The locals' getaway

Situated at the very crown of the Anatolian peninsula, Sinop offers breathtaking vistas, sandy beaches, spectacular waterfalls, and like the rest of the Black Sea coast, ancient ruins. As a testimony to Sinop's vacation credentials, when Turks of the Black Sea coast and the surrounding area want to getaway, they come to Sinop. Many of them have a yazlık (yawz-lick), or summer vacation home, in or around Sinop. For the history buff, in addition to Byzantine church ruins and ancient city walls, one of Sinop's main attractions is its notorious fortress prison. Initially built in the 7th century, it was a used as a fortress by the Byzantines and the Ottomans. In the late 19th century, the Ottomans converted it to a maximum security prison that remained in use until 1997. Today it is a museum. The city shares its name with the province it is a part of, a testimony to its beauty and importance.

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