Cultural sightseeing in Turkey. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

For the majority of people, Turkey is a synonym of endless beaches and quite inexpensive but quality vacations. This is true, but this is also a country with a rich history of thousands of years and magnificent architectural landmarks.

Sultanahmet Mosque, the famous Blue Mosque that has enough space for up to 10 thousand visitors, is one of the major landmarks of the city. Six elegant minarets of the building rise proudly above the city, drawing the attention of curious tourists. The mosque is located opposite to Hagia Sophia, a fabulous cathedral and one more marvelous and ancient landmark of Istanbul. The Blue Mosque was built by the order of Sultan Ahmed I in 1616. The landmark is tiled with marble and ceramics in white and blue colors. This peculiarity gave the landmark its second name. Outside, visitors can see magnificent and diverse floral ornaments. Inside, the building is incredibly large and has a strict design. The inner yard attracts visitors with a lively murmur of a fountain. Water from this fountain is used for ablution purposes. There is a museum dedicated to carpets not far from the entrance. This venue is worth visiting because it exhibits a range of carpets, from the earliest to the most original ones. These carpets were brought from all parts of the world. The landmark is always very popular with tourists, but evening is considered the best time to visit the museum.

Hagia Sophia is the former Greek Orthodox Christian cathedral that was built yet in 537. For centuries, it was a symbol of power and fame of the Byzantine Empire. In 1453, Turks, who were astonished by the beauty of the building, decided not to destroy the church but to add minarets and turn it into a mosque. Nowadays, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, which is located in Istanbul, is another landmark with a challenging history. The building was finished at the end of the 11th century. Until the fall of the Byzantine Empire, it was a Greek Orthodox Christian church. In the 15th century, all ancient frescos were coated with plaster, and the building was turned into a mosque for centuries. Only at the end of the 20th century, restorers carefully unleashed the tender beauty of ancient drawings and mosaics.

The Archaeological Museum of Istanbul was founded in 1891 thanks to efforts of Osman Hamdi Bey, outstanding Ottoman diplomat and intellectual. Currently, the museum has roughly 1 million items that belong to different epochs. Almost all of the exhibits were found in Turkey.

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul has long become a calling card of Turkey. This is a giant area that is located in the historic part of the city. It is believed that the roofed bazaar was founded by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1461. Since that time, it was growing steadily, turning into a true labyrinth of countless shops and stalls with all kinds of goods. The central part of the bazaar consists of two buildings – Covered or Old Bedesten and Sandal Bedesten. The latter is a part of the bazaar with 20 cupolas that was named after a type of expensive textile. The Grand Bazaar has many entrances and exits, with the Nuruosmaniye Gate being the most famous of them all. This gate, which is an excellent example of Moresque style, is located right opposite to the same named mosque. The bazaar has an incredibly large territory and features not only shops but also wells, cafes and restaurants, hotels and fountains. In order to make it easier to navigate in the bazaar, similar items are sold close to each other. Every day, up to 500,000 people visit the Grand Bazaar. Tourists may want to buy the bazaar’s map and find what they want faster. When visiting the bazaar, it is important to be attentive and keep an eye on belongings. When buying something, don’t forget to bargain. This ritual will make sellers pleased.

The Galata Tower has always been very popular with tourists. Built in 1349, it was a part of the coastal protective buildings. The tower was also an important orientation cue for sailors and merchants. The Galata Tower was rebuilt a number of times, so it was an observatory and a watchtower that protected peace in the city. During the previous century, the 45-meter tall building was rebuilt once again, and the tower got a cupola. Nowadays, it hosts a restaurant and a nightclub.

The Topkapi Palace was the sultan’s residence up to the mid-19th century. The palace is a combination of numerous buildings separated from the rest of the city by the wall. Tourists can step inside only together with an organized excursion group. Visitors walk through the Sultan’s Gate to get to the first courtyard. There is a beautiful church, Hagia Irene, nearby. It was built by the order of Byzantine Emperor Constantine in 330. After that, tourists head to the second courtyard. This is the place where cooks were making food and servants lived. Nowadays, visitors can see an exhibition of various silver wares in this part of the palace. To the left of the gates, there is the harem building with more than 400 rooms. The next courtyard has meeting rooms, a library, and various halls. All halls are decorated with gorgeous mosaic, the result of numerous skilled masters’ work. Divan or The Imperial Council building is located nearby. In the past, ministers gathered there to participate in weekly meetings. Don’t forget to visit one of the best weaponry museums in Istanbul – the building is located in the same area.

Cappadocia is a truly incredible place with alien-like landscapes that never stop attracting numerous tourists to the central part of the country. To get acquainted with these marvelous places, tourists can hire a hot-air balloon – unforgettable and exciting memories guaranteed. It would also be a mistake not to visit Goreme open-air museum. In Goreme, visitors can see 30 churches located in the caves, unique Ihlara Valley and its temples made in vertical canyons, and, of course, underground towns connected by a 9-kilometer long tunnel.

Roman Amphitheater of Aspendos is the main landmark of Aspendos, a city founded by Greeks in 5th century BC that survived until the start of the Byzantine period in the history of Turkey. Even nowadays, tourists are amazed when they see this giant construction that can accommodate up to 17 thousand viewers who comfortably watched performances while being protected from the burning sun by an elegant gallery or arcs. As the amphitheater is still in good condition, it regularly hosts concerts and plays. Because of the excellent acoustic properties, performers do not even need a microphone.

Side Museum is located on a beautiful peninsula surrounded by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This is the location of the largest archaeological excavations area in Turkey and the largest open-air museum. The majority of exhibited artifacts were found in this region in the middle of the previous century. Fabulous statues and bas-reliefs of the Roman Empire period, a bronze statue of Artemis in nearly pristine condition, and a marble head of Apollo neighbor with artifacts of the Hellenistic Period. Every hall hides many miracles that visitors will be happy to explore. A big amphitheater, an aqueduct, necropolis, fountain, baths, and the main square – all these landmarks deserve the attention of tourists.

The ancient city of Myra is one more place worth exploring. The modern city in this area, Demre, is notable, perhaps, only because of a big number of greenhouses – local farmers specialize in growing tomatoes. For tourists, it is more interesting to visit the ancient city of Myra, the ruins of which still look incredible. This was the religious center of Lycia because the Saint Nicolas Church was located here. In accordance with a legend, the saint was born and lived here. Nowadays, tourists are allowed to see the acropolis, sarcophagi, and tombs. Marvelous tombs made right in the rocks look very unusual – they are shaped like houses. Numerous tombs at a different height create a truly mesmerizing view. The landmarks mentioned are just a small share of the rich heritage of this country.