Turkey Historic Towns and Sights

WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO SEE REGION BY REGION  


THE AEGEAN

Heredotus, the father of history, claimed that the Aegean coast is the most beautiful and has the best climate in the world. The bays and peninsulas, coves and golden beaches that stretch the length of these beautiful shores certainly substantiate this claim. Countless events of mythology took place in this region and visitors will encounter the theatres, temples and agoras of ancient cities at almost every turn. Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world, Troy, immortalized by Homer, and Pergamum,  the art and cultural centre and capital city of one of the most powerful kingdoms of the day, are all located in this part of Turkey. The Aegean Region is also home to some of Turkey’s leading beach resorts, including the ever-popular Marmaris, Bodrum and Ölü Deniz with its famous Blue Lagoon.

The region is served by three international Airports: Izmir to the north, Bodrum and Dalaman, which is used by those travelling as far east as the resorts of Kalkan and Ka? in the Mediterranean Region.


THE NORTH AEGEAN

Situated on the southern coast of the Edremit Bay at the meeting point of the health-giving springs of Akçay and a fragrant pine forest is the small resort of Ayval. The town is renowned for its olive oil production and accordingly the area has become known as the "Olive-grove Riviera". Travelling south, the next resort of note is Foça, famous for the heroic Turkish sailors based here. Historic sites include a Genoese fortress and small ancient theatre. The ancient sites of Troy and Pergamum are located in the North Aegean.


IZMIR AND SURROUNDINGS

Located on the bay of the same name, Izmir is a modern city brimming with life. It is also a bustling commercial centre and shopping in its busy markets is a shopaholics idea of paradise. The peninsula of Çesme with its brilliant waters, superb beaches and thermal springs lies to the west of Izmir. Sardis, the capital of the wealthy Lydian king, Croesus, can be reached by way of a short inland diversion. The bustling port of Kusadasi is one the most established of Turkey’s beach resorts. Pigeon Island Ephesus...

Among the most famous cities of the ancient world, Ephesus was one of the most significant cities of the Roman era. A treasury of all the riches of Ionian culture, Ephesus had a reputation for philosophy and critical thinking. The Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as well as countless statues, theatres, libraries, markets and smaller temples were all architectural symbols of the city's fame. The city is incredibly well-preserved and the most prominent remnants of the bygone era are the imposing Library of Celcius and the impressive ancient theatre.

Further to the south you will see the ancient city of Priene, built according to a geometric plan designed by the great architect of Miletus, Hippodamos. Miletus was a great centre of commerce and thought in the ancient world and important developments, scientific and otherwise, took place here. The nearby Didyma, though not one of the ancient cities, is still famous for its magnificent temple dedicated to Apollo, the impressive ruins of which can still be explored today. Nearby is the popular resort of Altinkum, best known for its long, sandy beach.

Pamukkale & Aphrodisias
On the Izmir-Antalya road, Aphrodisias (Geyre) was an important cultural and art centre famous for its training in sculpture. On the same road is found the iconic Pamukkale.. The plentiful calcium-rich thermal waters flowing out of the mountain have, over time, created extraordinary rock formations and Pamukkale or “cotton castle” is an un missable attraction. Here one may take a bath in the health-giving waters while gazing at this natural phenomenon, which is unparalleled in world geography. The ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis lie behind this calcium terraced mountain. 


THE SOUTH AEGEAN

The South Aegean is the most popular part of Turkey for UK holidaymakers and the area boasts a range fantastic beach resorts. First up is the pretty, white-washed harbour town of Bodrum. The mausoleum of King Mausolos one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and was located here, although very little of the structure remains. Lively Gümbet and the windsurfer’s haven of Bitez are perhaps the best known of the beach resorts in the area. Further along the Peninsula, sleepy hamlets sit side-by-side with fishing villages that have been transformed into upmarket resorts, popular holiday haunts of the Turkish rich and famous.

Marmaris, with its modern marina surrounded by its lush mountains and hills, is an alluring holiday getaway. It has everything you would expect to find in a modern resort, hundreds of shops and restaurants and plenty of bars and discos to keep night owls occupied. The best beaches however are a little further away. Içmeler is a firm family favourite which in addition to its beach also boasts a couple of aqua parks. Turunç and Datça are an altogether more laidback holiday prospect and a world away from the hustle of bustle of Marmaris itself. 

