Sultanahmet Cami - Kilim and Carpet Museum - Aya Sofia

Sultanahmet Cami, known to the west as the Blue Mosque, stands next to the ancient hippodrome on the site of the Byzantine palace. It was built in 1609-17 by the architect Mehmet Aga, and was the last and largest of the imperial mosques to be built during the Ottoman era. It is one of the few mosques in the world with 6 minarets, and it has a 22.5m (74ft) diameter dome that nearly equals that of Aya Sofia in size. The dome, which is 43m (141ft) high, is supported by four large fluted columns each measuring 5m (16ft) across.

The main entrance is reached through a spacious courtyard surrounded by granite columns with a hexagonal wrought-iron ablutions fountain at the centre. Visitors, however, should use the side entrance and keep within the partitioned area so as not to disturb worshippers. Head-scarfs and coverings are issued at the door.

Turkish People and Religion

Turkish People

Before 1923 the population of Turkey included large numbers of Greeks, Armenians, Jews and Venetians, and many of the most influential figures in business, trade and the arts were non-Turkish citizens. After the War of Independence in 1923 there was an exchange of populations between Turkey and Greece, and most Greeks were re-settled in Greece. Small communities of Greeks and Jews remain in Istanbul, but the only significant non-Turkish ethnic group in Turkey today are the Kurds. Kurdish is widely spoken in the east and Arabic is common in the south-east, but the official language is Turkish. English is taught as a second language in schools and German is fairly widespread as a great number of guest-workers are "'employed in Germany. In centres of tourism and main cities the touts and shop-sellers seem to speak any language that mav bring them business and most people have no difficulty in communicating.

Turkey - History and Monuments

Turkey has a long and illustrious history well marked by historical monuments and ancient remains. The earliest traces of humans are found in the neolithic caves along the south coast. The oldest civilized settlements are in the south-east close to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers on the fringes of Mesopotamia and date from the seventh millennium BC. The best remains of early civilisation are from the time of the Hittites, an influential people whose capital city was at Hattusas, east of Ankara. The well-preserved city ruins and temple comploxes date from the second millennium BC.

At the start of the first millennium BC the Aegean and Mediterranean coast was colonised by a wave of Greek migrants who built cities and established small kingdoms. In 546BC the colonies fell into the hands of the Persians who retained power up until334BC when Alexander the Great conquered Anatolia and freed the Greek cities from Persian rule. After Alexander's death in 323BC his kingdom was divided between his generals. Lysimachus took Anatolia and founded one of the most powerful dynasties in the classical world. The capital city was at Pergamum which remains one of the most impressive ancient sites on the Aegean coast.

About Turkey Information - 1

Turkey has recently experienced a boom in its tourism industry and many holidaymakers from the west who once went to the Greek Islands now favour the Turkish Mediterranean shores.

Beaches, boat trips, scenic ruins and natural countryside are just some of the attractions; good food, low budget accommodation and generous hospitality follow closely behind. The country has a high rural population and travelling around remote villages is like stepping back in time: farming methods rely on the wooden plough and the hand scythe, and many of the old traditions and crafts such as carpet making and weaving are still a way of life. In tourist centres and major cities the atmosphere is more Western and the regular cry of the müezzin is one of the few reminders that Turkey is an Islamic country with a 99 per cent Moslem faith.

This blog is divided into ten interconnecting routes which cover the chief places of interest as well as lesser known attractions. Each route is subdivided into stages; each stage can usually be covered in the day, and ends in a place where overnight accommodation is availlable. It requires at least 6 weeks to get around the entire country. Most visitors on a short holiday break limit their travel to the beaches andd classical ruins along the south coast but an increasing number of people are also exploring the central and eastern areas as they lowly become more developed.

The Weather and Seasons

Ephesus is the best preserved Roman city in mediterranean region

Ephesus is the best-preserved Roman city in the Mediterranean region, and Turkey's top sight after Istanbul, but the Ephesus archeological site is not the only reason to visit this region.

You can easily spend two, three or four nights in this area, staying overnight in the beautiful hill town of Şirince, the town of Selçuk or the Aegean resort of Kuşadası, visiting the ancient cities of Priene, Miletus and Didyma on a day excursion, or Aphrodisias on an overnight excursion to the hot mineral water spa of Pamukkale, shopping in the large weekly market at Tire, going windsurfing or just relaxing in charming Alaçatı, taking a day-trip or overnight excursion via Euromos to Bodrum, and even getting in some beach time at Pamucak or Altınkum.

Selçuk, the town 3 km (2 miles) east of the Ephesus archeological site, lies at the foot of Ayasoluk Hill, topped by a Byzantine-Ottoman fortress. On the slope are the St John Basilica and İsa Bey Mosque, both worth a visit.

Ankara- Capital of the Turkey Republic

Ankara, Turkey's capital city, is important to diplomats and bureaucrats, and has a few significant sights for visitors.

Formerly Angora, the town had a thriving trade in fine, soft Angora goat hair and the garments made from it. Today this city at an altitude of 848 meters (2782 feet) is a sprawling metropolis of five million people, many of them employed in government ministries and embassies, in universities and schools, in hospitals and medical centres, and some in light industry on the outskirts.

Before the Turkish War of Independence brought Kemal Atatürk and his generals to Ankara as a wartime command post, Ankara was a small town with a Roman citadel on a high hill and a brisk trade in Angora wool, the long, fine hair of the Angora goat.

Pamukkale (Hierapolis), Turkey Video

Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.

The ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white "castle" which is in total about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the town of Denizli, 20 km away.

Tourism is and has been a major industry. People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years. As recently as the mid-20th century, hotels were built over the ruins of Heropolis, causing considerable damage. An approach road was built from the valley over the terraces, and motor bikes were allowed to go up and down the slopes. When the area was declared a World Heritage Site, the hotels were demolished and the road removed and replaced with artificial pools. Wearing shoes in the water is prohibited to protect the deposits.


Pamukkale (Hierapolis), Turkey rassyid