Konya is one of Türkiye’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and was known as Iconium in Roman times. As the capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to the 13th centuries, it ranks as one of the great cultural centres of Turkiye. During that period of cultural, political and religious growth, the mystic Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi founded a Sufi order known in the West as the Whirling Dervishes. The striking green-tiled mausoleum of Mevlana is Konya’s most famous building. Attached to the mausoleum, the former dervish seminary now serves as a museum housing manucripts of Mevlana’s works and various artefacts related to the mysticism of the sect. Every year during the first half of December, a ceremony is held in commemoration of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, with the controlled, trance-like turning or sema of the white-robed men creating a fascinating performance for the viewer. The Alaeddin Mosque was built on the site of Konya’s old citadel dating from 1221 during the reign of the great Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat, and today commands the Konya skyline. To one side of the mosque are the remains of the Seljuk Imperial Palace. The Karatay Madrasah, now a museum, displays bold and striking Seljuk ceramics. On the other side of the mosque, the İnce Minareli Madrasah of 1264 is remarkable for its marvellous baroque Seljuk portal. Other Seljuk works include the Sırçalı Madrasah and the Sahip Ata Complex. Visitors find Konya’s Archaeological Museum of exceptional interest. The collection of the Koyunoğlu Museum is a varied one, from natural history to old kilims. Within the museum complex, the restored İzzettin Koyunoğlu house illustrates the way of life of a prosperous Konya family of the last century. Sille, 8km north of Konya, has the Byzantine Aya Eleni church and several rock chapels with frescoes. Akşehir, to the northwest, is thought to have been as the birthplace of the 13th- century humorist Nasreddin Hodja, whose mausoleum stands in the town. The 13th-century Ulu Mosque and the Altınkale Mescidi are other monuments worth seeing. The Sahip Ata Mausoleum has been converted into the town’s museum. On the way to Beyşehir, stop at Eflatun Pınar next to the lake to see this unusual Hittite monumental fountain. Several interesting Seljuk buildings are scattered around lovely Beyşehir found on the shores of the lake of the same name, Turkey’s third largest lake. In the south-western region of the lake is the pristine wilderness of Lake Beyşehir National Park. Among the monuments are the Eşrefoğlu Mosque and Madrasah and the Kubad-Abad Summer Palace across the lake. Another medieval palace stands on Kızkalesi Island, opposite to the Kubad-Abad Palace. Hacı Akif Island also offers relaxation and recreation to visitors. Forty-five kilometres south of Konya, Çatalhöyük is renowned as one of the earliest settlements of the Neolithic era, shedding light on the dawn of human settlement with unique examples of the earliest domestic architecture and landscape painting as well as sacred objects of the mother-goddess cult. The site has extraordinary arts and crafts, with the earliest finds dating from 7400 BC. Surrounding Karapınar, 94km southeast of Konya, are numerous crater lakes, the most famous being the lovely Meke Crater Lake with an island in the middle. On the north side of the road to Ereğli, 10km from Karapınar, lies Acı Crater Lake. Surrounding Ereğli, one of the largest counties in Konya, are yellow cherry trees. The Ereğli Archaeological Museum displays many Hittite, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk artifacts. At İvriz, a Hittite site 180km east of Konya and 18km south of Ereğli, you can see one of Türkiye’s finest neo-Hittite reliefs of a king and god of bountiful crops.

Istanbul, a fascinating city built on two Continents, divided by the Bosphorus Strait. This is one of the greatest cities in the world where you can see a modern western city combined with a traditional eastern city, it’s a melting pot of many civilizations and different people. Istanbul was also announced by the European Union as the 2010 European Capital of Culture. From the foundation of Byzantium in the 7th century BC until today, Istanbul held always an important role in the history of humanity in this part of the world. Everybody wanted to gain control of this area because of its strategic location; Empires were born here on the ashes of previous ones. Since the Republic in 1923, Istanbul continued to grow and today it boosted its population over 15 million people living in this spread out city. This makes Istanbul the largest city of Türkiye and one of the biggest cities in the world. Did you know these facts about Istanbul? Istanbul was founded on Seven Hills like Rome. Istanbul is the only city in the world which is both in geographicaly Europe and Asia. Istanbul is one of the biggest cities in the world, with around 15 million population, which is more than 193 countries around the world. Istanbul was the most crowded city of the world in 1502, then London took this title in 1840. Istanbul was the capital city of three major Empires: Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Ottoman Empire during their rule. The Blue Mosque is the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets, which is the maximum number you can have in a mosque. At the moment there are three suspension bridges on the Bosphorus Strait connecting Europe to Asia. At the moment there is a tunnel under the Bosphorus connecting Marmaray rail system between Europe and Asia. The second one, called as Eurasia Tunnel. There are three international airports; one on the Asian side, two on the European side. Istanbul has the third oldest subway in the world, built in 1875. It’s 573 meters long and located in Tunel neighborhood at Beyoglu district. London subway was built in 1863 and New York subway in 1868. Grand Bazaar is the biggest old covered bazaar in the world, with over 3.000 shops. Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world for about 900 years. Istanbul was the European Cultural Capital City in 2010. Biggest light house of Türkiye is in Sile district on the Black Sea coast. It’s 19 meters high and 1,1 meters wide. Four bronze horses which are decorating today San Marco Cathedral in Venice, were taken from Istanbul (Constantinople back then) by the Crusaders in the 13th century. Tulips, the symbol of Holland, originated in Istanbul and were sent from Istanbul to Netherlands. Originally named the Tower of Christ, the Galata Tower was built in 1348 at the apex of fortified walls and was used to house prisoners of war, later became an observatory, but now offers a 360-degree viewing gallery of the city.

