The Turkish bath, similar to the Roman baths, is still present in many cities in Turkey. The Hamam concept is not Turkish, but it has certainly been very successful in Turkey. The Romans are the true creators of the concept of public bathroom, with the creation of the baths. But we, unlike the Romans, use running water. The Turks are a very modest people, so in the Hamam you never completely undress. In fact, men have a cloth around their waist while women wear it to the height of the breast. The real Turkish bath has never been mixed. Turkish men and women, in a country of great modesty, could…

For a long time I had been planning to write an article on Turkish wedding. Many of you have already seen images on television, which are not always easy to interpret. Charming and fashionable young people, in very, perhaps too, traditional contexts, which sometimes seem not to correspond to the current state of affairs among the youth. The Turkish wedding Well yes, whether the Turks are educated, in career or in fashion, marriage is one of those stages in one’s life, which must be faced with respect for traditions and for one’s family. For the Turks, respect for this tradition is fundamental, because it means respecting one’s parents. I want…

Is there a Turk who doesn’t have a blue amulet (Nazar Boncugu) hanging somewhere in the house? The answer is almost obvious, since even the most sceptical has had or worn, sooner or later, this famous amulet. Whether it’s the large format at home or the small one put on a brooch to offer at the birth of a child, NNazar Boncugu is everywhere in Turkey. As soon as you arrive in Turkey, you feel overwhelmed and enveloped by this characteristic deep blue object. It can be found hanging on cars, on keys, in the house above the doors or present on jewels such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings. What is…

How the marriage in Turkey is observed ? Have you ever wondered how marriage is celebrated in other parts of the world? Across ages and countries, wedding traditions vary radically. They change the clothes, the colours, the customs or simply the rituals to say “yes/I want it!” Getting married means joining your loved one forever. This union is the basis of every society, wherever it is. Marriage in Turkey and in the world Let’s discover some wedding traditions around the world. Fabric matters: marriage in Nigeria Did you know that in Nigeria the choice of the fabric of the clothes is one of the most important moments of marriage? Curious,…

Dear friends, many of you have been asking me for clarification on our enchanting Turkish breakfast which is part of traditions in Turkey, called “Kahvaltı”. In fact, there is no Italian who has not been impressed by the table full of colourful and appetizing delicacies. The Turkish breakfast is a fundamental meal of our kitchen because it is really very rich. It is a salty meal and is often the most important of the day. Tea, the mainstay of Turkish breakfast As you know by now, tea accompanies all our breakfasts. Tea is actually present throughout the day. The difficult choice between delicacies The Turkish breakfast can be divided into…

Turkish tea is part of the keyif ! In Turkey, tea is drunk throughout the day. Turkish tea accompanies breakfast in the morning. It follows the main dishes, both in winter and in summer, and is served during an evening with friends or relatives. In a nutshell, tea is a  must and can never be lacking. It is a social glue, an act of hospitality, the moment to disconnect and relax, sometimes it is also the indispensable tool and a good start to successful negotiations. To make Turkish tea, you’ll need to have the right tools and ingredients. Obviously, you need to have a Turkish teapot, which will infuse the…

In this article. I will talk about Turkish coffee. As a bonus, I will tell you about the love story that binds the Turks to “kahve” (coffee)! Origins of Turkish coffee Despite the name, we do not have a historical paternity on Turkish coffee. We do play a major role in bringing it to Europe, however!  It is so called due to the diffusion of its very particular preparation method, which took place through the Ottoman world. Coffee made its appearance in Turkey during the reign of Süleyman (1520-1566), thanks to Pacha Özdemir, who, returning from Ethiopia and passing through Yemen, brought the first coffee beans. Since then, preparing coffee…

I have the desire to tell you about this particular aspect of Turkish life, which we could call “the time to live” or “keyif”. Often, I have encountered this way of life in the regions of southern Italy and other areas of southern Europe.  I must admit that sadly, it seemed to me to be relegated particularly to older people. This is precisely the difference with us Turks. In Turkey, the keyif is not just for the elderly. In fact, it is a way of life that is still very widespread among the entire Turkish population. Keyif is art of living The Keyif is precisely an art of living, which…

It is time to discover together the secrets of Turkish beauty. Turkish women, even before beauty, are very keen on personal cleansing, which includes hair removal and hygiene. This rule really applies to all of them. My mom never put on makeup in her life, as to her natural beauty was more worthy  (I remember that she came from a peasant culture), but the most important thing was face cleansing and personal hygiene. Turkish women today, discover the secrets of Turkish beauty Turkish women today, in addition to cleanliness and personal hygiene, are very attentive to all beauty tricks. They are very well-groomed women in all respects. In fact, they…

Often good manners in Turkey or bad manners change from one country to another, from one culture to another. Turkey is a country very close to Europe, but it has a very different and rigid code of conduct and good manners than many European countries. I intend to explain to you the “good” Turkish manners, which you may have observed in some film or television series and which will have aroused your curiosity. Stay composed! The basis of good manners in Turkey Two words that every Turk will have heard his mother say are myriad many times, “stay composed”. Here is a very important aspect of our education. Knowing how…