Armenia border, during a flight back to Rome after a three-day visit to Turkey.

The pope voiced hope that gestures over the coming anniversary year of the 1915 incidents would bring the two nations closer together, and he specifically voiced hope that Turkey would open its border with Armenia.

Pope Francis prays in Istanbul's iconic Blue Mosque, churches

Pope Francis has started the second leg of his three-day visit to Turkey, in a richly-symbolic trip. Like his predecessor, he prayed at the Blue Mosque, which was his first stop in Istanbul, before visiting the Hagia Sophia, the St. Esprit Cathedral and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate on Nov. 29.

Five facts you don’t know about Turkish coffee

As Hürriyet writer and gourmet Mehmet Yaşin asked recently, where can we put Turkish coffee in the wider coffee world? How come people don’t desire it as much as they desire Italian, American, French coffees? Is it because of their advertisements or is it because of its taste? The answers might be in five facts that you probably don’t know.

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