Top 10 Reasons to Visit Turkey

Many tourists visit Istanbul every year so I decided to write about it why people prefer Turkey and why they must prefer to Turkey I hope that you will like that article.

1-Because Istanbul Located in Turkey

Ortakoy mosque and Bosphorus

Istanbul has a natural and historical values.Many people know that Istanbul is capital city of Turkish Republic but it is wrong Ankara is capital city but Istanbul is  commercial capital city inTurkey.Especially Historical peninsula has many historical masterpieces.Hagia Sophia,Sultan Ahmet Square,Topkapı Palace,Baillica Cistern are most important historical values from Byzantine and Ottoman Empire.At the other hand,Bosphorus is a gift from nature.Completing Istanbul's beauty.So I can say that Istanbul main reason for to visit Turkey.

Reaasons for to visit İstanbul

2.Turkish Cuisine.

Turkey is really have rich cuisine culture because all of region have special foods.Especially Gaziantep cuisine is my favourite.UNESCO has included  city of Gaziantep into the

Baklava

"Creative Cities Network" in gastronomy.Aegean region is special with olive oil meals and I can say that Aegean cuisine is most healty.Black sea region is famous with fish meals.East region famous with Kebab and meat meals.I can say that all of city has special meals in Turkey and I m sure all of people can like that foods.

3.Turkish Bath Hamam

Turkish bath is a culture.In the islam culture it s important to be clean so there are hamam every city.Once upon a time Turkish mothers used here for to chooise bride for her sons.Many tourism agency using hamam in their to do list.Theare are music entartainment ,foam, steam and fruits in hamam.

Read for more information about hamam

Beach in Turkey

4.Turkey's Beaches

Turkey is really lucky about beaches because Turkey is a semi peninsula.Especially mediterrenean coast has many clear beaches.Bodrum Muğla ,Alanya,Antalya,Fethiye Didim has blue flag beaches.Many foreign and domestic toursit prefer Mediterranean and  Aegean beaches for vocation so in summer season it is hard to find hotels.İf you want to sea,sun and beach for vocation Turkey is a right adress.

5.Cappadocia

Cappdocia region is really fantastic can feel as inside a tale. Nature is a architect in Cappadocia and creating new fairy chimneys everyday.Especially hot balloon tours good way for to see that amazing nature.Secret valley,green tracks, caves, tunnels and canyons waiting to be discovered.After end of the day Turkish hamam waiting you .

Read more information about Cappadocia

6.Turkish Hospitality

Turkish people really good at about hospitality and help people.

Solidarity is charecter of Anatolia lands.In Anatolia  people can invite you for to eat and drink it can strange but its normal for us.

7.Ancient Cities

Anatolian lands had many empire,culture and states so every culture gave something to Anatolia,Roman Empire,Byzantium Empire,Hittite Kingdom,Kommagene Kingdom...Especially Aegean and Mediterranean region rich about ancient cities.

Ephesus,Pergamon,Myra,Hierapolis,Ksantos,Aspendos,Laodikeia,Zeugma and Nemrud mountain are famous.İf you like Ancient remnants Turkey is right place for it.

Ephesus   Pergamon    Troya

8.Tourism Culture and Facility

Ministry of Tourism succesfull about that subject because tourism is a really good financial revenue.There are many hotels,motels at touristical places and workers can not work without education.

There are tourism hingh schools in universities.After 2 years student work at hotels and tourism sector.Ministry of Tourism check touristical places every season.Municipalities check tradesman restaurants, night clubs.At touristical places people can speak a few language so cominucation is not problem.There are many hotels per budgets.

9.Cheaper Than Another Places

I said it before too dolar and euro more valuable than Turkish lira so people can pay less money for vocations in Turkey.İf has reservation before paying less than domastic toursits.Especially if visit winter season can pay fifty percent less.Many Tourism agency has promotion for every seasons.

10.Health Tourism

Especially last years health tourism very popular in Turkey.Turkish doctors are really popular and succesfull.Many peopel come here from middle east and balcans for to find health.

