Çanakkale, Port city at the Dardanelles strait, Turkey
Çanakkale sits on the Asian shore of the waterway, where the channel narrows to just over half a mile (about 1 kilometer) wide in places. The town spreads along the coast with residential neighborhoods on gentle hills and a harbor where large cargo vessels and ferries dock.
The Ottoman Empire built the Kale-i Sultaniye fortress in 1462 under Mehmed II to control naval traffic through the strategic waterway. The area became the scene of heavy fighting in the 20th century, which still shapes collective memory today.
The Turkish name derives from the Persian word for pottery, reflecting the ceramic tradition of this region. Today locals often stroll along the waterfront in the evening to watch ships pass through the strait.
Ferries connect the European and Asian sides of the country across the water, while the airport offers regular connections to Istanbul and Ankara. The waterfront promenade invites walks and offers cafés and restaurants with views of the passing ships.
A wooden replica of the Trojan Horse from the 2004 film Troy stands by the water, marking the proximity to the nearby ancient excavation site. Visitors can climb a staircase inside and look out through the windows from within.
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