Monday, June 13, 2011

Turkey - Some Cool Things Worth Seeing And Doing

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.

Another place definitely worth visiting is the Gallipoli Anzacs, which are now a national park. The area was once almost invaded in the First World War when the Allies tried to open a supply line to Russia via a Black Sea route. The Allies and Turks both suffered high casualties but eventually the Turks won following a period of warfare. Now the area is home to war memorials, which are positioned against a backdrop of beautiful forests and sandy beaches, all of which are worth visiting.

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.

If you go to Turkey, you can't leave without visiting Ephesus. This is an ancient city that dates back to 12BC and is one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world. It used to be a very important trade and religious center and is home to one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, where St Paul lived and preached. It was also once home to the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Around 20% of the city has been excavated.

Finally, you should definitely pay a visit to Mount Nemrut, which is a beautiful sight. It is part of the Taurus mountain range and used to be where the small but rich Commagene Kingdom was based. You can see the famous sanctuary of Antiochos I, which he built for himself as a funerary monument. This is a massive head that is more than 50 meters tall and 150 meters in diameter. There are also huge representations of Zeus and Apollo.




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