![\"Van](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/van-kalesi.jpg\")
Before embarking on our tour of Van, here are some notes on the province. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Van is T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s nineteenth most populous province, with a population of over 1,140,000.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Van is the largest province in the Eastern Anatolia region and is home to Lake Van, the largest lake in T\u00fcrkiye.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The city of Van has a robust public transportation system. The BELVAN card is used to enter various public transport vehicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A prominent handicraft in Van is the \u201csavat\u201d (niello). The Ministry of Culture describes it thus: \u201csavat, which comes from the Arabic word \u2018esvad\u2019 which means ‘black’, is a handicraft made with black nib applied on silver.\u201d These elaborate pieces are prized as gifts, for loved ones or yourself! <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Turkish Airlines operates numerous flights every day from \u0130stanbul and Ankara to Van. You can visit the Van flight ticket<\/a> page for more information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Three castles: Van, Ho\u015fap, \u00c7avu\u015ftepe <\/b><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Van Castle<\/b><\/p><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The history of Van Castle, five kilometers from the Van city center, dates to around 800 BC. Erected by the Urartian King Sarduri I, the castle, also known as the Fortress of Van, features walls and towers, and rock tombs and military structures built of adobe and stone. The structure was used for military purposes during the Ottoman period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ho\u015fap Castle<\/b><\/p><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Van is sometimes called the \u201ccity of castles\u201d and indeed, the second stop on our tour is Ho\u015fap Castle. Located in Ho\u015fap on the borders of the G\u00fcrp\u0131nar district, Ho\u015fap Castle, like Van Castle, was erected during the Urartian period. The castle today features the remains of a mosque and village houses, as well as a harem, a viewing pavilion and the selaml\u0131k (the portion of a house reserved for men). It is relatively well-preserved and is among the city\u2019s symbolic structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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