Visit the Popular Historic Attractions with Turkey Holidays

by Daisy Wilkinson Travel Guides

Turkey is a country that offers some fabulous cultural experiences for its visitors. It is a transcontinental country with a major part of the nation located in Western Asia and a smaller portion in South-eastern Europe. Besides the historic attractions, you'll also be delighted to find some enchanting natural surroundings while holidaying in this part of the world. This nation has a rich history that dates back to the Neolithic period and was ruled by many powerful empires at different times in the past. Some of the historical structures that stand testimony to the might of those empires exist even today and attract plenty of tourists every year.

One of these attractions you can visit during your cheap holidays to Turkey is the Hagia Sophia, called 'Aya Sofya' in the Turkish language. It was first built as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral by the Roman emperor, Justinian I, in the 6th century. This building was the largest in the world when it was first built and was considered an engineering marvel and a shining example of the Byzantine architecture. It got converted into a Roman Catholic cathedral when the Latin Empire ruled this region. When the Ottoman Empire established their rule, they transformed it into a mosque. On the 1st of February, 1935, it was converted into a museum.

While enjoying your Turkey holidays, you'll also get the opportunity to visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, which is also widely known as the 'blue mosque'. It was constructed in the 17th century when Sultan Ahmed I ruled this region. This mosque looks extremely beautiful in its blue shades when the lights are switched on in the evening. The visitors to Hagia Sophia would have greater convenience in exploring this mosque, as both of them are located close to each other. It is worth noting that Pope Benedict XVI had visited this mosque in 2006.

You certainly won't like to miss the Topkapi Palace during your Turkey holidays, which was constructed during the 15th century by Sultan Mehmed II after his conquest of Constantinople. It was built as the ruler's main residence, but was converted into a museum by the Government of Turkey in 1923 after the rule of the Ottoman Empire came to an end. The entire palace complex was expanded after its construction many times. You can access the most important rooms of this palace today, including the former imperial harem and the treasury. While exploring the museum, you’ll also find several artefacts from the times of the Ottoman rule, such as weapons, armours, clothes, and religious relics.

Another charming attraction you can explore while in Turkey is the Pamukkale. These white travertine terraces attract many tourists owing to their mesmerising natural beauty. An ancient Greco-Roman city called Hierapolis was constructed above the calcite hill. The terraces have the appearance of milky pools that are a result of the calcium-rich springs that cascade down the mountains. Many of the visitors get the chance to dip their feet into these thermal pools while exploring the Pamukkale.