Rotary District 2440 History - Turkey

Rotary in Turkey was initiated half a century after the first Rotary opened its doors in Chicago in 1905. In 1955, Ankara, Turkey's capital became the first Turkish city to be home to Rotary. Ýstanbul Rotary Club was founded one year later, in 1956, followed by Izmir in 1962 and Bursa in 1963.

In 1980, 25 years after the foundation of the Rotary Club of Ankara, the number of clubs in their country reached 31 and District 243 was established as the first Rotary District in Turkey.

By 1988, due to the significant evolution of Rotary in Turkey, a second district, District 242, was established. By 1993, total number of clubs within Turkey reached 136. District 242 became district 2420, covering Ýstanbul and the Marmara Region and District 243 became District 2430, covering Middle and Eastern Anatolia.

In 1994, Turkish Rotarians established a third district. District 2440 was established to cover the whole of Western Anatolia.

As of end of 2002, Turkey has more than 7,400 Rotarians.
They form 82 clubs in District 2420, 83 clubs in District 2430, and 67 clubs in District 2440, comprising a total of 232 clubs.

Additionally, Turkish Rotary operates more than 100 Rotaract clubs and around 40 Interact clubs throughout the country.

 

    Istanbul

Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul; historically Byzantium and later Constantinople) is the largest city in Turkey, largest city proper and second largest metropolitan area in Europe, and fourth largest city proper in the world with a population of 12.6 million. Istanbul is also a megacity. Istanbul is the cultural and financial center of Turkey. The city covers 27 districts of the Istanbul province. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the Europe (Thrace) and on the Asia (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

      Fethiye

Fethiye, one of the oldest towns on the Lycian Coast, is also one of the most popular holiday destinations on Turkey's Mediterranean shores.     Dalaman International Airport is  50 km. to the town centre.

The town is situated on a very secluded bay, which is a natural marina, strewn with islands.    The marina shelters large and small leisure and charter boats as well as fishing boats, and is visited by numerous cruise lines.    During the summer season, a ferryboat makes round trips to Rhodes, only one and a half hours away.

The old city is now "downtown" - narrow streets opening to small squares full of various shops, coffeehouses, and restaurants serving anything from fish to kebabs to pizzas and all of them open until the small hours.

Fethiye is known for its Lycian rock tombs carved into the faces of the cliffs. These are elaborately carved and  the most famous is the tomb of Amnytas dating from the 4th century BC and built in the Doric style.  

Other historical places in the city are the Sarcopaghi and the Fethiye Tower. Not far from Fethiye is Kaya,  a deserted ghost town.Until 1923 it was known as Levissi when it was built  and inhabited by Christian Greek Orthodox. They left as a result of the population exchange when all Christian Greeks were forced to move to Greece. The Macedonian Muslims that were sent to Kaya, believed that its previous inhabitants had left a curse on the hillside village and instead built their houses on the surrounding flat land. Now the hillside is still covered with the ghostly ruins of 1500 cottages.

     Bursa

Bursa was the Ottoman capital before Edirne. Today, unlike Edirne, it is a city of 1.5 million people and is a rapidly developing industrial and commercial center. Because of the city's historical treasure, it will take you all day to visit Bursa and you will want to stay in extra day.

Muradiye
Muradiye is the cemetery for many Ottoman Sultans and Princes who were buried in a poetic garden in the shade of 1.000 year old plane trees. Next to this beautiful cemetery is the 15th century Muradiye Mosque.

Osman-Orhan
The two mausoleum belong to the founders of the Ottoman State, Osman Bey and his son, the conqueror of Bursa, Orhan Bey. They are located in a terrace with a magnificent view of Bursa and beyond.

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