Why you should visit Turkey
Have you ever wished for a vacation to an exotic location? Turkey is an often overlooked tourist location by most, but this country has a long and vast history. This country has been the seat of some large empires including the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire. Archaeological digs dot the country including ancient sites dating back to the Roman Empire including the Antioch, Cleopatra’s Gate, Ephesus, and Troy. Turkey has a rich history and culture that needs to be experienced by anyone to see the world. Take a tour of this unique and ancient land and discover all that there is to explore in Turkey. Turkey straddles the division between Asia and Europe, often leading to a different culture than its surrounding neighbours. Once home to Constantinople, the country was the Roman church’s foothold East and spawned the Eastern Orthodox Church. This led to the construction of some beautiful chapel including the Hagia Sophia. Once taken over by the Ottomans, Islam became the country’s primary religion which led to the construction of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, a beautiful work of ingenuity and architecture. Both of these sites are open to tourists and show you a large part of Turkey’s culture and the journey towards the nation that it is today.
Another draw to Turkey is the whirling dervishes. The whirling, also known as Sama has its origins in that it is a ceremony to celebrate Allah through dancing. This has been actively practiced by a small religious sect for many centuries, dancing in joy to celebrate their god sometimes for long lengths of time. You can see demonstrations of the Sama ritual in the cities of Konya, near the Mevlana Museum and in the capital of Istanbul. Urbane Nomads has access to some of the lesser known, authentic mevlevihanesis in Turkey. The region in Turkey known as Cappadocia is full of natural beauty. Particularly known for its unique rock formations known as fairy chimneys, this desert region is home to the deposits of many volcanic eruptions. Since the sediment left behind from the ancient eruptions was soft and malleable, the people of the region built monasteries, churches, and elaborate mansions from the deposits. The area is now a popular tourist location and has been used in many different films. You can enjoy a bird’s eye view riding in a hot air balloon or you can enjoy trekking through the area on the ground and appreciate the sheer magnitude of these natural skyscrapers. For those who really want an adventure, the area also has many underground cities, which are believed to have been built during the Byzantine era as a precaution against enemies. Some of these large underground cities are believed to be able to hold up to 60,000 people.
Turkey is a land that has gone through many changes over the past few thousand years, switching hands from the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and the Ottomans. Over the course of its history this has made Turkey a unique country that is European in attitude and culture, while remaining Middle Eastern in many ways. If you intend to be a seasoned world traveler Turkey must be a stop on your itinerary for the rich history, culture, and natural wonders of the area.