Istanbul - founded
as Byzantium around 660BC, it became the head of the Roman Empire in in
330 AD when in became known as Constantinople, after the Holy Roman
Emperor Constantine 1. The Ottomans ruled the area from 1299AD -
1924AD. Under their influence, Istanbul became largely Muslim.
Istanbul is at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. The four
major attractions in Istanbul are:
-
Haghia Sophia - A Christian Church converted to a
mosque and now a public building. It is located a short walk
away from the Blue Mosque.
-
The Blue Mosque - It gets its name from the use of
turquoise and turquoise gets its name from the word Turkey. The
Blue Mosque is also known at the Sultanahmet Mosque after Sultan Ahmed
1, the Ottoman Emperor who had it built in 1616AD.
-
Topkapi Palace - the residence of the Ottoman
Emperors, located within easy walking distance of Haghia Sophia.
-
The Grand Bazaar - one of the largest bazaars in the
world, with over 1,200 shops and sections such as the Spice
Market. Sample a Turkish Delight and buy a carpet!
Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Haghia Sophia was turned from a church to a mosque and the
altar was repositioned to face Mecca. Some of the original Christian
figures remain in mosaics despite the fact that Muslim do not portray the
human form in their mosques. They only use patterns and phrases
praising Allah.
Haghia Sophia, Christian mosaic
Istikal Avenue, Istanbul
Spice Market, Istanbul
Ankara
- the capital of Turkey and second largest city after Istanbul. The
city has Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman archaeological sites.
The Mausoleum for Ataturk, the founder of Turkey, is located here, as is
the Anatolian Civilization Museum.
Ataturk's Mausoleum, Ankara
Cappadocia -
Cappadocia is an area encompassing several cities and it's known for its underground cities and rooms carved out of hillsides.
The Goreme Open-Air Museum is the center piece of the area because of the
visibility of the chambers in the mountain sides. There are more
than a 40 underground settlements and six of them are open to the public -
Tatlarin Underground City, Derinkuyu Underground City, Ozkonak Underground City, Mazi Village Underground City, Kaymakli Underground City and Gaziemir Underground City.
It is believed that they were created in Byzantine period of the Bronze
Age. Likely these people were seeking protection in hills and
underground. Our guide said that as a child, they played hide and seek in
the dark in these cities.
Pasabaglari, Cappadocia fairy chimneys
Göreme Open Air Museum, Cappadocia
Pamukkale - A World Heritage Site and the word means
"cotton castle" referring to the white salts created by hot springs and
travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water.
The archaeological ruins of Hierapolis top off the white castle of
salts. Herapolis was built by the Greeks in the 2nd Century BC.
Pamukkale
Hierapolis amphitheater
Turquoise Coast - From Marmaris to Antalya the coastline is
idyllic, with turquoise waters. We stayed overnight on a boat that
sailed out of
Göcek, which is right in the middle of the Turquoise Coast.
Turquoise Coast
Şirince &
Selçuk - Şirince is a town of about 600 inhabitants in Ismir
Province. It was settled after Epheseus was abandoned and the
architecture is now mainly 19th Century. The town of
Selçuk is nearby.
Selçuk market
Epheseus - an ancient
Greek and Roman city located near the port of Kusadasi. When Marc
Anthony and Cleopatra honeymooned here, Epheseus was a sea port, but it is
now miles inland. The Library of Celsus is impressive as two stories
of the structure are still standing.
Library of Celsus, Ephesus
