HAGIA SOPHIA
Built on the site of Byzantium's acropolis by the emperor Justinian I (completed AD 548), the Hagia Sophia was the greatest church in Christendom until 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire. The church was converted into a mosque, with minarets added and Christian frescoes painted over.
In 1935 it has been converted into a museum.
Location: Sultanahmet Meydanı, Eminönü, Istanbul.
Tel : (0090 212) 522 17 50
Tue-Sun 09:20 to 16:30

TOPKAPI PALACE MUSEUM
The Topkapi Palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860), which was a period of nearly four centuries. The order for the construction of the Topkapi Palace on the Seraglio Point overlooking both, Marmara and the Bosphorus, was given by Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinapolis in 1453. In 1924, Topkapi Palace has been converted to a museum with the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Location: Sultanahmet, Eminonu, Istanbul
Tel:0090 212 512 04 80

DOLMABAHCE PALACE
The palace was built in 1856 during the reign of Sultan Abd-ul-Mecid, on the site of the old coastal palace of Besiktas, by the Armenian architects Karabet Baylan and his son Nikogos. The Sultans moved here since the old Topkapi Palace lacked any modern luxuries that the Dolmabahçe could provide, such as running water. The palace is composed of three parts; the Mabeyn-i Hümsyun (or Selamlık; the quarters reserved for the men), Muayede Salonu (the ceremonial halls) and the Harem-i Hümayun (the Harem). ATATURK, founder of the Republic of Turkey, used to stay in this palace during his visits to Istanbul. He died here in 1938. All the clocks in the palace were stopped at 9:05 a.m., the time of his death. The palace which is a museum, today is open on certain days of the week, and it is one of those historic places in Istanbul that must be seen.
Location: Besiktas, Istanbul
Tel: 0090 212 236 90 00

THE ANCIENT CITY OF TROY
Troy (Truva) was a city that existed over 4,000 years ago and was known as a major ancient civilization. For many years it was believed that it was the city mentioned only in the tales and never truly existed, as the area had become known as Ilium, or New Ilium. Archeological digs subsequently proved that there had been nine separate periods of settlement (3000 BC-AD 400) on what became accepted as the site of ancient Troy. The fortifications which can still be seen and which date from the 6th city were those defended by Priam and his sons Hector and Paris, and into which the Greeks smuggled their infamous wooden horse.

APHRODISIAS
The ancient city of Aphrodisias was dedicated to the goddess of love Aphrodite. It is situated near the Karacasu-Aydın province. Aphrodisias was a Hellenistic city which also flourished under Roman and Byzantine rule.
The city was known as a center for arts, especially sculpture. The Aphrodisias School of Sculpture had a distinctive style and was very well circulated throughout the Greek and Roman world.

PERGAMON
Pergamon, called Bergama in Turkish, was once a great center of culture. Today it survives as one of Turkey’s finest archaeological sites. In the Acropolis, above the modern town, there are remains of the celebrated library, a step and impressive theatre, the temples of Trajan and Dionysus, the monumental altar of Zeus, the sanctuary of Demeter, and a gymnasium laid out on three terraces and the Agora. The Asclepion, located to the southwest of the lower city, was a sanctuary dedicated to the god of health, Asclepios. In town is the Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum.

PAMUKKALE
Pamukkale, meaning cotton castle in Turkish, is a natural site and attraction in South-West Turkey. It is one of the most interesting places in the world, famous not only for the entrancing beauty of its unique geological formations but also for its historical remains. The city was on the borders of Caria, Lycia and Phrygia and had a mixed population. The calcium oxide-rich waters flowing down the southern slope of Çaldag located north of the ruins have, over the millennia, built up deposits of white travertine on the plateau. The terraces were formed by running warm spring water, at a temperature of 35 °C / 102 °F containing calcium bicarbonate.

CAPPADOCIA
The uniqueness of the region was formed by the eruption of Mount. Erciyes (ancient Mt. Argaeus) and Mount. Hasan some 60 million years ago, which spread a thick layer of ash over the area. This hardened into a soft porous stone called tufa. During the following centuries, erosion from rain and wind created valleys in the soft rock that left behind higher sections of interesting formations called “fairy chimneys”. The land is surprisingly fertile. Winery is an important industry in the region. People still live in rock carved dwellings as they lived centuries ago, which is cool in summer and warm in winter, and many nice boutique hotels can be found here.

THE BUTTERFLY VALLEY
The Butterfly Valley is one of the most beautiful bays of Turkey, located on a flat level of ten hectares at the foot of a steep and deep valley. Like an open-air museum, exhibiting all species of butterflies living at sea level around the Mediterranean, one can follow the life-span of 30 different daytime butterflies as well as 40 night-flying moths, for nine to ten months of the year, starting with the spring. The Butterfly Valley can be reached by service boats from Ölüdeniz. There is no overnight accommodation in the valley since construction is not permitted, but it is possible to stay in tents or in wooden sheds covered with shrubs and leaves.