Turkey is an exotic land of sultan’s treasures, Byzantine mosaics, Whirling Dervishes and covered bazaars. It is also a land of incredible beauty, from the sandy beaches of the Aegean to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. The antiquity of remarkable historical sites like Ephesus and the ruins of Bergama tell the tale of the rise and fall of ancient empires, while the energy of cosmopolitan Istanbul exhibits modern art and culture. Turkey is a fascinating, romantic country with exceptionally gracious people who have a strong national pride.

Having just spent a delightful two weeks in Turkey, I simply fell in love with the country. My significant other, Todd, and I took a two week tour that included an array of fascinating sites, from city to village and coast to interior. While travelers can easily visit Istanbul and Kusadasi (Ephasus) as cruise ports of call or independently, a more in depth exploration of Turkey and understanding of the culture is really enhanced by an escorted tour. There thousands of certified tour guides in Turkey, but we undoubtedly lucked into the very best one in the entire bunch: Inci with Neon Tours. Inci was, like so many Turks we met, a warm and friendly ambassador. She generously shared her encyclopedic knowledge of Anatolian history, insights into Turkish customs and the best vantage points for photos across the incredible beauty of the land. Inci added an element that we would not have gotten had we traveled independently. Neon Tours used the best hotels in the best locations and transported our group of 16 in an impeccably clean luxury motorcoach with a safe driver and attentive assistant.

Our tour included the most beautiful and classic sites of Turkey, making a grand counterclockwise circle starting in Istanbul. Each day was full of spectacular architecture, mind-boggling antiquity, natural beauty and most importantly, up close and personal engagement with the people and culture of the country. Because this tour covered so much, I’ll share details in a series of posts, but the following is an overview of the Classics of Turkey.

Istanbul  is a huge city of 20 million people spanning the Bosphorus Strait that separates Europe and Asia, making it the only dual-continent city in the world. The traffic is unbelievable – don’t even think about driving there. Visiting the magnificent mosques and palaces, shopping in the Grand Bazaar and savoring the culinary delights are all part of the Istanbul experience.

Ankara, the capitol of Turkey, is the resting place of the revered Father of Modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The daily outpouring of love and respect from the citizens at the Mausoleum of Ataturk is remarkable and inspiring. Also in Ankara is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with ancient Hittite artifacts that tell the history of the earliest residents of the area.

 

Cappadocia is an incredible dreamlike landscape in central Turkey, filled with fairy chimneys and cave dwellings. A hot air balloon ride over the valleys and volcanic formations is a very special experience; a personal bucket list item for me, that is simply spectacular.  The region includes the Göreme open air museum of cave churches (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), underground cities and many small wineries and pottery workshops. 11th Century caravansarai, or caravan palaces, that housed travelers and their camels along the Silk Road and still stand along the ancient route.

Konya is a spiritual home of the Whirling Dervishes, followers of the sufi philosopher Mevlana. Contrary to what some expect, a performance of the Dervishes is actually a religious prayer or liturgical dance, rather than a form of entertainment. The Dervishes meditate into a trance and spin repetitively in a six act prayer-dance.

 

Pamukkale, also known as the Cotton Fortress, is an area of ancient thermal spring activity that has created massive white calcium cascades and pools flowing down the hillside. In Roman times, it was used as therapeutic treatment and a natural spa. Today people still flock to the site to wade in the warm spring waters. It is truly a sight to behold. Nearby, Hierapolis was the first modern spa center of the ancient world. Hierapolis-Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Near the Aegean cruise port of Kusadasi, the famous ruins of Ephesus are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, dating to the 10th century BC, but prospered under Roman emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD. The sophistication of the buildings with magnificent marble columns, intricately sculpted door facings and mosaic floors is nothing short of remarkable. Main sites include the astounding amphitheater, the Library of Celsus, the Basilica of St. John and multiple temples. Nearby is the House of the Virgin Mary, alleged to be the last home of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Northward along the Aegean coast are the sites of Pergamum and Troy. The ancient Medical Center Asclepion in Pergamum was renowned in the 2nd century AD as where the greatest early physician, Galen, practiced. Archeological Troy is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is actually quite fascinating, once you get past the huge and touristy wooden horse that references the Trojan War described by Homer in the Iliad. The oldest of the seven layers of the city incredibly date to 3000 BC.

Finishing the grand circle of the Classics of Turkey is Gallipoli and the Dardanelles. The WWI Battle of Gallipoli was over control of the strategic Dardanelles. Heavy casualties were sustained, but the Ottoman Empire retained control of the straits. Military cemeteries dot the peninsula, with April 25 being the day the veterans are honored. The battle is considered a defining point in the political rule of Turkey, as eight years later the 400 year Ottoman Empire finally collapsed and the Republic of Turkey was formed under the young commander named Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk).

Again, I must say, I was completely taken with this beautiful country, time-honored culture and hospitable people. I hope you will read more about the sites mentioned here, described in greater detail in other Travel Maestro posts. When you are as intrigued as I am and simply must visit Turkey yourself, contact the vacation experts at Covington Travel to customize a trip for you.