Alternative medicine is famous too there are many thermal springs and hotels in Turkey especiailly middle Anatolia famous with hot waters.When I was visit Fish lake in Sivas in 1996 I saw English and Arabian tourists in there.

Doctor fishes

I hope you might like ...

 

Which Places in UNESCO World Heritage List From Turkey-IV

13-Ephesus

Ephesus Ancient city in very important tourism center in Turkey, the city has many amazing historical artifact and they are very old.Ephesus was consturcted about 6000 B.C in Neolithic Period.Currently excavations archaeologists find

some Hittite antiquity.Apasas was city name of the Hittite ages.Currentyl Ephesus was constructed by Lysimakhos who was commnader of Alexander B.C. 300. Ephesus was at golden age in Roman Empire period , it was capital city , Asia region. There were 200.000 person in Ephesus and it was center of trade,art, science..Ephesus moved another place at Byzantium period and Turks conquered that place in 1330.I wrote about Ephesus before so can read all of article here..

14-Archaeological Site of Ani

This site is located on a secluded plateau of northeast Turkey overlooking a ravine that forms a natural border with Armenia. 

This medieval city combines residential, religious and military structures, characteristic of a medieval urbanism built up over the centuries by Christian and then Muslim dynasties. The city flourished in the 10th and 11th centuries CE when it became the capital of the medieval Armenian kingdom of the Bagratides and profited from control of one branch of the Silk Road. Later, under Byzantine, Seljuk and Georgian sovereignty, it maintained its status as an important crossroads for merchant caravans. The Mongol invasion and a devastating earthquake in 1319 marked the beginning of the city’s decline. The site presents a comprehensive overview of the evolution of medieval architecture through examples of almost all the different architectural innovations of the region between the 7th and 13th centuries CE.

15-Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia

In a spectacular landscape, entirely sculpted by erosion, the Göreme valley and its surroundings contain rock-hewn sanctuaries that provide unique evidence of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period. Dwellings, troglodyte villages and underground towns – the remains of a traditional human habitat dating back to the 4th century – can also be seen there.I wrote an article before can read here

16-Hierapolis-Pamukkale

Deriving from springs in a cliff almost 200 m high overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have created at Pamukkale (Cotton Palace) an unreal landscape, made up of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins. At the end of the 2nd century B.C. the dynasty of the Attalids, the kings of Pergamon, established the thermal spa of Hierapolis. The ruins of the baths, temples and other Greek monuments can be seen at the site.Read more about pamukkale here

While writing that article ı took some information from http://whc.unesco.org/ and http://www.kulturvarliklari.gov.tr/

Which Places in UNESCO World Heritage List From Turkey-III

9-Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük

Two hills form the 37 ha site on the Southern Anatolian Plateau. The taller eastern mound contains eighteen levels of Neolithic occupation between 7400 bc and 6200 bc, including wall paintings, reliefs, sculptures and other symbolic and artistic features. Together they testify to the evolution of social organization and cultural practices as humans adapted to a sedentary life. The western mound shows the evolution of cultural practices in the Chalcolithic period, from 6200 bc to 5200 bc. Çatalhöyük provides important evidence of the transition from settled villages to urban agglomeration, which was maintained in the same location for over 2,000 years. It features a unique streetless settlement of houses clustered back to back with roof access into the buildings.

10-Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape

Pergamon Ancient city located in Bergama district, İzmir city. Bergama is far away 102 kilometers from İzmir and can find bus for Bergama.Pergamon Ancient city was very famous and important city in history.That city was known that Health God Asklepios's city.Previously that city was a healty center , had rich civilization and culture.

