Turkey is a Eurasian country which lies within the Anatolian region of West Asia and shares a small portion in Southeastern Europe and is bordered by eight other countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to the northeast; Bulgaria and Greece to the west; and Syria, Iraq and Iran to the southeast. For years, the country had been the most contested territory between the east and the west, and its landscape has been marked with battlegrounds, ruined castles and palaces of great empires. Turkey, today, is an interesting mix of influences from the east and west and gives no shortage of scenic, as well as historic attractions to satisfy each traveler’s curiosity, from the domes and minarets of Istanbul to the sunny beaches of Pamphyliato.
If you plan to explore Turkey, here are a few choice places to visit:
• The Hagia Sophia is located in Istanbul and known for its massive dome which has been recognized as the epitome of Byzantine Architecture. For almost a thousand years, the Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral in the world until the completion of the Seville Cathedral in 1520. After serving as a church and a mosque for several centuries, the building was converted into a museum in 1935 by the first Turkish president, and founder of the republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and the use of the complex as a place of worship had been strictly forbidden.
• The ancient city of Troy, made famous by Homer’s Iliad is where the supposed Trojan War took place. Today the city is an archeological site and a national park, listed under UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The city had been destroyed and rebuilt for a total of nine times, with remnants from each of its layers still showing to this day.
• The Valens Aqueduct is one of Istanbul’s most distinguishing landmarks. It was completed in 378 AD under Emperor Valens as part of a complex system that sources water from the north of the city and is considered to be one of the greatest hydraulic engineering achievements of the ancient times.
Traveling around Turkey certainly won’t be cheap, and it would be great if you could find a Turkey Hotel that fits your budget. At otel.com you can choose from over hundreds of Hotels Turkey that come in reduced rates; Simply log on to otel.com to book the hotel of your choice.
Loading...