Turkey: Where Continents Meet and History Unfolds
A Eurasian Mosaic: The Top Tourist Areas in Turkey
An interesting aspect of Turkey’s geography is that the country spans two continents – Europe and Asia. This provides a diverse environment of Byzantium and Ottoman history, bazaars, coasts, and geological sites that are fascinating and worth visiting. The prominent tourist spots of Turkey combine ancient monuments and modern and vibrant cities.
Istanbul: The City of Two Continents
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya): An iconic building that has housed a Byzantine cathedral, an Ottoman mosque, and is currently a mosque again. Its massive dome and beautiful mosaics symbolize a thousand years of history.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque): This mosque is famous for its blue tiles and six minarets and is a beautiful representation of the Ottoman architectural style.
Topkapi Palace: The vast palace that housed the sultans of the Ottoman Empire for a period of almost 400 years.
The Grand Bazaar and Spice Market: These are absolute Istanbul experiences for shopping, spices, handicrafts, and immersing oneself in the vibrant atmosphere.
Central Anatolia: Land of Fairy Chimneys
Cappadocia: Known world-wide for a surreal landscape of “fairy chimneys”
Activities: Sunrise hot-air balloon rides over the valleys, discovery of the ancient underground cities (constructed by early Christians), and staying at boutique cave hotels.
Konya: The final resting place of the famous Sufi mystic Rumi (Mevlana), and the source of the fascinating ?Whirling Dervishes? performance.
The Turkish Riviera
Antalya: One of the largest cities located along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, featuring beautiful beaches and a well-preserved old harbor (Kaleiçi), which houses several ruins of the Roman period.
Bodrum and Marmaris: These are well-known towns that are famous for yachting and nightlife, along with having access to the beautiful Aegean Sea.
Ancient Ruins of the West Coast
Ephesus (Efes): This is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities that exist today and includes the impressive Library of Celsus and the Great Theater.
Pamukkale: Known for its white terraces of mineral-rich thermal water. This “Cotton Castle” presents a beautiful and almost lunar appearance.