10 Most Interesting Historic Sites In Turkey & The Amazing Stories Associated With Them

Abstract

• Turkey is an historical nation with a wealthy historical past, the place the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires have all left their mark.
• From ghost cities to well-preserved castles, Turkey is dwelling to unimaginable historic websites that inform fascinating tales of battle and conquest.
• The nation additionally boasts among the oldest temples, church buildings, and ruins on this planet, providing a glimpse into the spectacular architectural and artistic abilities of early civilizations.

Turkey is an iconic historical metropolis on the border between Asia and Europe, soaked in historical past, having witnessed the rise and fall of many nice empires. The Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires have all dominated the realm now often called Turkey, leaving their historic footprints on its landscapes.

The nation can also be dwelling to some locations talked about within the Bible, and a few websites listed below are as outdated as time. The checklist is countless, however listed below are essentially the most unimaginable historic websites in Turkey and the tales that outline them.

Associated: 10 Countries That Are Actually Home To Roman Ruins

10
Kayakoy

Kayakoy is a ghost city close to the vacation resort of Fethiye with an fascinating historical past. The city as soon as bubbled with life and actions till it was abandoned within the early 1900s following a inhabitants swap between Greece and Turkey which had been brought on by a battle between each nations.

The city had been inhabited by Greek Orthodox Christians and Ottoman rulers peacefully, however the whole lot modified when Greeks, Christians, and different minorities had been massacred all through the Ottoman Empire throughout the first world warfare. The Greek Christians had been then compelled to desert the village and return to Greece, whereas the Turkish Muslims in Greece had been ordered to return to occupy the village.

As a result of rumors of ghosts of useless Greeks haunting the village, the Turkish Muslims in Greece refused to return, and so the village was left deserted. It has since been a ghost city, protected for vacationers who come to be taught of its historical past and roam the cobbled streets the place ruins of church buildings, outdated homes, faculties, and temples will be seen step by step being swallowed by nature.

• Location: Close to Fethiye, Southwest Turkey

9
Alanya Fort

Alanya Fort is among the many most spectacular medieval castles in Turkey, standing 250 meters atop a hill within the metropolis of Alanya and overlooking the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea. The fortress dates to the thirteenth century and was constructed on Byzantine and Roman ruins, and it is without doubt one of the greatest castles in Turkey to go to.

Immediately, the fortress is used as an open-air museum that options the large Purple Tower, cobbled stone streets, a Byzantine church, and stays of a Seljukian palace.

8
Troy

Troy wants no introduction, because it has been standard since historical occasions and is without doubt one of the greatest ruins in Turkey to go to. It was on the gates of this metropolis that males, gods, and demigods fought facet by facet and towards one another in one of the epic wars in historical past. In keeping with the legend, Paris – a prince of Troy – kidnapped Helen, the spouse of Menelaus, King of Sparta, and this single occasion led to the 10-year siege of Troy by the Greeks.

Heroes like Achilles, Odysseus, Ajax, Hector, and lots of others all fought, and a few laid their lives on this warfare which finally ended with the Greeks burning Troy to the bottom. Immediately, the traditional metropolis of Troy lay in ruins in a spot in Northwest Turkey.

• Location: Hisarlik, Northwest Turkey

Associated: Where The Ancient City Of Troy Is Located Today, And What Visitors Can Do There

7
The Church Of Saint Nicholas

The Church of Saint Nicholas is a famend East Roman basilica constructed above the grave of Saint Nicholas, a Christian Bishop who inspired the idea of Santa Claus with his secret gift-giving habit. The church was in-built 520 AD with the Byzantine architectural type by the Roman Empire dominated by Justinian the Nice and is without doubt one of the world’s oldest surviving Byzantine church buildings, even after a number of modifications.

Historical past lovers can tag their children alongside on a go to to this church, the place Santa Claus initially started, and likewise marvel on the spectacular construction.

• Location: Demre, Antalya Province, Turkey

6
Aspendos Theater

The Romans had a historical past of constructing amphitheaters in every single place they reigned, which served as combating pits, exhibitions, and leisure facilities. Turkey was not ignored of this, because it was as soon as a part of the Roman Empire, and the Aspendos Theater is without doubt one of the most well-known Roman amphitheaters in Turkey value a go to.

