Turkey is a rich historical land that has been the heart of various empires throughout the ages, and is home to mountains, beaches, ancient ruins and the famous city of Istanbul. Whether you’re a history buff, a culinary fan, or an outdoor adventurer, the sites and activities scattered throughout this beautiful country have plenty to offer an intrepid traveller. Here are just five of Turkey’s most prominent attractions that you must visit before heading home.
1. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Construction of Hagia Sophia began in the 6thcentury, and for the 900 years that followed, this incredible building served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral, and seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Hagia Sophia was then used as an imperial mosque until 1931, and was re-opened as a secularized museum in 1935. Famous for its massive dome, this stunning work of Byzantine architecture is home to relics from all periods of its existence save for the first church, which was destroyed by riots in the year 404 CE.
2. Basilica Cistern, Istanbul
Istanbul is famous for holding the remains of its ancient city beneath its current buildings and streets. The Basilica Cistern, or “Sunken Palace” in Turkish, is the largest of the city’s several hundred ancient cisterns, and was built in the 6thcentury under the Byzantine Emperor Justine I. The ceiling of this cathedral sized cistern is supported by a variety of marble columns sourced from all parts of the Byzantine Empire, and include famous carvings of the Medusa head, and the Hen’s Eye.
3. Troy
Known for the famous 12thor 13thcentury B.C. siege by Spartan and Achaean warriors from Greece, and immortalized by Homer in the Iliad, Troy is home to 4000 years of history, and is widely considered the most famous archaeological site in the world. The relics of Troy have provided evidence that has helped us better understand the development of European civilization, and its sites Troy II and Troy VI, provide brilliant examples of ancient fortified citadels.
4. Aspendos
Aspendos was an ancient Greco-Roman settlement in Antalya province, and of its many ruins it is most famous for having the world’s best-preserved theatre of antiquity. The theatre was built in the year 155 CE, and provided seating for 7000 people. The city is also home to the remains of a basilica, agor, nymphaeum, a Roman acqueduct, and the Roman Eurymedon Bridge.
5. Cappadocia Underground Cities
The underground city of Derinkuyu was originally built out of the soft volcanic rock in the 7thor 8thcentury B.C., and then was fully developed as a defence from Muslim Arabs during the Byzantine-Arab wars through the 8thand 12thcentury. The city itself is 18 storeys in depth, and features fresh flowing water, ventilation shafts, individual living quarters, shops, wells, tombs, arsenals and escape routes. The region of Cappadocia is home to hundreds of similar cities.
Experience these sites for yourself by visiting this extraordinary country, and you will see why it has long been the gateway between the east and the west.
Images by Clara S, Denis Jarvis, Frank Kovalchek and Julian Fong used under the Creative Commons license.