Galenos was born in Pergamon 2000 B.C., he was father of pharmaceutics. In history, Pergamon has many first things, the first hospital constructed there, the first natural treatment made there,first herbal medicine treatment (Pharmacology) made there, the first psychotherapy made there so it not wrong to say that was healty center.The first Parchment made that area, first Asian library made there,first city zoning law used there so they had very hight civilization level.

can read pergamon ancient city article

11-Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire

This site rises high above the Bakirçay Plain in Turkey’s Aegean region. The acropolis of Pergamon was the capital of the Hellenistic Attalid dynasty, a major centre of learning in the ancient world. Monumental temples, theatres, stoa or porticoes, gymnasium, altar and library were set into the sloping terrain surrounded by an extensive city wall. The rock-cut Kybele Sanctuary lies to the north-west on another hill visually linked to the acropolis. Later the city became capital of the Roman province of Asia known for its Asclepieion healing centre. The acropolis crowns a landscape containing burial mounds and remains of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires in and around the modern town of Bergama on the lower slopes
can read about bursa

12-Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape

Located on an escarpment of the Upper Tigris River Basin that is part of the so-called Fertile Crescent, the fortified city of Diyarbakır and the landscape around has been an important centre since the Hellenistic period, through the Roman, Sassanid, Byzantine, Islamic and Ottoman times to the present. The site encompasses the Inner castle, known as İçkale and including the Amida Mound, and the 5.8 km-long city walls of Diyarbakır with their numerous towers, gates, buttresses, and 63 inscriptions. The site also includes the Hevsel Gardens, a green link between the city and the Tigris that supplied the city with food and water, the Anzele water source and the Ten-Eyed Bridge.


while writing that article take information from http://whc.unesco.org/ and http://www.kulturvarliklari.gov.tr/

Which Places in UNESCO World Heritage List From Turkey-II

5-Xanthos-Letoon Ancient Cities

Xanthos-Letoon Ancient cities

Xanthos :UNESCO acceptd that city in 1988.That city far from 46 kilometers to Fethiye and located near Kınık village.This site, which was the capital of Lycia, illustrates the blending of Lycian traditions and Hellenic influence, especially in its funerary art. The epigraphic inscriptions are crucial for our understanding of the history of the Lycian people and their Indo-European language.

Letoon:It İs far from about 4 kilometers to Xanthos.Letoon was the religious center of Lycia in Antiquity.This sanctuary has a monastery, a fountain and the remains of the Roman theater along with the temples of Leto, Apollo and Artemis.There is   the largest temple in the west is the temple of Leto has peripteros style and its dedicated for Artemis and Apollo's mother Leto.

6.Safranbolu City and Wood Homes

Safranbolu is really nice and lovely city in blacksea area.People have lived since ancient times due to their geographical location.There are many wood homes in there and that area under protect UNESCO nad Turkey goverments.

7-Troya Ancient City

Troya is famous ancient city in the world.Troya  added world heritage centre bye UNESCO in 1998. Troya ancient city have nine layers so it show that about 3000 years age. First layer show that 3000-2500 BC Early Bronze Age.Last year belong to Roman Empire. First archaeological excavations made bye Heinrich Schliemann in 187.if want to learn more can read that essay

8-Selimiye Mosque

UNESCO accepted Selimiye Mosque in 2011.The square Mosque with its single great dome and four slender minarets, dominates the skyline of the former Ottoman capital of Edirne. Sinan, the most famous of Ottoman architects in the 16th century, considered the complex, which includes madrasas (Islamic schools), a covered market, clock house, outer courtyard and library, to be his best work. The interior decoration using Iznik tiles from the peak period of their production testifies to an art form that remains unsurpassed in this material. The complex is considered to be the most harmonious expression ever achieved of the Ottoman külliye, a group of buildings constructed around a mosque and managed as a single institution.

Which Places in UNESCO World Heritage List From Turkey-I

UNESCO World Heritage List

There are 16 places in UNESCO World Heritage List from Turkey so I will write 4 article about that list.

1-Istanbul's Historical Places

Istanbul is one of the oldest cities in the world so there are many things from Civilization and empires.Istanbul has A unique geography and geopolitical location.In 1985,UNESCO accepted 4 side from Istanbul.Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irini, Little Hagia Sophia Mosque,Sultanahmet  Archaeological Site area.We can say that they take historical peninsula area in list.