Pamukkale in Aegean Türkiye is also called the “Cotton Castle”, because of the white, cottony appearance of the mineral bath spas that abound the province, which is rich in calcium. Known as a “spa town” since the Roman era, tourists travel to Pamukkale to relax in warm, soothing and therapeutic waters in the myriad spas. Pamukkale is a small place, but it has remarkable spots to make your trip memorable such as the ruins of Hierapolis (ancient spa town), Sacred Pool (scattered marble columns add to the charm of this warm, calcium-dense pool), Travertines (calcium deposit terraces), Roman Theater and the archaeological Museum. Many years ago, Greeks and Romans discovered the curative properties of the warm mineral springs that are found in Pamukkale. Predictably, these springs attracted droves of tourists to the place, but not only to seek therapeutic comforts, but also to see the magnificence of the hardened calcium bicarbonate cascading over the cliffs. Known as the Cotton Cliffs, it is a famous and stunning calcium structure that earned a UNESCO World Heritage Site title in the 1970s. Cleopatra’s Thermal Pool in Pamukkale is a magical place combing relaxation, beauty and history. The thermal pool was built during the Roman era after they discovered the warm waters of Pamukkale provided relief for illnesses such as asthma, arthritis and digestive problems. The structures of the thermal pool collapsed during the great earthquake in 60AD, but instead of ruining the pool for good, the fallen columns and stone carvings provided a quaint, historic touch to the mineral baths. The temperature of thermal water usually stays within a great range to 36-62⁰C. The Ancient City of Hierapolis gained popularity when its calcium springs were discovered by the Romans to have curative properties. The Romans presented the city as a gift to the King of Pergamon, Eumenes II, which he named Hierapolis, in honor of Hiera, the wife of the founder of the Pergamene Dynasty, Telesphorus. What makes Hierapolis different from most places on Earth is that it is not built on land, neither on water, but on limestone deposits above the mineral springs in the area. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the ruins that are littered all over the city, including the necropolis that houses the sarcophagi of important ancient figures like Marcus Aurelius.

If NASA says it, it must be true!

CAPPADOCIA  Cappadocia, that carries centuries of cultural heritage, has obtained a rich cultural accumulation by hosting various civilizations. Through all this richness where they all can be experienced in one place; Nature, culture, religious tourism and hot air balloon organizations that take place every day, endows Cappadocia to be a unique location across the world. According to Bilge Umar, as linguistics, Cappadocia originally refers to “Khepat Ukh”– Khepat’s country. Khepat who is known as a goddess that rise to the surface with a goddess belief after end of Neolithic era in Anatolia. So, before asking the question: “who is Khepat” it requires an introduction: Khepat who was a goddess in Anatolia and was accepted as the common goddess of Hatti and later on Hittite civilizations that established civilization after Hatti’s. In the temples of these Anatolia communities whose center is Anatolia, Khepat is known as a cult of goddess and additionally she is the wife of god Tesup. Tesup and Khepat, that took place in polytheistic beliefs and tolerance territory of Hittite civilization, will later lay the foundation of Zeus and Hera culture. Subsequently, Persians who conquered the territory changed and transcribed the name as “Katpatuka” which is suitable to their language and as the rumor says, it refers to “Country of beautiful horses”. In 2 B.C., after becoming a state of Rome, the region has been started to be called as “Cappadocia”. Khepat Ukh- Katpatuka- Cappadocia are words that don’t have any meanings in today’s Turkish language. It is perceived that the names were originally Anatolian name and afterwards, possibly adopted in Hatti and afterwards in Hittite language. We can see in the Bartoleome’s great Persian dictionary regarding the fact that Cappadocia name has been adopted due to information pollution in the Persian language. “Years ago, I have bumped into a travelling page of a magazine and have seen the name of Cappadocia and Fairy Chimneys that make it interesting. It was a different tone that sounds unusual. Alongside the fact that I was impressed by its name, I thought of how it would touch the spirit of a traveler who wrote the experience that made him say “I assume a fairy got away into me”. Reading this enthusiastic and perfectionist review made me impressed suddenly. Really what did the traveler want to say? In the land of tales and bourn of fairies which fairy has accomplished that? Who