Canakkale lies on the Dardanelles, the narrow strait between the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean Sea that has been for centuries the crossing point between Europe and Asia. It saw the campaigns of Persian King Xerxes in Europe in 481 BC and of Alexander the Great in Asia a century later, as well as the advance of the Ottoman army in Europe. The nearby archaeological site of Troy reminds of the legendary war immortalized by Homer, while monuments strewn around the town recall the epic fighting that took place there during World War I. Today, regular ferry services connect the European and the Asian side of the busy strait, and a convenient marina is at the disposal of pleasure boaters.