2-Divriği Ulu Mosque and Hospital

Diğriği is a district in Sivas area and people live in there since Hittites ages.It was built in the years 1228-1229 by Ahmet Shah and his wife Turan Melek together,area was  under the rule of Mengücekoğulları clan.That mosque which masterpiece of Islamic architecture, has 2 dome and there is a hospital near mosque.In 1985,UNESCO accepted that mosque because it has a wonderfull stone workmanship and  its architecture.

3.Hattusha (Capital city of Hittite Empire)

Hattusha, taken to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986, has been a very important center for many centuries in Anatolia as the capital of the Hittite Empire.

Hattusha is in Bogazkoy district in Corum area.The great majority, which can be seen today, is the Great King IV Tuthalian period. Among the remains of the  are temples, royal houses and walls.

4-Nemrut Mountain

I wrote an article about it but ı will give a little information about again.

The grave, monumental sculptures and unique view of Antiochos I, King of Commagene, who reigned on the slopes of the Nemrut Dag to commemorate their gods and their ancestors, is one of the most spectacular remnants of the Hellenistic Period.Nemrut Mountain, at the height of 2150 meters in the Kahta District of Adıyaman.Monumental sculptures spread to the eastern, western and northern terraces.The eastern terrace is the sacred center, and for this reason the most important statues and architectural remains are there.The well preserved giant statues are made of limestone blocks and are 8-10 meters high. The tomb of the king, with its being known, has not yet been discovered.

nemrut mountain article link here

Didyma (Didim)

 Didim (Didyma)

Didim one of the beautiful tourism place in Aegan region.Can find everything.If you want history,beach,sun and amazing clear sea you are right place for vocation.Didim in the distance 70 km from Kuşadası and 110 km from Bodrum.A popular tourist center with blue-flagged beaches.There are dozens of coves on the 53-kilometer coastline, all of which are sandy beaches.Especially Altınkum beach very famous place.I will try to  tell something  about popular tourism places about Didim.

 Altınkum Beach

Firstly I want to start beach

because a lot of people going vocation for beach and sun and Didim right place for it.Altinkum is the most important tourist beach of Didim..

Altinkum, which is among the

most beautiful sea and sand beaches of the Aegean, is dazzling with its golden yellow beaches and turquoise blue sea.Along the coast, in the coastal area just in front of the Hotels area.You can see that beach are very crowded so you must reservation near hotels if you find to have good area on beach.At the same time there are all sea sport activity in there.

Apollon Temple

 Once upon a time people

believed that Zeus's son Apollo god of sun,light and music so they consulted to monks before to do something.so we can understand that why it is so 
big and splendid.

according to Heredot, people

,soldiers,king and girls were asking future and giving gifts for gods here so there were many valuable things inside temple.The temple look still strong even if constructed thousands years ago.İf visit Didim do not come without see there.

Milet ancient city and  theater

How ı can describe that area you

must see there yeah just ı can say it its amazing that buildings come from thousands years ago and how they constructed that amazing big things.If wat to feel historu you must see there when come to Didim

How can go Didim

Bodrum airport is nearest airport Didim so ı advice that first do there and come to Didim by bus from Bodrum airport.Didim is far from 11 hours to istanbul by bus so ıts bad way to come Didim.

Do list for Didim

• Spend time Altınkum beach and enjoy with clear sea
• Sea sport especially scuba diving
• Apollon temple do not forget to see there
• Milet ancient city and milet museum if you like history you must see there.
• Didim night live if you like pubs you will enjoy .

Myra Ruins and Saint Nikolaos

Myra Ruins

Myra ruins are located in district Kale(Demre) in Antalya region.Myra was a Lycia city.Lycia period's tombs,antique theater and Saint Nikolaos Church ( Santa Claus) are attentions domestic and foreign tourists.Every year many tourists visit there.