Next along is Dalyan, home of the much-photographed rock tombs and famous mud baths. The protected Iztuzu beach is a nesting ground to the endangered caretta caretta turtle and development here is strictly controlled.

Visitors to Fethiye too can marvel at Lycian Rock Tombs, the most impressive of which is the Tomb of King Amintas which overlooks this pretty harbour town.

Ölü Deniz is without a doubt the most famous of the beaches in the area, with its stunning blue lagoon and the nearby resorts of Hisarönü and Ovacik cater specifically for tourists with a wide range of accommodation and choice of shops, restaurants and bars.


THE MEDITERRANEAN

The southern coast of Turkey, or the Turkish Riviera as it is now known, boasts long stretches of sandy beach, world-class golf courses and the biggest concentration of 5 star hotels and holiday villages in the Country. The Mediterranean region stretches from beautiful Patara, birth place of St. Nicholas and home to an award-winning 17km beach, all the way along to Antakya (or Hatay) where there is a world-renowned archaeology museum.

The Region has a wealth of historic sites including the mountain cities of Termessos and Arikand, as well as coastal towns such as Olympos, Kale, Kekova and Kas.  The ancient cities of Perge, Aspendos and Side are located on the coastal plain east of Antalya, known in antiquity as 'Pamphylia'. St Nicholas was not the only famous person to hail from this part of the world as according to early sources, Saint Paul was born in Tarsus. 

Antalya is one of the Mediterranean's most important cities and a popular holiday spot in its own right, with the districts of Konyaalti and Lara to west and east respectively, both popular beach resorts. An attractive marina and palm-lined streets lend a cosmopolitan atmosphere to the city, alongside excellent restaurants and lively night-life. The 38 metre high Yivli Minaret, erected in the 13th century, has become a symbol of the City. The Minaret is situated on the outskirts of the district of Kaleiçi, the historic quarter of Antalya. Kaleiçi is characterised by its narrow streets lined with quaint little shops, restored traditional houses and boutique hotels.

Immediately to the west of Antalya lies the beach resort of Kemer, surrounded by pine forests and mountains. Next are the peaceful havens of Olympos and Calis, perfect for those looking to escape the crowds. The neighbouring resorts of Kalkan and Kas, whilst increasing in popularity, have managed to retain much of their picturesque charm.

Heading in an eastward direction about half an hour away from Antalya is Belek, Turkey’s premier golf resort. A little further along is the bustling resort of Side which in addition to the obligatory golden sandy beaches is famed for its sunsets over the Temple of Apollo and a sizeable Hellenistic ancient theatre.

The next big town east of Antalya is Alanya, a panoramic port city on the southern slopes of the Taurus Mountains surrounded by orange, lemon and banana groves. Used by the Selçuk Sultan, Alaaddin Keykubat as a winter residence, Alanya has a shipyard from the Selcuk period, a 9th century castle as well as a choice of beaches at which to enjoy an array of watersports or simply relax and soak up the sun. 

Mersin is a major commercial centre and home to a significant shipping port. Ferries depart regularly from here, bound for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. East of Tarsus, the 'Çukurova' plain is a fertile agricultural region known especially for raising cotton. In the middle of this plain is found the city of Adana, a rich city with a large textile industry. East of this region is the Dörtyol (Issos) Plain where Alexander the Great defeated the Persian king Darius. As a result of his victory, a port city bearing his name was established and thus we have modern day Iskenderun. 

Leaving Iskenderun to the southeast, the road goes through the Belen Pass to Antakya (Antioch). This first Christian community founded by Saint Peter has given Antakya a special religious significance. The first sermons were preached in a cave outside the city. It is visited today by many as a site of pilgrimage.
 
Worthy of an inland detour is Kahramanmaras, the home of Turkish ice cream.


EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA

With its high mountain ranges, plateaus, plains and lakes, its creek and river beds splashed with hues of purple, brown, gray, yellow and red, and some of the best Turkish architecture anywhere, this region of Anatolia is like a historical documentary on ancient life. Sivas, Divrigi, Erzurum, Battalgazi, Harput, and Ahlat, all cities situated in this region, were important centers of Selçuk art. 

