8 awesome places in Turkey you haven't been to (and in vain!)

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Turkey is not only an all-inclusive vacation, but also ancient monuments of architecture, picturesque nature and magnificent citrus orchards. Together with the Association of Exporters of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables of Turkey, we have compiled a selection of places you will definitely want to visit.

1. Adana

The fourth largest city in the country, which is divided into an old part, with mosques and noisy bazaars, and a new one, where business life is raging. The largest mosque in Turkey, Sabanci, is located in Adana. It was erected in 1998 after a strong earthquake and has become a symbol of the city's revival. A beautiful view of the mosque opens from the Tashkopru bridge, which was built during the Roman Empire. It is one of the oldest bridges in operation - today it is open to pedestrians and cyclists.

From Tashkopru you can turn to the Ulu-Jami Mosque of the XIV century. Its facades are decorated with austere black and white marble stripes, and inside there are preserved old tiled tiles, made in sky-blue tones. Ulu-Jami used to be the largest mosque in the city - until Sabanji gave way.

Another attraction of Adana is the magnificent citrus orchards. In April, there is even an orange blossom festival. Street concerts, theatrical performances and sports shows run for several days, culminating in a large costumed procession. Autumn is harvest time - oranges, lemons, grapefruits and tangerines are picked from the branches by hand and only in sunny weather.

2. Iztuzu bay

At the point where the Dalyan River flows into the Mediterranean Sea, a narrow sandy strip has formed known as Iztuzu Beach. It is called the tortoise because it is the site of the Red Data Book loggerhead turtles spawning. If you're lucky, you can see them right on the shore.

It is comfortable to swim and sunbathe on Iztuzu: the entrance to the water is shallow, and the sea is usually calm, due to the fact that the beach is located in the bay. But in order to protect the unique place, vehicles and animals are not allowed ashore. The nearest hotels are located in the city of Dalyan.

Not far from Iztuzu there is a turtle hospital where you can see the sea inhabitants. In the mornings, volunteers go around the beach in search of turtles that hatched the day before and did not have time to reach the sea in the dark. And sometimes local residents bring reptiles - for example, if they find an injured animal.

3. Derinkuyu

Cappadocia is associated primarily with balloons, but it is remarkable not only for them. For example, there is a multi-tiered underground city of Derinkuyu, which could be populated by up to 20 thousand people. Inside there was everything you needed: living rooms, warehouses for food, cattle barns, kitchens, workshops. Ventilation shafts were thought out, which reached the groundwater and at the same time served as wells.

It is not known exactly who and why built Derinkuyu, but scientists suggest that the city could have appeared in the first millennium BC. Probably, people went underground to hide from the attack of enemies. The construction was made possible thanks to a special rock - soft volcanic tuff, which is easy to work with and hardens in the air.

Derinkuyu is connected by an 8-kilometer tunnel with another underground city - Kaymakli. A total of six such settlements have been discovered in Cappadocia.

4. Antakya

Antakya used to be called Antioch. The city was founded in the 4th century BC. It was one of the largest settlements in the Roman Empire and later became an influential center of Christianity. If you are interested in antiquity, visit the Antakya Archaeological Museum, which houses an extensive collection of mosaics from the Roman and Byzantine eras. They depict Orpheus, Dionysus, Hercules and other mythological characters. The museum also displays Hittite sculptures, Paleolithic objects and a collection of rare coins.

Antakya is the administrative center of the Hatay region. The region is famous for its interesting cuisine based on beef and lamb dishes. Here you can also try kebabs with spices and onions, spicy chicken, kunefe (hot sweet cheese) and other dishes. There are many fresh vegetables and fruits in the region. As in Adana, citrus fruits are grown here - some of them, by the way, are exported to Russia.

5. Nemrut-Dag

There is Mount Nemrut in the southeast of Turkey. On its top, the king of Commagene Antiochus in 62 BC built a sanctuary surrounded by statues 8-9 m high. There is also a tomb in which the ruler is buried.

The statues symbolize the gods worshiped by the inhabitants of Commagene. The Pantheon is inspired by both Persian and Ancient Greek mythology - for example, Zeus wears a tall Persian tiara on his head. Interestingly, none of the statues have a head on their shoulders: archaeologists have installed them at the foot of the sculptures.

Tourists, as a rule, climb the mountain at sunrise or sunset - they are very beautiful here. Do not forget warm clothes: at an altitude of 2,000 m, it is cool even in the height of summer.

6. Waterfalls Kapuzbashi

One of the most beautiful natural attractions in Turkey, located in the Aladaglar National Park. The peculiarity of Kapuzbashi is that water rushes out directly from the rocks under a powerful pressure. The height of the largest waterfall is 70 m. In addition to large branches, water breaks out of the rocks wherever it finds its way. There is probably a large lake inside the mountain, but no one has seen it yet.

Aladaglar National Park boasts not only waterfalls, but also picturesque valleys. The most famous of them is the Hagan forest valley, on the territory of which spruces, oaks, cedars, junipers and other trees grow.

7. Ancient Lycian city of Mira

Lycia is an ancient country that was located on the territory of the modern Turkish provinces of Antalya and Mugla and had a distinctive culture, writing and architecture. One of the largest cities was Mira - today the ruins of a Greco-Roman theater and tombs carved into the rocks in the form of houses have been preserved from it. The Lycians believed that after death, the soul of a person is carried away to heaven, so they built the tombs high.

The city became famous for the fact that its bishop in the first half of the 4th century was Nicholas of Patara, known in Orthodoxy as Nicholas the Wonderworker. He was buried in Mir, but later the relics were transported to the Italian city of Bari.

Mira is located on the Lycian Way. This route is popular with hikers. The length of the trail is 540 km, it stretches along the edge of the Lycian Peninsula, the Taurus Mountains and includes many picturesque towns and villages.

8. Princes' Islands

Not far from Istanbul, there is a group of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara. If you want peace and unity with nature, this is the place for you. The largest island is Buyukada, which can be reached by ferry. Car traffic is limited, but the area is great for walking and cycling.

There are several Greek Orthodox churches on Buyukada. The oldest monastery - St. Geogrius Kudunsky - was built in the X century. The island is also remarkable for the fact that the revolutionary Lev Trotsky lived here four years after his expulsion from the USSR - even the ruins of his house have survived.

And for lovers of a relaxing holiday, the island has several equipped paid beaches, which are considered one of the cleanest near Istanbul.