According to tombs,Lycian inscriptions and coins,At the least there was a city 5th century B.C. After 2th century A.D Lycian richs improved city, constructed new buildings and restored.Myra became important city for Lycia.

Myra was very famous at

Byzantium period.İt was important for religion and administrative.Because Saint Nikolaos was living in Myra.He was very famous in that region.According to myth, he has liked children and sailors liked and repect him much.Even they used Nikolaos icon at ships and they weare saying 'Saint Nikholaos save yours helm' before go sailing.Saint Nikolaos Church was built in 6th century after when Nikolaos died.Currentyl church was built in 8th century.After floods and earthquakes Myra become a village in 12th century.

Located in the southern foothills of the Acropolis theatre have Roman Empire periods charec typical features.Rows of seats and platform building are strong still.There are tombs near theater.Some tombs have glyphs.That glyphs about deceased and his relatives.

Myra ruins enterance is 15 Turkish Lira and museum of the Saint Nikolaos enterance is 15Turkish Lira.Demre is far away about 280 kilometers from Antalya.There is bus from Antalya to Demre.

Pergamon Ancient City

Pergamon Ancient City

Pergamon Ancient city located in Bergama district, İzmir city. Bergama is far away 102 kilometers from İzmir and can find bus for Bergama.Pergamon Ancient city was very famous and important city in history.That city was known that Health God Asklepios's city.Previously that city was a healty center , had rich civilization and culture.

Galenos was born in Pergamon 2000 B.C., he was father of pharmaceutics. In history, Pergamon has many first things, the first hospital constructed there, the first natural treatment made there,first herbal medicine treatment (Pharmacology) made there, the first psychotherapy made there so it not wrong to say that was healty center.The first Parchment made that area, first Asian library made there,first city zoning law used there so they had very hight civilization level.

What Will See At Pergamon

Temple of Trajan

The temple was constructed for Roman Emperor Trajan who idolized to God.Original telpme had colums 3 parts and found Hellenistic ruins at the archaeological excavations and 2 statues of empreror Trajan and Hadrian but They are at Pergamon Museum now .

Temple of Dionysos

The temple constructed in 3th century B.C at theater terreca's nort side. Temple was resonstructed bye Empreror Carcalla and added new section. At archaeological excavations, found head of Astlepios but German Archaeologists stole and it is in Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

Grand Theater 

It was steepest theater ancient ages. It was contsrusted in Helenisitc Ages and has 10.000 person capacity. It is near on hillside

Temple of Zeus 

The temple by German  stolen Archaeologists  and now in Pergamon Museum just there is base ruins in Permamon Ancient city now.

Temple was constructed bye Pergamon King II. Eumenes after when was succesfull at war.It's arcthitect plan was like a horseshoe and had symbols of triumphal 

I hope you might like that article and when you come to Turkey do not come back whitout see that amazing place, that is at Aegean part and not far away İzmir and just will buy a ticket for to visit there ( just 25 Turkish lira )

Do not forget to frop omments..

Ephesus Ancient City

Ephesusu Ancient city in very important tourism center in Turkey, the city has many amazing historical artifact and they are very old.Ephesus was consturcted about 6000 B.C in Neolithic Period.Currently excavations archaeologists find some Hittite antiquity.Apasas was city name of the Hittite ages.Currentyl Ephesus was constructed by Lysimakhos who was commnader of Alexander B.C. 300. Ephesus was at golden age in Roman Empire period , it was capital city , Asia region. There were 200.000 person in Ephesus and it was center of trade,art, science..Ephesus moved another place at Byzantium period and Turks conquered that place in 1330.

Where is Ephesus Ancient City

Ephesus is located in district Efes in İzmir and 30 kilometers far away from Kusadası.

How can go Ephesus Ancient City

There is a bus from İzmir bus station to Efes, it tkae about about a hour and 10 Turkish Lira ticket cost when arrive Efes there is minibus for to go Ephesus Ancient City area in every 10 minutes.There is minibus from Kusadası too, just 30 km.

