Is Mardin worth visiting? Yes. Mardin’s honey-coloured stone old town climbs a hillside above the Mesopotamian plain. Its Zinciriye and Kasimiye madrasas, the Grand Mosque and the Syriac churches reflect a long multi-faith history. Nearby are the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, seat of the Syriac Orthodox patriarchs for centuries, and Midyat with Mor Gabriel. Plan two to…
What is Bursa famous for? Bursa was the first major Ottoman capital, taken by Orhan in 1326. Its early Ottoman mosques, tombs, hans and the village of Cumalikizik have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. It is also known for silk trading at the Koza Han, for Iskender kebab and candied chestnuts, and…
Where can I see the whirling dervishes in Konya? Sema ceremonies are usually held on Saturday evenings at the Mevlana Cultural Center, near the Mevlana Museum; check the current schedule and reserve ahead. The biggest programme is the Seb-i Arus commemoration from 7 to 17 December, which marks Rumi’s death on 17 December 1273, with…
How do you get to Sumela Monastery from Trabzon? Sumela is in Altindere Valley National Park in Macka district, about 45 to 50 km south of central Trabzon, roughly an hour’s drive. Minibuses and tours leave Trabzon, or you can drive yourself to the visitor area. From there a shuttle or forest path brings you…
Is Hattusa worth visiting? Yes, if you are interested in the ancient world. Hattusa, near Bogazkale in Corum province, was the capital of the Hittite Empire and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Highlights include the Lion Gate, the King’s Gate, the Yerkapi tunnel, the Great Temple and the nearby rock sanctuary…
Is Pergamon worth visiting? Yes. Pergamon, in Bergama, was a UNESCO-listed Hellenistic royal capital. Its hilltop acropolis has the steepest ancient theatre, the Trajan temple, the library site and the foundations of the Great Altar. Down in the town are the Asclepion healing sanctuary and the huge Red Basilica. A cable car makes the acropolis…
Why is the Aspendos theater so well preserved? The theatre was built in the 2nd century AD by the local architect Zenon. Its stage building still stands to full height because it stayed in use after antiquity: the Seljuks repaired it in the 13th century and used the stage building as a palace and caravanserai,…
Hierapolis ancient city guide above Pamukkale: Roman theater, Plutonium (Gate of Hell), necropolis, Cleopatra’s Pool and the Martyrium of Saint Philip.
Aphrodisias visitor guide: the Tetrapylon, the 30000-seat stadium (best-preserved ancient stadium in the world), the Temple of Aphrodite and the Sebasteion reliefs.
Troy ancient city visitor guide: the nine layered cities of Hisarlik, the Trojan Horse replica, the walls of Troy VI and the new Troy Museum.
Gobekli Tepe visitor guide: the 11,500-year-old T-shaped megalithic pillars, hunter-gatherer architecture, Sanliurfa Museum and the Urfa Man.
Mount Nemrut Turkey guide: King Antiochus I of Commagene, the colossal stone heads, sunrise on the East Terrace, the lion horoscope and Cendere Bridge.