Haghia Sophia Museum

The great  masterpiece of Byzantine art. It was  built by Justinian in 6th century AD and is the 3rd church to occupy this site. At the time it was built, it was the largest church in existence. The church was sacked by the Latins during the 4th crusade in 1204 and many of its treasures taken to the west. When Contantinople (Istanbul) was conquered by the Ottoman Sultan, Mehmet II in 1453,it was converted into a mosque. Since 1936, by Ataturk's order it has been a museum. The interior is decorated with wonderful Byzantine mosaics from 6th to 13th century AD.

Blue Mosque

Sultan Ahmet Camii is one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. Its name is derived from the blue tiles decorating its interior. Completed in 1616by Mehmet Aga, Imperial Architect and one of the students of the great architect Sinan. Its grace and beautiful proportions were intended to reflect the splendour of Islam. It was the supreme Imperial Mosque of the Ottoman Empire. The famous blue and green Iznik tiles on the walls are bathed in glorious light that is filtered through 260 windows. On summer evenings there are light andsound shows in the grounds.

Pamukkale

One of the natural wonders of the world. Pamukkale  is a unique geological formation formed over 14.000 years. The spring water at Pamukkale has therapeutic qualities and since antiquity has been said to cure rheumatism, kidney and heart diseases. Hierapolis, means sacred-city and its history goes back 6th C BC. At its peak the population reached about 100,000. The ruins at Hierapolis cover an extensive area. The theater, Temple of Apollo, Colonnaded Street, Byzantine Gate, Plutonium and Necropolis (Cemetery) are some of the highlights of the city. The Necropolis has approximately 1000 tombs and is the largest in Asia Minor.

Ephesus

One of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world with a history dating back the 12 C BC. Ephesus was an important trade and religious center. During the Roman period its population reached Approx. 250,000. One of the seven wonders of the world, Temple of Artemis was in Ephesus. It is also the site of one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.St. Paul lived and preached for about 2 years in Ephesus. Today it is estimated that between 15-20% of the city has been excavated. Some of the highlights are the Odeon, Celsus Library, Great Theater, Commercial Agora, Terrace Houses, Blue Marble Street, Scholistica baths and Brothel.

Cappadocia

One of the geological wonders of the world. Cappadocia is a high plateau in Central Turkey  at an altitude of 3270 ft / 1000 m. It lies in a triangle formed by the three main towns of Kayseri, Nevsehir and Nigde. The history of Cappadocia begins 60 million years ago with the eruption of 2 volcanos, covering the area with lava and tufa.  In later periods rain and wind eroded the land and created unusual valleys, canyons and cones.  For many centuries Hittites, Assyrian Colonies, Greeks and Romans lived in the region.  Cappadocia is also a very important region in early Christian History. There are over 600 hundred rock-cut churches built by monks and hermits between the 4th and 11th centuries. In some of these, church walls have been decorated with wonderful frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible.

Pergamum

The history of the city starts in the 8th C BC when Aeolian Greek colonies settled in the
area. The city was founded on a hill overlooking the Caicos plain. During the reign of Eumenes II in the 2nd C BC, it became one of the cultural  and intellectual centers of the day. With the invention of pergamena (parchment) its library grew to rival in size, the great library of Alexandria.  Pergamum was one of the Seven Churches of the Revelations. The famous Roman physician, Galen was born and studied in Pergamum.The ruins are separated into 3 parts, the Acropolis, Red Courtyard and Asclepion, which was the  cure center of Pergamum.

Sardis

Sardis  was the capital of the Kingdom of Lydia.  It was founded on the banks of the famous golden-bearing river Pactolus. The legendary  King of Lydia Croesus (560-540 BC) controlled most of western Asia Minor and made generous offerings to the temples of Delphi, Artemis and Didyma.  In the 7th C BC the Lydians invented the first coinage in history. They developed methods to extract gold from metal ores. Some of the highlights are the temple of Artemis, one of  largest temples in Asia Minor and the Roman Gymnasium complex. Part of the Gymnasium  was converted into a synagogue in 3rd C BC. Sardis is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.

 
Aspendus

located in the ancient region of Pamphylia. According to some experts the  earliest settlers of the city were the Hittites. The name Aspendus is of Anatolian origin.  The Greek colonies arrived here around 13th C BC and took over an existing settlement. Alexander the Great claimed the city from the Persians and during the Roman period it was  an important port city. The city was founded on a hilltop and spread  down to the plains. Aspendus has one of the best preserved and largest Roman theaters in Turkey. It was built in the 2nd C AD. The city's aqueducts are also well preserved and worth a visit.

Mt Nemrut 

One of the most spectacular sites in Turkey especially at sunset. Mt Nemrut (approx. 2552m) is an extension of the Taurus mountain range in southeastern Turkey. After the division of Alexander's Empire into three, the Seleucids established the relatively small and wealthy Commagene Kingdom in the region.In 62 BC, Antiochos I became king of Commagene and developed his kingdom as a strategic crossroad on the important trade routes between Syria, Mesopotamia and Rome. The famous sanctuary was built by Antiochos I for himself as a funerary monument. It is a  conical tumulus with a height of 50m and 150m diameter. There are colossal heads of Apollo, Zeus and Antiochos I.

Gallipoli - Canakkale                                

The slim peninsula on the northern side of the Dardanelles has been designated
a National Park.In 1915, Allied warships tried to force their  way through the straits with the intention of opening a supply line to Russia via the  Black Sea. Allied landings on the Gallipoli  Peninsula were finally beaten off by the Turks following bitter warfare. Casualties were high on both sides and today several war memorials stand in the attractive landscape of pine forests, green hills and pretty beaches.

Antalya
Antalya, the city on Turkey.s central Mediterranean coast, has straddled the beauty of the pebbled beaches along with the nostalgia of the Roman-Ottoman days. Making this city the base, various beach towns and ancient regions can be explored by the visitors. In the 75 km east, there is the increasingly popular beach town of Side (here Anthony and Cleopatra had their romantic tryst), and further 40km east lies Alanya . a sea-sun-n sand joint. In Patara, the beach is simply marvelous and is dotted with sand dunes and ruins of the Roman Empire. The beach closes at dusk to ensure the safe return of the sea turtles to their nest.