were those fairies and what were these fairy chimneys? What got away into me, changed my mood, increased my happiness, made me peaceful or whatever this feeling is, what fairy girl has made this? One of the inspiration fairies Thalia, the mother of dance Mouses’ sirens, Terpsikhore, fairy of elegance, Grazia, mother of elegance fairies, Eunomia, mountain fairy Oread, fairy of valleys Lyke, fairy of meadows Napae, fairy of luck Klotho or other beautiful fairy girl? I don’t know which fairy made me fall in love with Cappadocia yet but however she did it and why she did I am so happy and pleased that I can’t explain. As much as Yavuz Demir tried to express his love regarding Cappadocia with these scrumptious words, the words will remain scarce to express the view, landscape, magic and how it feels of Cappadocia. Harga Tour Travel Agency is the right choice for you to experience Cappadocia with its all beauty throughout 4 seasons. Formation of Fairy Chimneys In the Cappadocia region, mostly Erciyes Mountain, followed by Hasandagi and Golludag formed the fairy chimneys. These mountains were active volcanic mountains in the geological ages millions years ago. The journey that started with the explosion of these mountains still continues today with struggle of wind and rain waters’ erosion. Flood waters coming all the way down from the valley hillsides and winds corroded the artifacts so called “fairy chimneys” that has been formed by tuffs. After this natural event, fairy chimneys have been formed up. Flood waters creating their own ways caused cracking of hard rocks and breaking off. With the corrosion of the faster eroding materials that stays at the bottom of the fairy chimneys, the slope has enlarged, thus, the parts at top that looks like hat and conical shaped body that is immune against erosion have formed. The fairy chimneys with hat are in shape of conical, has a block of rock at the top of them. Body has been formed from rocks that comprise tuff and volcanic ashes.; the hat has been formed from hard rocks. Interesting curves along the valley that have been formed by rain waters contributes to the beauty of the region one step more. Some of the color differences that can be noticed at some slopes are due to temperature difference of lava layers. These formations can be seen in Ortahisa-Kizilcukur, Meskendir and Pancarli Valleys, Cavusin-Gulludere and Goreme Valleys. The human kind that benefits from the generosity of the nature, built houses, watch towers, churches, monasteries, colossal underground bunkers and hospitals by carving this thick rock masses that are convenient for carving. Especially, after the spread of Christianity in Anatolia, with the advantage that Cappadocia provides through its geological structure, monasteries and churches in the region have reached to numbers that are stated in thousands. This enabled Cappadocia to be a central place for Christian monks. History of Cappadocia In the book that was written in the Roman Empire era – Strabon Geographika describes Cappadocia region as until Malatya in the east, Aksaray in the west, Taurus Mountains in the south and Eastern Black Sea region in the north. Now Cappadocia region consists of the rectangular area drawn by the centers of Kayseri, Niğde, Aksaray and Kırşehir where Nevşehir is in the middle. Nowadays, when you say Cappadocia first things that come in mind are Fairy Chimneys, Churches made of rocks, and Ürgüp (Başhisar), Ortahisar, Uçhisar, Göreme, Çavuşin, Avanos, Gülşehir, Derinkuyu, Kayseri – Soğanlı and Aksaray – Ihlara Valley where underground cities are in abundance. Starting from B.C. 2000, Hittites came to the region and founded the Great Hittite Empire after socializing with Hattis. In these times, Kültepe (Kaneş) which is near Kayseri is an important Assyrian trading colony. After Hittite Empire has fallen down which ruled by B.C. 1200s a late Hittite State has been founded. After late Hittite State was conquered by Phrygians, the region was ruled by Cimmerians, Meds and as of B.C. 547 by Persians. Persians ruled Anatolia by dividing regions that are called “Satraplık”. One of the regions which is called today Cappadocia and called Khepat Ukh in Hittites’ era, is called as Katpatuka in Persian Language. Alexander the great who conquered Persian Empire confronts a strong opposition. Upon this, he assigns one of his commanders, Sabistas to organize the region. In opposition to this, the community declares Ariarathes the first (B.C. 332-352) who is a Persian nobleman, as king. Ariarathes the first who establishes a good relationship with Alexander the great expands the borders of Cappadocia kingdom. The Cappadocia Kingdom that lives in a peace until the time that Alexander the great’s decease comes, then it enters again in a war period and fight’s off against Pontus, Galatians, Macedonia and