If you’re still getting over how old everything is in Europe, prepare to be blown away by Turkey. One of three countries to be home to two of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World (Greece and Egypt are the others), much of Turkey’s history dates back to hundreds of years BC. These are the sites worth dragging yourself off that Mediterranean beach for.
Aya Sofya
No attraction better encapsulates Istanbul’s rich, layered history. Originally built as a Roman church in the 6th century, Aya Sofya was converted to a stunning mosque in the 15th. Nowadays, it’s a museum, its neutrality perhaps mirroring modern Turkey’s secular state. Unfortunately, scaffolding seems to be a permanent fixture reaching up to the giant central dome, but a tangible solemnity still resonates throughout the building.
Sultan Ahmet Camii (the Blue Mosque)
Turkey’s most photographed mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I in the 17th century in a bid to outdo neighbouring Aya Sofya. Whether or not he succeeded, there’s no denying the beauty of the interior mosaics. Unlike Aya Sofya, it’s still used as a place of worship, so cover up before visiting and be patient at prayer time.
Topkapi Palace
Not as visually stunning as Istanbul’s two premier historic attractions, Topkapi Palace does, however, have far more riches to examine. Highlights of the 500-year-old palace are the Harem and Treasury, both of which cost extra to tour, but are well worth shellling out for, the former for its insight into daily palace life and the latter for the stunning collection of jewels, weapons and artefacts. Finish off with a wonderful view across the Golden Horn and Istanbul below.
Ephesus
Much like the famed Italian city of Pompeii, Ephesus offers a good look at the layout of an ancient Roman city. The current remains are of the third city built here, which began crumbling in the fifth century AD, but there has been a settlement nearby since around 600BC.
The most impressive building is the Library of Celsus which, although a reconstruction, is stunning nonetheless. Next is the giant Colosseum-like ampitheatre, which once held more than 20,000 people. Aside from these two, and the odd intact statue, the site can be a jumble of broken columns and ruins. However, buildings such as the former brothel and public toilets allow an insight into everyday life that you wouldn’t have found in your school history book.
A short drive from Ephesus lies the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Unfortunately, the temple was destroyed long ago, with one pieced-together column all that’s left for tourists to photograph.
Also not too far away is Meryemana, the House of the Virgin Mary, where Jesus’ mother is supposed to have arrived with St John towards the end of her life. The site is extremely popular with Christian pilgrims, though the building itself isn’t overly remarkable.
Göreme Open Air Museum
While Cappadocia’s bizarre landscape is fascinating enough, more impressive is the way Christians in the first millennium AD carved churches out of the soft rock. The Göreme Open Air Museum contains the best of these, many with frescoes still intact. On the whole, the facades of the buildings are more impressive than the musty interiors, while the sheer number of churches emphasises what a centre of Christianity Cappadocia was. If you have the time, the multi-level underground cities found in
neighbouring Kaymakli and Derinkuyu show the lengths Christians were forced to go to to avoid the wrath of invading armies on their way to Constantinople.
Pergamum
Another ancient city, Pergamum was home to the world’s second largest library until Marc Antony raided it and bequeathed the entire collection to Cleopatra. Today, little of the library remains, but the Temple of Trajan and neighbouring theatre are impressive. The steep hill the site occupies played a major role in the city’s defences, and led to some innovative building techniques, such as the ampitheatre, which is built into the hill and sickeningly steep.
Hierapolis
Situated beside the white fluffy cliffs of Pamukkale, Hierapolis was a Roman spa town. Frontinus Street retains a marble walkway dotted with columns, while the ampitheatre is smaller but in better condition than those at Ephesus and Pergamum. The highlight of a trip here, though, is the Hierapolis Archaeology Musuem in the former Roman bathhouse, with its collection of statues, sculptures and sarcophagi showing remarkable detail for their age. Although the city of Hierapolis was founded in the 2nd century BC, there are artefacts dating back to 7000BC. Afterwards, take a dip in the Paumkkale Termal, a spa containing fragments of ancient marble columns in the water.
Bodrum’s Mausoleum
The world’s first mausoleum was built for Mausollus in the 4th century BC, and was impressive enough to become one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Like the Temple of Artemis, not a lot has survived, though unlike the Temple, there’s at least a display on site, containing various models and drawings, and a copy of the building’s famous frieze – the original is in London’s British Museum.
Mt Nemrut National Park
The sight of 2m-tall heads staring forlornly at the bodies they once crowned is quite beguiling, if a little weird. The statues atop Mt Nemrut date back to pre-Roman times and were only rediscovered in the late 19th century. Many have only been dug up in the past 50 years.
Troy
Thank God for Homer and Brad Pitt. If it wasn’t for the famed story of the Trojan horse, few travellers would find reason to visit Troy, which makes it onto the World Heritage List courtesy of its various sets of ancient walls – archaeologists say there were actually nine ancient cities here, built one of top of the other, dating back to 3000BC. In recent years, fed up with tourists’ complaints, the Turkish Government cracked and built a large wooden horse; their efforts are about as fascinating as Australia’s Big Pineapple or Banana.
Olympos
Nothing to do with the Olympics (that would be Olympia, in Greece), Olympos was still a renowned city a couple of hundred years BC. Despite a smattering of ruins sprinkled not far from the beach, Olympos is nowadays more famous for its ‘treehouse’ accommodation, a favourite with backpackers. For those who get restless, a trip up Mt Olympos will uncover the Chimaera – a group of flames which burst spontaneously from the mountain. Something to do with gas escaping the Earth, apparently.
Sumela Monastery
This Byzantine monastery is all about location, perched, as it is, on a cliff surrounded by a serene natural environment. The monastery has undergone numerous renovations, though some of the frescoes still date back to the 9th century. The chapel itself is cut into the rock.
Termessos
Having resisted both Alexander the Great and the Romans, the Termissians were pretty handy fighters. Looking at the fortress that is their city, it’s clear why they frustrated so many opponents. The former lynchpin of their defence, the high ground the site occupies now makes for stunning views.
Ani
Right on Turkey’s north-east border, Ani used to actually be the Armenian capital. The 1100-year-old churches here are ideal for peaceful contemplation – especially compared to tourist-heavy sites like Ephesus. The Church of the Redeemer, half of which was destroyed by lightning, is a highlight.