In Eastern Anatolia are the cities of Agri, Bingöl, Bitlis, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Hakkari, Kars, Malatya, Mus, Tunceli, Van, Ardahan and Igdir, while in Southeastern Anatolia the larger cities are Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Mardin, Siirt, Sanliurfa, Batman, Sirnak and Kilis.

Erzurum is located on a large plain at an altitude of 1950 meters. In the city, there are many religious schools, tombs and mosques from both the Selçuk and Ottoman period which are well-worth seeing. The city of Kars in the northeast is famous for its castle and nearby Ocakli (Ani) is a historical city with rich architecture from the 10th and 11th centuries.

Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi), whose peak soars up 5165 meters is important for a number of different faiths. It is believed that after the Flood, in which all humanity was destroyed, the ark of Noah came to rest on Mount Ararat and as the waters receded Noah and his family settled on the nearby Plain of Igdir. As their numbers increased, they eventually spread along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to other parts of Anatolia. Accordingly, Igdir is seen as the center from which the second generation of humanity multiplied and again spread over the world. The magnificent palace complex of Ishak Pasa, which looks down upon Dogubeyazit, was built in the later part of the 17th century by the Ottoman governor, Ishak Pasa. The site of the castle is superb and it is made up of a kitchen unit, a mosque and separate womens and mens quarters.

Lake Van is Anatolia's beauty center. In order to see all of this beauty, it is absolutely essential that a tour of the entire lake be made, during which time the beautiful mountain silhouettes, bays, beaches, islands and important Turkish cultural and art centers may be seen. The city of Van, which lies on the southeastern shores of the lake, was the capital city of the Urartu empire. The Van Castle, which was built by the Urartus around 1000 BC, is a dynamic example of the age in which it was built and is definitely worth seeing.  South of Van, the city of Edremit is a poplar vacation getaway famous for its beaches, camping spots and restaurants. On the island of Akdamar is located the Akdamar Museum, which was originally a 10th century church.  As the Tigris and Euphrates flow towards the plains of Mesopotamia, they pass through an important region of Anatolia. Some of the bigger cities in this region are Diyarbakir, Mardin, Adiyaman, Sanli Urfa and Gazi Antep. The region is the oldest cultural settlement center in Anatolia. North of Diyarbakir is Cayonu, the most important neolithic settlement of the area. The basalt walls of Diyarbakir, which are more than 5 kilometers in length, have the distinction of being the longest city walls in the country.  Mardin is one of the few cities in the country which has actually preserved its traditional aesthetic architecture. It is a unique site not only because of its well-maintained state but also because of its unusual location on top of a hill. The prophet Abraham, who is the father of 3 different faiths, is believed to have lived in Sanli Urfa and Harran and so they are considered holy places. The Ataturk Dam, built in the town of Bozova near Sanli  Urfa is the biggest in Turkey and 4th largest in the world. The lake is surrounded with beautiful scenic sites. The Plain of Harran with its vast farmland will be the most productive agricultural region of the country. Gazi Antep is the most important industrial and agricultural area in southeastern Anatolia. We doubt that any visitor who has come all the way to Gazi Antep will leave without first having tasted the famous local varieties of kebap, lahmacun and baklava or without buying a few packages of Antep pistachios for friends and relatives.

