Kabatepe (Gaba Tepe), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Kabatepe (Gaba Tepe, “Rough Hill”) district is on the western side of the Gallipoli peninsula (map) between Eceabat and the Kabatepe Ferry Dock (Kabatepe Feribot İskelesi) for ferries to the island of Gökçeada (İmroz, Imbros).

The center of attraction here is the Çanakkale Epic Presentation Center (Çanakkale Destanı Tanıtım Merkezi), built in 2012 on the site of the old Kabatepe Visitor Center and Museum.

The Çanakkale Epic Presentation Center takes itself seriously, with dramatic architecture and an intense hour-long multimedia experience waiting inside—war and history as high-tech entertainment.

On lower levels within the building are several traditional exhibits retained from the former Kabatepe Museum on this site. Though static, I find that these artifacts truly bring the horror of Gallipoli to life because they were used and experienced by real people.

Take, for example, the display of bullets and shell casings hit by other bullets. So furious was the gunfire that even bullets clashed in the air, and shell casings ejected into the air were often punctured by the hail of bullets flying in from enemy lines:

Bullets and shell casings hit by other bullets…

Another touching exhibit is a reproduction of a letter written by a young Ottoman officer to his mother. The letter, written in Ottoman Turkish (Arabic script) has been transliterated into modern Turkish, and then translated into English. The translation is rough. Click here for a smoother translation(PDF).

The Çanakkale Epic Presentation Center is at the beginning and end of the loop road that wanders through the hills to access the major battle sites. Go west down the hill to Kabatepe Ferry Dock, with its small beach, snack stands, tea gardens, and ferryboats to the island of Gökçeada (İmroz, Imbros). Bear left for the two-way road to ANZAC Cove and Suvla Bay. Bear right for the one-way loop road to Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı), and other battle sites. More…