Sights of Turkey

Turkey is perhaps the most popular tourist destination for residents of all countries of the former USSR. And this is not surprising. Beautiful nature, the Mediterranean Sea with clean sandy beaches, a high level of hotel service and infrastructure - this is what attracts our tourists to this country. Do not forget about the all-inclusive system adopted in most Turkish hotels. In addition, getting to Turkey is not difficult - the absence of visa restrictions and the frequency of flights contribute to the development of tourism.

Historical reference

The peninsula of Asia Minor, on which most of today's Turkish state is located, has been inhabited since ancient times. It was here that the fates of many ancient peoples (Hittites, Anatolians, Persians and others) were intertwined.

After the aggressive campaigns of Alexander the Great, Hellenic culture gained significant influence on the peninsula, thereby becoming a kind of “bridge” connecting the west and the east. Later, the territory of modern Turkey was included in the Roman Empire, and after its division for a long time it was the core of the Byzantine Empire.

Modern Istanbul (until 1930 Constantinople) is the richest and most famous city of antiquity. He had a colossal influence on the development of culture and civilization of many peoples. After the fall of Byzantium as a result of its capture by the Seljuk Turks, Asia Minor became the cradle of the greatest Ottoman Empire, which left a noticeable mark on the development of not only Islamic civilization, but the entire world.

Beach holiday

Of course, first of all, beach lovers go to Turkey. Resort cities such as Marmaris, Antalya and Alanya are known to every sea and sun lover. Excellent climatic conditions lead to a long swimming season, lasting from April to November. Here, experienced tourists can experience activities such as windsurfing, diving and yachting. The nightlife of the resorts will also not leave fans of this pastime indifferent. In general, Turkish beach resorts are ideal for both a relaxing family holiday and an active youth holiday.
Cappadocia

This place in the mountains of Anatolia is a center of attraction for tourists from all over the world. Cappadocia is a region where extraordinary natural attractions (volcanoes, rocky cliffs and mountains with snow-capped peaks, gorges and lakes with clear water) are combined with unique architectural monuments.

During Byzantine times, this historical and geographical region attracted many Christian devotees, which is why the region is rich in religious monuments. Chapels, ancient churches, and even underground monasteries carved into the rocks attract pilgrims and simply lovers of antiquity. Particularly interesting in this regard is the settlement of Goreme, where there are more than 40 underground monasteries. This is a whole city!

Nevsehir is the heart of Turkish Cappadocia. The city is rich in monuments from the period of the Ottoman Empire, which in itself is not without interest.

Istanbul

A unique city located simultaneously in Europe and Asia, which was once the brilliant Constantinople (Constantinople in Russian chronicles), and is now the largest city in Turkey with its economic and cultural center.

Undoubtedly, one of the main attractions of Istanbul is Hagia Sophia, once the largest Orthodox church in the East, converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest, and now operating as a museum.

Istanbul should also be visited for the unique specificity of the “old city”, which represents authentic Muslim quarters that have changed little in architecture over the past century.

And, of course, the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia and has been the object of multiple claims by the great European powers, is also impressive in its grandeur and is an interesting attraction that must be seen.