Turkey was central to the Eastern Roman Empire, and then the Ottoman Empire and has lived through turbulent times with conflicts, alliances and grand projects. It is a country steeped in culture and know-how and is the most westernised country in Asia Minor. It is open and hospitable and has made a speciality of welcoming the thousands of tourists who come each year to enjoy the beauty of its Ottoman cities with their exotic minarets, as well as its superb beaches on the shores of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.