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 o f 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 Atatürk, 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
Ürgüp. 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
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