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Knidos
Knidos (pronounced kuh-nee-dos ), a once-prosperous Dorian port city dating to 400 BC, lies in scattered ruins across 3km of the Datça Peninsulas tip. Steep hillsides, terraced and planted with groves of olive, almond and fruit trees, rise above two idyllic bays where yachts drop a
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Jewish Museum of Turkey
Housed in the ornate 19th-century Zullfaris synagogue near the Galata Bridge, this museum was established in 2001 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Sephardic Jews in the Ottoman Empire. Its modest but extremely well-intentioned collection comprises photogra
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Church of the Monastery of Christ Pantokrator
This church and a cistern are the only remaining structures of an important Byzantine monastery complex that also included a library, hospital and chapel. One of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in İstanbul, it is the second-largest surviving Byzantine church in the ci
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Aya Sofya Mosque & Museum
Originally called Hagia Sophia (Church of Divine Wisdom), Aya Sofya sits 4km west of Trabzons centre on a terrace close to the sea. Built between 1238 and 1263, it was influenced by Georgian and Seljuk design, although the wall paintings and mosaic floors follow the prevailing Cons
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Karatepe
Archaeology buffs should make a beeline for the Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum within the national park of the same name. The ruins date from the 8th century BC, when this was an important town for the late-Hittite kings of Cilicia, the greatest of whom was named Azitawatas. Tod
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Ancient Patara
Pataras grand monuments lay scattered along the road to Patara Beach. The main section of ruins is dominated by the dilapidated 5000-seat theatre . Next door is the bouleuterion , ancient Pataras parliament where it is believed members of the Lycian League met. It has been thorough
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Deyrul Zafaran
The magnificent Deyrul Zafaran stands about 6km along a good but narrow road in the rocky hills east of Mardin. The monastery was once the seat of the Syrian Orthodox patriarchate but this has now moved to Damascus.In 495 the first monastery was built on a site previously dedicated
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Marys House
Atop the foundations of a ruined house on the wooded slope of Bülbül Dağı (Mt Coressos), thought to be where the Virgin Mary lived, the enterprising Turks let a chapel be built, which receives streams of bussed-in pilgrims and curious tourists. Appropriate dress is required. You ma
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Galata Mevlevi Museum
The semahane (whirling-dervish hall) at the centre of this tekke (dervish lodge) was erected in 1491 and renovated in 1608 and 2009. Its part of a complex including a meydan-ı şerif (courtyard), çeşme (drinking fountain), türbesi (tomb) and hamuşan (cemetery). The oldest of six his
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Yedikule Zindanlari
If you arrive in İstanbul by train from Europe, or if you ride in from the airport along the seashore, you will probably notice this fortress looming over the southern approaches to the city. One of the city’s major landmarks, it has a history as substantial as its massive structur
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Basilica Cistern
This subterranean structure was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul, it was constructed using 336 columns, many of which were salvaged from ruined temples and feature fine carved capitals. Its symmetry and sheer gr
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Aspendos
People come in droves to this ancient site near the modern-day village of Belkıs for one reason: to view the awesome theatre , considered the best-preserved Roman theatre of the ancient world. It was built during Aspendos golden age in the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 161–8
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Yazılıkaya
Yazılıkaya means Inscribed Rock, and thats exactly what youll find in these outdoor rock galleries, just under 3km from Hattuşa. There are two galleries: the larger one, to the left, was the Hittite empires holiest religious sanctuary; the narrower one, to the right, has the best-p
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Kaleiçi
Roughly translated, kaleiçi means inside the castle. In Edirne it is used to describe the old streets to the south of Talat Paşa Caddesi and west of Saraçlar Caddesi. Dating from the medieval period, this is the heart of the old city and it retains a number of ornately decorated ti
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Askeri Müze
For a rousing museum experience, present yourself at this little-visited museum located 1km north of Taksim. Try to visit in the afternoon so that you can enjoy the concert given by the Mehter, which occurs most days between 3pm and 4pm.The large museum is spread over two floors. O
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Ruins of Troy
If you come to Troy expecting a rebuilt ancient city along the lines of Ephesus, youll be disappointed. The site resembles an overgrown archaeological dig and its very difficult to imagine what the ancient city would have looked like. Fortunately, an informative audioguide (TL10) h
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İshak Paşa Palace
Located 6km southeast of town, İshak Paşa Palace is perched on a small plateau abutting stark cliffs. Combining Seljuk, Ottoman, Georgian, Persian and Armenian architecture, the palace was begun in 1685 and completed in 1784. Minibuses (TL1.50) rattle between the centre and the pal
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Van Castle
Nothing is quite so impressive in Van as the Van Castle, which dominates the view of the city. About 3km west of the city centre, its a wonderful place to come for a picnic. Just past the spot where the minibus drops you, on the northern side of the rock, is a modern mosque and the
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Yıldız Park
This large and leafy retreat is alive with birds, picnicking families and young couples enjoying a bit of hanky-panky in the bushes. At its highest point is a şale , or chalet, commissioned by Sultan Abdül Hamit II as a hunting lodge. Built in 1880, this was converted into a guesth
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Termessos
Hidden high in a rugged mountain valley, 34km northwest of Antalya, lies the ruined but still massive ancient city of Termessos. Neither Greek nor Lycian, the inhabitants were Pisidian, fierce and prone to warring. They successfully fought off Alexander the Great in 333 BC, and the
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