Turkey: What to See
We would like to remind you that this year Transat Holidays has opened new destination – Turkey, departing from Toronto. That’s why we’ve decided to write a few articles about that fairytale oriental contry.
At the crossroads of civilizations, all parts of Turkey are full of a mind-blowing number of interesting places to visit. Being on the crossroads of civilizations not always means being the battleground of civilizations: many
castles and citadels dot the Turkish landscape, both in towns and countryside, and both on the coasts and inland. Most of the castles built during different stages of history are today main attractions of the towns they are standing on.
- Hittites is the earliest settlement ever found to the date in Turkey. Legendary Troy stands out as an example of different civilizations literally living on the top of each other. While what is visible today is clearly Hellenistic, the place has its roots as Hittite Wilusa, and later re-built many times over by Ancient Greeks.
- Ancient Greeks and closely following Romans left their mark mostly in Aegean and Mediterranean Regions, leaving behind the marble ruins of hundreds of cities, temples, and monuments. Some are largely restored to their former glory, such as Ephesus as well as numerous others along the Aegean coast which are on the checklist of most travelers to Turkey. Lycians, the indigenous peoples were carving beautiful tombs, many of which are fairly well preserved and can be seen around Lycia.
- Perhaps the most unique “architectural” heritage in the country, some of the Cappadocian cave houses and churches carved into “fairy chimneys” and underground cities (in a literal sense!) date back to early Christians hiding from persecution.
- Successors of Romans, the Byzantines, broke new ground with more ambitious projects, culminating in grand Hagia Sophia of Istanbul, built in 537, and which had the distinction of being the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years.
- Seljuks, the first ever Turkic state to be founded in Asia Minor, built most of their monuments – which incorporates large majestic portals and heavily delicate stonework, reminiscent of some landmarks in parts of Asia, in major centres of the time in Eastern and Central Anatolia, especially in Konya, their capital.
- Ottomans, who had considered themselves as a Balkan state until their demise, built most of their landmarks in Balkans and the natural extension of Balkans within today’s Turkey, Marmara Region, just like the Byzantines, whom the Ottomans inspired to in so many ways. Most of the earlier Ottoman monuments were built in Bursa. The Ottoman imperial architecture possibly reached its zenith not in Istanbul, but in Edirne, in the form of Selimiye Mosque, a work of Sinan, the great Ottoman architecture of 16th century.
- The Topkapy Palace is a palace in Istanbul, which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction today, containing the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as the Prophet Muhammed’s cloak and sword. Topkap? Palace is among those monuments belonging to the “Historic Areas of Istanbul”, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is the best example of ensembles of palaces of the Ottoman period.
The Dolmabahçe Palace
The remote valleys and hilltops of Eastern Karadeniz and Eastern Anatolia are dotted with numerous
medieval Georgian and Armenian churches and castles.
Pamukkale
Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is located in Turkey’s Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley. But it’s not a “castle”, it’s a natural phenomenon, natural wander. This snow-white site contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is recognized as a World Heritage Sites in 1988. In this area, there are 17 hot water springs in which the temperature ranges from 35°C to 100°C. The water that emerges from the spring is transported 320m to the head of the travertine terraces and deposits calcium carbonate on a section 60 to 70m long covering an expanse of 240m to 300m. When the water, supersaturated with calcium carbonate, reaches the surface, carbon dioxide degases from it, and calcium carbonate is deposited. The depositing continues until the carbon dioxide in the water balances the carbon dioxide in the air. Calcium carbonate is deposited by the water as a soft jelly, but this eventually hardens into travertine. Pamukkale is not only a famous tourist attraction but also a health resort. The queen Cleopatra came there to refresh her beauty by bathing in hot water.
For reservation and information please contact Altair Travel: 416-633-9404December 31, 2013/ altair / European Vacations
We would like to remind you that this year Transat Holidays has opened new destination – Turkey, departing from Toronto. That’s why we’ve decided to write a few articles about that fairytale oriental contry.
At the crossroads of civilizations, all parts of Turkey are full of a mind-blowing number of interesting places to visit. Being on the crossroads of civilizations not always means being the battleground of civilizations: many castles and citadels dot the Turkish landscape, both in towns and countryside, and both on the coasts and inland. Most of the castles built during different stages of history are today main attractions of the towns they are standing on.
- Hittites is the earliest settlement ever found to the date in Turkey. Legendary Troy stands out as an example of different civilizations literally living on the top of each other. While what is visible today is clearly Hellenistic, the place has its roots as Hittite Wilusa, and later re-built many times over by Ancient Greeks.
- Ancient Greeks and closely following Romans left their mark mostly in Aegean and Mediterranean Regions, leaving behind the marble ruins of hundreds of cities, temples, and monuments. Some are largely restored to their former glory, such as Ephesus as well as numerous others along the Aegean coast which are on the checklist of most travelers to Turkey. Lycians, the indigenous peoples were carving beautiful tombs, many of which are fairly well preserved and can be seen around Lycia.
- Perhaps the most unique “architectural” heritage in the country, some of the Cappadocian cave houses and churches carved into “fairy chimneys” and underground cities (in a literal sense!) date back to early Christians hiding from persecution.
- Successors of Romans, the Byzantines, broke new ground with more ambitious projects, culminating in grand Hagia Sophia of Istanbul, built in 537, and which had the distinction of being the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years.
- Seljuks, the first ever Turkic state to be founded in Asia Minor, built most of their monuments – which incorporates large majestic portals and heavily delicate stonework, reminiscent of some landmarks in parts of Asia, in major centres of the time in Eastern and Central Anatolia, especially in Konya, their capital.
- Ottomans, who had considered themselves as a Balkan state until their demise, built most of their landmarks in Balkans and the natural extension of Balkans within today’s Turkey, Marmara Region, just like the Byzantines, whom the Ottomans inspired to in so many ways. Most of the earlier Ottoman monuments were built in Bursa. The Ottoman imperial architecture possibly reached its zenith not in Istanbul, but in Edirne, in the form of Selimiye Mosque, a work of Sinan, the great Ottoman architecture of 16th century.
- The Topkapy Palace is a palace in Istanbul, which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction today, containing the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as the Prophet Muhammed’s cloak and sword. Topkap? Palace is among those monuments belonging to the “Historic Areas of Istanbul”, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is the best example of ensembles of palaces of the Ottoman period.
The Dolmabahçe Palace
The remote valleys and hilltops of Eastern Karadeniz and Eastern Anatolia are dotted with numerous medieval Georgian and Armenian churches and castles.
Pamukkale
Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is located in Turkey’s Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley. But it’s not a “castle”, it’s a natural phenomenon, natural wander. This snow-white site contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is recognized as a World Heritage Sites in 1988. In this area, there are 17 hot water springs in which the temperature ranges from 35°C to 100°C. The water that emerges from the spring is transported 320m to the head of the travertine terraces and deposits calcium carbonate on a section 60 to 70m long covering an expanse of 240m to 300m. When the water, supersaturated with calcium carbonate, reaches the surface, carbon dioxide degases from it, and calcium carbonate is deposited. The depositing continues until the carbon dioxide in the water balances the carbon dioxide in the air. Calcium carbonate is deposited by the water as a soft jelly, but this eventually hardens into travertine. Pamukkale is not only a famous tourist attraction but also a health resort. The queen Cleopatra came there to refresh her beauty by bathing in hot water.
For reservation and information please contact Altair Travel: 416-633-9404
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