Yalova 

Yalova is located in northwestern Turkey, near the eastern shore of the Marmara Sea, and it is located on the northern side opposite the Samili Mountains.

Yalova has a population of about 100,000 people, spread over its total area which is about 492 km².

In Yalova there are many tourist areas, which make it a tourist city, including Ataturk Palace in Yalova, and it is famous for its hot springs.

The climate of Yalova lies between a Mediterranean and subtropical climate, as it has cold winters and hot and dry summers.

Yalova is about 175 km away from Istanbul, and it is possible to move through the fast ferry.

Yalova is a small city, so it is possible to walk around on the feet, and it has minibuses called (Dalmash) that go around the city, and they are light blue.

Yalova is surrounded from the east by the city of Kocaeli, the city of Bursa and Lake Gemlik from the south and from the west and north the Marmara Sea, and its coastline extends for a distance of ten kilometers, and the importance of the city increases as it is a land and sea bridge linking Istanbul with Izmir and Bursa.

History of Yalova City: The history of human settlement in Yalova goes back to about five thousand years from now, which is the third millennium BC, where the Hittites occupied it in 200 BC, followed by the Franks, then the Kimerlar, then the Bithites, then the Roman era, the Byzantine era, and the Ottoman era in the year 1303 AD, and it was linked to Istanbul in 1930 AD at the instructions of the founder of the republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Residents of the city of Yalova: The nationalities of the population of the city vary due to the multiplicity of immigrations to it after the year 1893 AD, the inhabitants of the Balkans had immigrated to it, including the Crimea, Bulgaria, Dagestan, Yugoslavia, Romania, Greece, and Circassians, and all these groups coexisted despite the multiplicity of their cultures to be an example to be followed.

The most important tourist attractions in Yalova:

  - Altinova: It is about 27 km from the coast of the city of Yalova, and there are many ancient historical monuments, such as baths, water canals and a castle, dating back to different generations, and the Hennelia Polus area is one of the important areas in that region.

  - Cinarcik: The city of Cinarcik is located at a distance of 17 km from the city of Yalova, and it was called Kew in the Byzantine era, meaning the city of fresh air, and it is considered one of the most important tourist areas in Yalova, as it contains beaches, forests, tourist centers and hotels, in addition to historical monuments dating back to the Byzantine and Roman era.

Historical and cultural attractions in the city of Yalova:

  - The Moving Palace: The moving palace is located in the Millet farm on the edge of the sea, and it was built in implementation of the orders of Commander Kemal Ataturk on August 21, 1929 AD, and its name is due to the fact that on one of Kemal Ataturk's visit to the palace he found the farmer cutting the branches near the palace, so he asked the farmer to explain the reason for doing so, knowing that the goal behind that was to protect the walls of the palace, so he ordered moving the palace instead of cutting the branches.

  - The Mother’s Bath: The mother’s bath was built by the Roman Emperor Constantius in the town of Yalova, and its name is due to the fact that it was restored by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Majid II, and his mother used it for treatment.

  - Rustem Pasha Mosque: It was built during the reign of the Ottoman Empire and is still a place for Muslims to worship.

  - Herceg zadeh Ahmed Pasha Complex: It was built in the sixteenth century in the Altinova region, and it includes public facilities such as bathrooms, a water tank, and a mosque.

  - The Black Church: Built in the Roman era as the pagan religion. That is, it was not a church, but rather a reservoir of water, then turned into a place of worship during the Byzantine period.