Istanbul
The
famous Byzantium and formerly Constantinople has been capital
of three great empires : The Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman.
Being at the crossroads of Asia and Europe and connecting
the Black Sea with the Mediterranean, the city has always
been a very important gateway, through the ages. Istanbul
today, displays the treasures of all this magnificent history
together with the modern life of an ever-busy city with
its unique skyline of high domes and graceful minarets,
prestigious palaces and modern shopping malls.
Bursa
Being
one of the capitals of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa brings
us besides beautiful mosques and Sultan’s tombs, a continuously
booming industrial zone with hundreds of factories. The
Uludag mountain nearby is an attractive winter sports destination.
Bursa is also famous with its hot springs and Turkish baths,
which can enjoyed in some of the major hotels.
Troy
Who
doesn’t know the legendary story of the Trojan Horse? The
famous war started, when Paris kidnapped the beautiful Helen
from her husband and ended after the Greek forces destroyed
Troy ten years later with the well-known wooden horse.
Izmir
The
biggest city along the Aegean coast and an important harbor
for export goods. The history remembers Izmir as the hometown
of Homer with its former name of Symrna and the traces of
Alexander the Great on the hill called Pagos.
Ephesus
One
of the world’s most important historical places of interest
is the ancients city of Ephesus. Being the Roman capital
of Asia Minor and the biggest trade port of the Aegean coast,
Ephesus had a population of more than 300.000 people and
the wealthiest city of the whole region. Today many of its
buildings and monuments have been restored, which attract
all visitors to Turkey. The Temple of Diana, the Virgin
Mary House and the St. John’s Basilica nearby complete the
whole picture of living history.
Aphrodisias
This
ancient city with a marvelous museum, named for the Goddess
of Love, brings very well-preserved monuments, buildings
and temples to the visitor’s attention. The stadium, with
a seat capacity for 30,000 spectators reflects the life
of ancient times, where gladiators and wild animals performed
their fights. The classical sculptures exhibited in the
local museum, prove the marble artwork.
Pamukkale
The
‘Cotton Castle’ is one of natural wonders, where hot mineral
water creates white travertine cliffs of solidified calcium,
with many small and large pools, displaying a spectacular
view. The Roman city of Hierapolis here, served as an ancient
healing center, through several centuries. Today Pamukkale
is famous resort, with many spa hotels.
Antalya
Antalya
is the center of the Turkish Riviera at the Mediterranean
Coast, located very close to ancient Roman cities of Side,
Aspendos, Perge and Termessos. The coastline here attracts
millions of international tourists, who can choose among
thousands of hotels in various categories.
Ankara
The
modern capital city of the Turkish Republic preserves the
treasures of the ancient Hittite Empire in the Museum of
Anatolian Civilizations and also the mausoleum of Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is the ancient, regional name of Central Asia
Minor, with several historical and geological places of
interest, like Aksaray, Göreme and Ürgup. The conical land
forms and fairy chimneys formed as a result of volcanic
eruptions and water erosion millions of years ago. These
have been carved and used as rock churches and underground
cities by the early Christians, which are turned to hidden
valleys throughout the centuries. The frescoes here display
the stories of the Holy Bible and life of Saints.
