Tekirdag is located on the northwestern coast of the Marmara Sea, within the lands of Thrace. Due to its geographical position, it holds strategic importance as a passage region. The city is situated where the coastline transitions from an east-west direction to a north-south direction, along a semi-circular bay, partially on valley slopes and partially on cliffs. It has rapidly expanded towards the east-west and northern sections through successive terraces.
After Tekirdag came under Turkish rule (1357), its importance increased even further due to its proximity to Edirne and Istanbul, as well as its position on the campaign route of armies heading to Europe for conquests. This perspective is reflected in Yahya Kemal's poem "Thoughts on the Road," where he refers to Tekirdağ as the "HORIZON OF CONQUESTS TEKİRDAG."
During the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire, in 1829, 1878, 1913, and 1920, Tekirdag faced successive occupations by the Russians, Bulgarians, and Greeks. Consequently, in the final century of the empire, Tekirdag held a special place and significance as a defensive region and border zone.
From the earliest years of history, Tekirdag's beautiful bay and fertile lands have attracted the attention of many nations. As a result, the city (region) has witnessed numerous invasions and civilizations.