Romans. In A.C. 17 Tiberius includes Cappadocia into the soils of Roman Empire and it becomes the state of the Empire. Construction of new roads increased the importance of Kayseri which is in the position of center of the state and brought the aliveness of the Assyrian trading colonies back. In the later years, the city was surrounded by walls in order to protect it from the Sasani raids that come from Iran. During the spread of Christianity, Cappadocia region has increased its significance and when the Christianity was accepted as the main religion by the Roman Empire, Kayseri became the Archiepiscopate center. In the IV. Century, with major struggles of Saint Basillius the first, Christianity has settled the region and a mystical monastery life in the rocks has begun. When the Roman Empire splits into two parts in A.C 395, Cappadocia stays naturaly in the borders of Eastern Roman Empire. In the early VII. Centruries, there has been intense wars between Sasanis and Byzantines and Sasanis kept the region for 6-7 years. In A.C. 651, after Caliphate Osman conquered the Sasani State, the region is exposed to raids of Arab- Emevi. Christian sectarian conflicts that continued during this jungle reaches its peak especially after the Emperor Leon the 3rd forbids the icons and iconoclasm era (726-843) begins. In the iconoclastic era, Cappadocia received major migrations and icon fanatics Christians migrated to the region. These people hid in the monasteries that are carved into the rocks and continued to their worships and activities. Cappadocian folk got in a peacefully era after Kayseri was conquered by Seljuks. Under the rule of Seljuks Christians pray freely and build their churches. However, in 1308, Mongolian originated Ilkhanids captured Kayseri and the city was vandalized by them. This situation did not continue too much and during the Ottoman era, the territory gets its comfort and peace in the end.

Fethiye was known in history to the ancient world as Telmessos and used to be the most important city of the ancient Lycian civilization. Despite the lack of information about its founding, historians agree that the appearance of the city dates back to the 5th century BC. Following the Fethiye history Lycian legend explains the origin of the name Telmessos as, the god Apollo who fell in love with a beautiful girl by the name of Agenor, the youngest daughter of the king of the Phoenix. He transformed into a little dog and he made his way to a shy and timid Princess and eventually won her love. After which, Apollo transformed back and then his son Telmessos was born, whose name translates as “the land of lights”. Ancient city of Telmessos (Fethiye) is located on the border between Lycia and Karya (now territory of Turkey). The city has been widely known as a centre of prophecy and its predictors had a strong influence on the course of Fethiye history. The fact that life in Telmessos was culturally rich in the Hellenistic and Roman periods is confirmed by survived monuments such as stone tombs, Lycian sarcophaguses, the Rhodes fortress and the Roman Theatre. In 547 BC along with all the cities of Lycia and Karya, Telmessos was captured by the Persian general Harpagos, and the city of Apollo’s son joined the Persian Empire. Earlier Telmessos Fethiye was part of the Attic Maritime Union, also known as the Delian League founded in the second half of the 5th century BC. Over time the city left the union but continued to maintain a relationship with it up to the 4th century BC when it became independent. Later, Alexander the Great appeared in ancient city of Telmessos and according to one legend in the winter of 334-333 BC, the city surrendered to him of its own will. According to another legend during his Asian campaign Alexander the Great attempted to take over Anatolia by sending his powerful fleet to the bay of Telmessos. The commander of Alexander’s fleet asked the city governor for permission to allow his musicians and slaves to enter the city. After receiving permission, his soldiers disguised as musicians and slaves, seized the acropolis of the city during the night festivities. In the year of 240 BC Ptolemy III passed the city of Telmessos to the son of King Lizimakhos. Further, according to the agreement signed in 189 BC after the Magnesia battle, the Romans passed the city to king Eunenes of the Bergamon kingdom. After the fall of the Bergamon kingdom the city of Telmessos in 133 BC joined the Lycian League and was one of the six most important cities of the union. Further in the 8th century AD the rule over the city fell into the hands of King Anastasios 2nd. The ancient city of Telmessos Fethiye was captured in 1284 by the principality of Menteseogullari and it was renamed to Makri, which means “remote city”. In the year of 1424 the city became part of the Ottoman Empire.