To the northeast of Adiyaman, on top of Mount Nemrut (Nemrut Dagi) is the mausoleum made for the Commagene King, Antiochus I. On the east and west of the memorial grave site are ritual terraces and on these terraces are gigantic statues of the gods. The best time to see Mount Nemrut is at sunset. Malatya is an important industrial and agricultural region on the lower Euphrates. It is famous for its apricots and the 13th century Ulu Cami mosque in Battalgazi with its beautiful glazed tiles.  CENTRAL ANATOLIA This central region of the country hosts a number of interesting sites. Currently the center of modern Turkey's political life, it has been the center of a number of important culture and civilizations in the past.  The cities located in this region are Ankara, Çankara, Eskisehir, Kayseri, Kirsehir, Konya, Nevsehir, Nigde, Sivas, Yozgat, Aksaray, Karaman and Kirikkale. The capital city of Ankara is located squarely in the middle of Central Anatolia. The most visually impressive structure in the city is the Anitkabir mausoleum built for Ataturk. Ataturk founded the modern Republic of Turkey by winning the War for Independence and then made Ankara its capital.  Ankara is a city planned and developed for the modern world. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations located in Ankara is among the best museums in the country. In the museum are exhibits from Anatolian civilizations starting from 50,000 BC and moving forward according to eras until the 2nd century AD. In the area surrounding Ankara can be found important settlements of early Anatolian civilizations. The Hittites migrated to the Anatolian plateau from the Caucus Mountains and set up the first kingdom in history to encompass the whole of Anatolia from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and from the Aegean Sea stretching east. The capital of the Hittite Empire Hattushash (now Bogazkale) and the second largest city Shapinuva are both located northeast of Ankara in the province of Çorum. Hattushash with its massive walls was a city of temples. Reliefs of all of the gods and goddesses of the Hittites can be seen in the open air temple in Yazilikaya near the Hattushash. Yazilikaya was an important pantheon of the Hittites. Alacahoyuk is another important Hittite settlement found near Hattushash. Alacahöyük is known for the sphinxes which can be seen at the city gates. Sometime in the 1200 BC, the Phrygians came to the Anatolian Plateau from Europe. The Phrygian capital, Gordion, was established near Polatli west of Ankara. Alexander the Great is supposed to have become the ruler of Asia by virtue of 'undoing' Gordion's knot with his sword. The tomb of the Phrygian king Midas, who according to legend turned everything he touched into gold, is located near Gordion. Near Eskisehir and Afyon there are a number of Phrygian cities and worship centers. Now let's head down to vast fertile Konya Plain on the northern slopes of the Taurus Mountains. Catalhöyük, one of the worlds oldest cities is located here. This city, located southeast of Konya, belongs to the Neolithic Era and was an important cultural center with many temples decorated with frescoes by city artisans. Konya and the surrounding regions would later be ruled during the Chalcolithic, Bronze, Hittite, Phrygian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras. It became the capital city of the Selçuk in the 12th century AD and consequently experienced the most important "Renaissance" period of its long history. In the 13th century, Konya was completely redecorated with Selçuk architecture. The great Turkish philosopher Mevlana, who built his philosophy on human love and believed that mystical unity with God could be reached by means of the 'Sema', a whirling dance to music performed by the dervishes, lived in Konya and developed a following here. Every year in the month of December, there is a 'Mevlana Week' in Konya, which includes performances of the 'Sema'. Mevlana is buried with his father Bahaeddin Veled in the Green Tomb (Yesil Turbe), which has become the city symbol. The Dervish Lodge and Mevlana Museum adjacent to the tomb are open to the public.  TRABZON & BLACK SEA COAST Alpine forests? Tea plantations? Billions of hazelnuts? World's oldest cherry orchards? Turkey's Black Sea coast comes as a surprise. The sky is often grey but the land is green from plentiful rain. Fat dairy cattle munch lush grass and produce the country's best milk and butter. Fresh sardines are a delicacy. The Black Sea coast is never crowded because cloud is more common than sun, and the sea water is chilly. But that's fine with the adventurous types who come here for a few days to savor its deep history, its dramatic beauty, its special cuisine, and its prime legend: Jason led his Argonauts along this coast in quest of the Golden Fleece. Concentrate on the coast east of Sinop, a fortified town with a long history. (The only exception west of Sinop is the small, beautiful seacoast town of Amasra, with its own dramatic fortress and history.) ‘Sinope, daughter of the river god Asopus, outwitted Zeus. He wanted to marry her, and promised she could have "anything she wanted." She requested eternal virginity, and Zeus, outwitted, allowed her to enjoy it here on this promontory--or so the legend says--giving the town its name’. The coast's prime destination is Trabzon (Trebizond). Other towns worth a look, or good for an overnight are Ordu and Giresun. Samsun is big, bustling and mostly modern, with lots of services but little to see. Starting from Amasya, you can drive 130 km (81 miles, 2 hours) north to Samsun, then continue 365 km (227 miles, 6 hours) to Trabzon, enjoying the scenery, all in one day, but two days is obviously more relaxed, and three gives you the time to explore in detail. From Trabzon, head up into the mountains to the alpine spa and hiking village of Ayder, then up onto the Anatolian plateau with Erzurum as your goal. The short route is via Gümüshane and Bayburt, the longer and more interesting route is via Rize, Hopa, Artvin and Yusufeli in the Kaçkar Mountains.