What I will see at Ephesus Ancient City

Every year 1,5 million tourists visit Ephesus Ancient City,There are many historical artifact in Ephesus so will write them and will give some information most important historical artifacts.

The Artemision, The Arcadiane, The Great Theater of Ephesus, The Celcus Library, Tetragones Agora, The Actagon,Terrace Houses, The Temple of Hadrian,The Nymphaeum Traiani, The Memmius, Monument, The Temple of Domitian, The Curch of Mary,The Stadium,The Vedius Gymnasium.

Ephesus Theater

There is some information that theater was built in Hellenistic period but currently theater construstion started Emperior Claidus's time  and finished Emperior Trianus's time ( D.C 98-117).Theater has 25.000 capacity and still strong and used Efes Festivals.

The Celcus Library

The theater is most famous ruin in ancient city and that theater was built by Giaus lulius Aquila for his after senator Tiberius lulius Celsus in A.D 100-110. That was 3.th biggest theater after Alexandria and Pergamum theaters.

The Curch of Mary

St. John and Holy Mary come to Ephesus after 4 or 6 years when jesus died. St John did not want to live in people so they decided to live far from people so prefered to Bülbül mountain, an area around trees.People believe that Mary lived there and died that home so Christians accept that area is holy place so visit Church of Mary for to be pilgrim.Many Papa visited there .

That area was discovered by Catherina Emmerich but she never come to Ephesus, she was a German nun. She described that area and found tat Curch of Maria at 19th century.

Church entarence is 20 Turkish Lira for foreign visitors.

Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis is one of wonder in 7 wonders of the world.Currently there are 2 column in temples area.Temple was constructed only marble and continued about 120 years.

When will come to Ephesus can see another ruins and ı hope that will like that amazing place just must be carefull in there , weather can be very hot so while visiting there take hat sunglasess and much water.


Do not forget to drop message

                                                                            (original Tmeple of Artemis)

Troya War and The Trojan Horse Legend

                Troya War and Trojan Horse Legend

There was a war between Akhal and Troya people about 10 years because Sparta King Menelaos's wife Helen kidnaped by Troya King Priamos's son Paris whit the godess of beauty Aphrodite.After than Menelous and another Greek city empires declared to war Troya. Anatolian people supported Troya at that war because Akhals were enemy for Anatolians.But Troya and Anatolians had hard defense so war took about many years.Enemies did not overtower. Than Akhal commander Odyseus thought a shrewd plan and they constructed a wood horse but there were strong warriors and commander Odyseus inside on wood horse, another army hid at sea. When Troyas saw this situation came to wood horse and they saw a soldier near horse.That soldier decieved Troyas and said hate Akhals they sacrificed me godness for to have wild to come Greece.He continued and said that horse constructed for Godness Athena and it was big because they din not want to Troyas took it in city center so when Troyas destroyed horse godness Athena would be angry and could give punishment Troyas.Troyas wanted to peace so believed him lies.

 Troyas took that wood horse in city center and celebrated peace and drunk much,When they become drunken , comander Odyseus and warriors went out horse and opened city doors for hidden army.There was a massacre and city was detroyed, burned.Menelous returned to Greece whit his wife.

          Troya Ancient City

Troya is famous ancient city in the world.Troya  added world heritage centre bye UNESCO in 1998. Troya ancient city have nine layers so it show that about 3000 years age. First layer show that 3000-2500 BC Early Bronze Age.Last year belong to Roman Empire. First archaeological excavations made bye Heinrich Schliemann in 1871.

How Can Visit There

Troya Acient city at Çanakkale and can find bus Çanakkale from İstanbul.It takes about 6 hours ( can change for bus company).There are many good hotels in Çanakkale so accommodation is not problem.I prefer to hotel near sea have amazing clear sea.

NOTE: That wood horse made for Troya movie than gifted Çanakkale people,when visit there can see that horse.

I hope you might like