Visit the Popular Historic Attractions with Turkey Holidays
by Daisy Wilkinson Travel GuidesTurkey 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.
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Created on Apr 11th 2019 02:31. Viewed 282 times.