Constructed throughout the reign of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (160 to 180 AD), the Aspendos Theater in Turkey stands out for its huge dimension and is legendary for being the best-preserved historical theater on this planet. Thus far, it’s nonetheless getting used for leisure and hosts the annual Aspendos Worldwide Opera and Ballet Pageant. It’s among the many greatest Roman ruins in Turkey to go to for anybody who’s a historical past buff.

5
The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is one of Turkey’s finest architectural masterpieces, and it additionally comes with an fascinating story. Also called Sultan Ahmet Camii, the mosque was constructed between 1609 and 1617 AD by the younger Sultan Ahmed I to function a present of power alongside the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which stands distant in the other way.

Every little thing about this grand mosque evokes a sense of surprise, from its spectacular Ottoman format to its six minarets to the over 20,000 ceramic tiles that enhance its inside. Immediately, it stays the perfect legacy of Sultam Ahmed I, who died on the premature age of 27 and is among the many prime sights in Turkey.

• Location: Sultanahmet Sq., Istanbul

4
Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is one in every of Turkey’s well-known historic websites, constructed within the fifteenth century. The palace served as the executive and residential quarters of the Ottoman sultans. Immediately, the previous Ottoman royal residence is a museum and library, and due to its huge dimension, the palace is dwelling to plentiful relics and items of historic components unfold throughout a number of buildings inside the palace complicated.

The palace hosts necessary relics, together with Islamic sacred relics and different artifacts harking back to the town’s historic previous and the dedication of the Ottomans to Islam.

• Location: Istanbul, Turkey

3
Gobekli Tepe

Because it was found in 1963, Gobekli Tepe has become one of the top historic attractions in Turkey and has fascinated the world in so some ways. It’s well-known for being the oldest temple on this planet, because it was constructed between 9,600 and eight,200 BC. The location, dwelling to among the greatest historical ruins in Turkey, is believed to have been erected by hunter-gatherers, and that was even earlier than the invention of agriculture, writing, pottery, and lots of different human discoveries.

What makes this web site so fascinating is the spectacular designs of the constructions and the truth that hunter-gatherers had been inventive sufficient to construct such a fancy web site. Merely wanting on the constructions, it’s clear that people have been expert builders far sooner than as soon as thought.

• Location: Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey

Associated: These 18 Ancient Ruins Are The Oldest In The World

2
Ephesus

The ancient city of Ephesus was once a popular Greek city that finally turned a haven for early Christianity. Human inhabitation of the realm dates again to 6000 BC, however the metropolis itself was based within the tenth century BC by the Greeks. All through its historical past, it was captured a number of occasions and dominated by completely different powers, together with the Cimmerians, Lydians, Persians, the Romans, and extra.

Town turned notably famed because it served as a spot for early Christianity, nevertheless it was additionally well-known as a result of Paul the Apostle lived and arranged missionary actions from there for some years. John – one of many twelve disciples – is claimed to have written the Guide of John from the town. The church at Ephesus was additionally notably busy within the early Christian days, because it was addressed within the Guide of Revelation.

Immediately, Ephesus boasts among the greatest historic websites in Turkey; it is dwelling to a well-preserved Roman amphitheater, the Celsus Library, which once had 12,000 scrolls, and lots of different ruins from historical occasions. Town was additionally dwelling to the temple of Artemis – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though solely ruins of the temple’s foundations will be seen as we speak.

1
Hagia Sophia

A church turned mosque, Hagia Sophia now stands as the most impressive attraction in Turkey and one of many world’s best monuments. It was constructed within the sixth century AD by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I as a church till the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

The aftermath of the conquest noticed the conversion of the church to a mosque, a museum, and once more a mosque which is now getting used for prayers, though this has not sat effectively with many people, organizations, and worldwide leaders worldwide.

The outside of Hagia Sophia is simply as spectacular as its inside. Outdoors, the large monument greets the eyes with its gigantic domed roof, and inside, giant marble slabs, Islamic minarets, and Christian mosaics (coated with curtains) welcome vacationers and worshippers alike as we speak.

• Location: Religion District, Istanbul, Turkey