50 Reason  to Visit Turkey

• Haiga Sophia – the glorious church that is said to have cost 361 million golden coins, dates back to 537 AD.
• The Blue Mosque – is named after its exquisite 16 th century interior paneling of magnificent blue and white Iznik tiles.
• The Bosphorus – is a magnificent strait where two continents, Europe and Asia meet.
• The Topkapi Palace – the seat of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years is a masterpiece of all times.
• The Suleymaniye and Sultanahmet Mosques – two of the Ottoman masterpieces, still dominate the skyline of Istanbul.
• The Grand Bazaar- originally built in 1461,this intriguingly exotic covered bazaar is still a vital source of trade for both locals and visitors.
• The Basilica Cistern- built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 565 AD is the one-largest underground water reservoir of the city.336 massive Corinthian columns support the Cistern.
• Ortakoy- a district by the Bosphorus, is another lively entertainment area od Istanbul, and also significant for its three neighbors – a church, a synagogue and mosque.
• The Dolmabahce Palace- located by the Bosphorus, is the palace where Ottoman sultans lived after the 19^th century and is famous for its multi-order architecture.
• Cappadocia- this enchanting open – air museum hosts around one thousand ancient chapels and houses carved inside rocks. Ballon tours offer the best view of the archaic area.
• Ephesus- the ancient city and the final resting place of Virgin Mary in the area, welcome thousands of Christians throughout the year.
• Alacahoyuk,Corum- this important city of the Hittites rulings in Anatolia four thousand years ago, proudly welcomes visitors via the sphinx gate.
• Fethiye Olu Deniz ( The Blue Lagoon )- offers one of the most calm and pristine waters of the region and a glorious view for paragliding.
• Patara, Xanthos and Letoon- the three Lycian cities dating 700-500 BC still impress visitors where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean. Lycian kings are immortalized with their rock tombs carved into the hillsides.
• Pamukkale- with its hot springs and breathtaking travertines descending from the slopes of the ancient city Hierapolis, this area is known to be good for heart circulation and neurological disorders.
• The Celsus Library- one of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus, is admired for its magnificent architecture dating back to 3000 years.
• Mevlana’s Mausoleum and the ‘ Semah’ – The resting place of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi,the great mystic philosopher of Turkish Islam. Mevlana is commemorated every year on December 17^th,with the ritual ‘ Semah ’,and this rite is accepted as the reunion with God.
• The Turkish Cuisine- one of the richest cuisines in the world, the Ottoman Palace had more than 200 recipes to cook eggplant, many of them still in ise.
• Turkish Carpets- one of Turkey’s oldest handicrafts, Turkish carpets and kilims are characterized by the use of woolen yarn, bold drawings and bright colors.
• Mount Nemrod in Adiyaman- is where King Antiochus I of the Commagene Kingdom of the 1^st century BC shook hands with Gods.
• Aphrodisiac- the capital of Curia, it is one of the most significant sites discovered by the modern archaeologists in the Aegean.
• The Anatolian Civilization Museum- located in Ankara,with its 200,000 pieces exhibits the treasures of Anatolia’s long history dating back to the 7^th millennium BC.
• Saklikent Canyon – offers refreshingly cool water even in the hottest days of summer.
• Agri Dagi ( Mount Ararat ) – the legendary Noah’ Ark is believed to have been stranded on the peaks of this mountain after the flood.
• The Sumela Monastery – near Trabzon is truly an eagle’s nest, perched on a wall – like cliff
• Hagia Sophia Church of Trabzon – with its mesmerizingly colorful frescoes, is built in the early 13^th
• Uzungol- a magnificent resort on the skirts of the Kackar Mountains in the Black Sea Region, offers a splendid green forest view.
• Side- a wealthy city of ancient Pamphylia, with its huge amphitheatre seating 25,000 still sits proudly overlooking the Mediterranean.The Roman-built theatre of Side is the only antique theatre in the world, which does not lean against a hillside, but is supported by many arches and columns.
• Damlatas Cave- the climate of this cave near Alanya, is highly beneficial to asthma suffers.
• The Galata Tower, Istanbul- built by the Genoese in around 500 AD and used by the Ottomans as a watchtower, is still one of the dominating landmarks of Istanbul.
• Belek – with its deluxe holiday village and hotels,the area offers international golf courses that cater to the interest of an increasing number of golf enthusiasts from all over the world.
• The Ishak Pasha Palace near Agri Dagi- was designed to control caravans traveling on the Silk Road.The Palace was completed in 99 years.
• Zeugma – a city built in around 300 BC,hosts one of  the greatest floor and wall mosaic artworks of the world.The works found in the Zeugma necropolis are on display in the Gaziantep Museum
• The Maiden’s Castel- now a solitary little islet off the shore on the road between Alanya and Silifke,the Castle was built to protect the port town of Korykos in the 12^th century and was once connected to the mainland.
• Safranbolu- a unique Black Sea town venerated for its well-preserved historic Turkish houses.
• The Halil Rahman Mosque in Urfa- is built on the shores of Lake Ayn Zeliha. According to the legend, the fish in the nearby pond were conceived from the ashes of the fire lit for Abraham.
• The houses of Mardin- at first sight appear to have been built on top of the other, and in truth are so in order not to obstruct the views of the neighbors an arrangement symbolizing mutual respect and facilitating community spirit.
• Harran- is a well-known religious and cultural area of antiquity. Today Harran attracts visitors for its beehive shaped dwellings.
• Istiklal Caddesi in Beyoglu- one of the liveliest areas of Europe, has been a residential area for centuries.
• Kumkapi- the area offers not only delicious fish dishes, but lots of local color and music as well.
• Koprucay River- offers ultimate excitement for rafting lovers.
• The Turquoise Coasts of the Mediterranean- with its sandy beaches offer eight months of swimming and magnificent landscape.
• Turkish Tea- the kettle containing tea is placed on top of a boiler and left to simmer for quite some time,when ready it is served in delicate little tea glasses.
• The Blue Cruise- cruising between Bodrum and Anatolia, you can visit bays and coves, which you can only reach by sea.
• The Bodrum Castle- built in the 15^th Century by the Knights of St.John from Rhodes,the Castle overlooks the popular town of Bodrum.
• Iznik tiles- a highly original decorative and pictorial style for ceramics developed by the Seljuk and the Ottoman. Iznik tiles are famous for introducing colored glazes like sapphire blue and golden yellow.
• Silver and Gold Jewelry and Ornaments- Antique masterpieces of ancient Anatolia still inspire the world famous Turkish designers today.
• Sultans of the Dance- a great folkloric dance show exhibiting the rich fusion of Anatolian cultures.
• Skiing- resorts in Uludag,Palandoken and Beydag offer new alternatives for skiers who would like to explore an environmental change from the familiar winter resorts.
• Congress and incentives- When it’s time to meet, Istanbul and Antalya are the ideal locations with their state of the art facilities. Many of the convention centers are conveniently located right in the heart of the cities offering entertainment facilities.

Anatolia Inter Cultural Association