Turunç History
Beginnings of the village
Turunç is believed to have been in existence as a village for just over 100 years. It takes its name from the citrus fruits that at one time covered the village (Turunç literally means "bitter orange") and which are thought to have been introduced to the area from the nearby Greek island of Rhodes. Turunç was originally based around five families - Can, Çelik, Demir, Gökce and Zeybek - names which you will find throughout the village to this day.
The start of tourism
It is generally accepted that tourism in Turunç began in the 1970s - a time when the village had no power, no running water and no roads. Facilities for the few intrepid tourists who did visit were basic since boats were the only means of transport for tourists and supplies. In the early days there were just a handful of local restaurants serving simple fare - the Han restaurant (shown in the Gallery below) being one of these.
In the early 1980s, Turunç started to develop into the resort that we know today. Development of holiday accommodation started, electricity and running water came to the village along with a new mosque, primary school and new roads.
Gallery
Many thanks to Terry Abbott, Teresa Cottle, Ünat Demir, Aysel & Bülent Genç and Carol Hull for providing these pictures and for the detective work involved in dating and placing them.
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