Monday, June 13, 2011

Turkey : Ideas For Things To See And Do There

By Mark Walters


If you are due to visit Turkey, then there are thousands of attractions for you to visit. It's a lovely country where east meets west and we've put together this guide on the attractions not to miss out on while visiting Turkey. The Blue Mosque is one of these attractions and it gets its name from the famous blue tiles that line the walls. Completed in 1616, the light from the tiles is reflected through the building's windows, making it one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.

The Gallipoli Anzacs are now a national park but were once the sight of a bloody battle during the First World War, during which both the Turks and Allies suffered heavy casualties when the Allies tried to open a supply line through the Black Sea to Russia. Eventually the Turks won following some intense warfare. Now you can see some war memorials alongside sandy beaches and beautiful pine forests, all of which are definitely worth exploring on your visit to the area.

You should also visit the Cappadocia region, which is in central Turkey and is considered to be one of the geological wonders of the world. There are lots of unusual valleys and cones, which were created by the eruption of two volcanoes more than 60 million years ago. You can also see more than 600 churches and other buildings cut into the rocks in the region, where you will find quite a lot of frescoes painted onto the walls. Cappadocia has been home to many cultures over the centuries.

The ancient city of Ephesus is another must see sight in Turkey. It's one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world, with over 20% of it being excavated. Its history dates back to 12BC and it used to be an important religious and trade center. It used to be home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis and you can also find one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, where St. Paul lived and preached.

One last place to visit is the location of the small yet wealthy Commagene Kingdom. This is located near Mount Nemrut, which is part of the Taurus mountain chain and is extremely beautiful. Attractions include the huge funerary monument of Antiochos I. This is a famous sanctuary shaped like his head that is more than 150 meters in diameter and more than 50 meters in height. You can also see representations of Apollo and Zeus. This is one Turkish attraction not to be missed.




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