Turkey

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Entry posted by korver · August 23, 2020

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Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country of 82 million located mainly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeastern Europe. Throughout history, Turkey has been a center of trade and an important migration route because it's long shoreline and strategic location - and has been ruled by many empires throughout time. Today, the country is home to some of the world's most impressive and fascinating ruins, providing a glimpse into these ancient times - and with plenty of other stunning landscapes, landmarks, and cities to visit, Turkey has become a popular tourist destination. Let's explore the best of this beautiful country in today's update.

Our tour of Turkey begins in the country's largest and most iconic city - Istanbul. This major, global city straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait and has a long, rich history beginning back in 660 BCE and over the centuries has been the capital of three great empires - the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. It's also home the iconic Hagia Sofia - one of the world's most famous landmarks. Today, it is a major hub of culture, entertainment, and finance.

After taking a trip through Istanbul, we head out east into Turkey's hilly interior where we'll be exploring a number of significant ancient archeological sites, beginning with Sagalassos. Located in the Taurus Mountain chain, this was the most important city of ancient Pisidia and came to be a powerful settlement in the region in the 5th century - and a number of important structures were built such as the ancient amphitheatre, as seen below. However, a series of earthquakes in the 6th and 7th centuries set the city back, and after series of epidemics and water shortages, the city was soon abandoned.

An aerial overview of the impressive ancient ruins at Sagalassos.

Perhaps Turkey's most iconic ancient site can be found at Ephesus - an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia. The city was once considered the most important Greek city and the most important trading center in the region. Throughout history, Ephesus survived multiple attacks and changed hands many times between conquerors. It was also a hotbed of early Christian evangelism and remains an important archaeological site and Christian pilgrimage destination. The city is also known for it's Roman rule - starting during 129 B.C., it brought the city to new heights and many iconic buildings were built during this time, such as the Library of Celsus, a symbol of the country.

Our next archaeological site was once the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia - Sardes. This important ancient city was one of the great cities of Asia Minor and has many impressive monuments that are still in decent condition today, such as the city's iconic gymnasium.

Western Turkey is also known for its warm, sunny climate and beautiful beaches - and the Ölüdeniz Beach at Fethiye is one of the country's best. Known as the "blue lagoon", this narrow strip of land is surrounded on three sides by pristine turquoise water - and over the years it's become one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.

Another one of Turkey's most prized natural wonders is the unique landscape of Pamukkale, located in west-central Turkey. Meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, this town is known for mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. It neighbors Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. - and spas in the area still operate today and provide a popular spot for tourists and locals. Pamukkale is a must visit for anyone traveling to this part of the world- it's truly a one of a kind destination.

Our journey to Turkey concludes with a visit to the iconic landscape of Cappadocia. This semi-arid region in central Turkey is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in a region called "Monks Valley", where the views can be quite spectacular. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by cavedwellers and later used as refuges by early Christians. Hot air balloons provide a breathtaking look at this fascinating landscape - a fitting end to our trip.