The Ottoman Riviera Some Enchanted Evenings: The story of the Ratip Efendi Yali by Patricia Daunt with interior photographs by Fritz von der Schulenburg and archive photographs courtesy of Mrs Suna Mardin
In the 1950s, a palely beautiful summerhouse on the Bosphorus made tbe perfect playground for the cream of café society. Now its luminous, airy rooms, emptied of fuss and colour, reveal their natural beauty. Patricia Daunt uncovers the colourful past of Ratip Efendi's yali.
Top: Aboard Faisal's yacht, from left Prince Ahmet, the King, Fazileh, her mother Hanzade Sultan, Ceyda Ratip and the present owner of the house, Suna Mardin.
Middle: The elegant double staircase, flooded with natural light, is one of the great features of the house.
Below: Ebubakir Ratip's Rolls-Royce, with luggage rack and chauffer, in the Swiss Alps.
Ebubakir Ratip Efendi, replendent in fez and monocle
More beautiful Bosphorus yalis explored by Patricia Daunt
Carpet clues by Philippa Scott
Philippa Scott continues her guide to the world of rug collecting.
The Grand Parade by Christine Thomson with illustrations from Surname-i Humayun: an Imperial Celebration, by Nurhan Atasoy
When Ottoman sultans wanted to outshine European monarchs by the end of the sixteenth century they were choosing elaborate entertainments as their ammunition rather than solemn victory processions. In the second article in her series on East-West rivalry, Christine Thomson focuses on the Istanbul festivities of 1582, a spectacular street party lasting almost two months.
A hard day's sailing by Christian Tyler with photographs by Sigurd Kranendonk
Some take the hard dusty route to the Mediterranean's ancient sites. Christian Tyler approached them the hedonist's way: cruising on a gulet along some of the most breathtaking coastline in the world.
Kate Clow and Jacqueline de Gier sail east of Antalya Cornucopia 23
Amicia de Moubray sails the Lycian shore from Gocek Cornucopia 15
Barnaby Rogerson and Rose Baring explore the Lycian shore by land. Cornucopia 10
Whistling down the wind text and photographs by Andriette Stathi-Schoorel
Two isolated villages share an Ancient way of communicating across mountainous ravines. Andriëtte Stathi-Schoorel captures the last echoes in Greece and Turkey
In Kuskoy (Bird Village), in the Eastern Black Sea Mountains, the ancient art of whistling is still taught to schoolchildren. It is in these very mountains, south of Trabzon, that Xenophon came upon a similar use of whistling nearly 2500 years ago. Only five communities in the world are known to share the ability to whistle their speech. All of them, whether in Greece, Mexico, the Canaries or the Pyrenees – inhabit steep mountain valleys.
Last man down the Danube by John Herbert
It was the journey of a lifetime. Shortly before the Danube bridges were bombed and its waters polluted, John Herbert sailed Europe's inland waterways to Istanbul
Living legends
Seven hundred years of history came full circle in September 1999 when the exiled membersof the Ottoman family flew in from around the globe for a reunion in a former palace by the Bosphorus. Azize Ethem, an Ottoman princess by marriage, tells the tale of Turkey's most fascinating dynasty.
A genealogical tree of the first thirty Ottomansultans, from Osman I (1299-1324) to Mahmut II (1808-1839) sold at Christie's London in June 1999
A vine romance text and photographs by Berrin Torolsan
What plant can match the bounty of the vine? For thousands of years man has enjoyed the succelence of the grape, the headiness of its wines, its capacity to heal. But the fruit is not its only gift. Its lush green leaves, which offer dappled shelter from the summer sun, also create the perfect wrapping, bringing their delicate, delectable tang to the simplest foods.
Recipes: Stuffed vine leaves in olive oil Grilled sardines wrapped in vine leaves Cucumber pickle Tabbouleh with fresh vine leaves Dill cheese wrapped in vine leaves
For a complete list of Berrin Torolsan's cookery stories in Cornucopia, see our cookery index. Selected recipes are also available online: menus.
Seven gardens for seven heavens A Turkish-inspired garden on the Cambridge Fens by John Drake with photographs by Berrin Torolsan
Two Turkish passions meet in John Drake's beautiful garden: a love of symmetry and an Abundance of wild flowers. Here the garden historian acknowledges his debt to the Turkish ideal of paradise on earth.
Top: timber pergolas recall in shape massive Anatolian türbe
Below: a collection of fine plants collected from seed near Savsat in northeast Turkey and Geranium Aspholoides, which grows at the edge of deciduous woods
