Turkey Holidays Offer Something For Everyone

It is no surprise Turkey has grown into one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Considering its unique and ancient history, its spectacular natural beauty, and its traditional hospitality, this nation truly has something to offer every traveler. For the family that enjoys outdoor activities, there is everything from skiing and mountain climbing to hiking and hunting. The country is surrounded on three sides by oceans, so there are countless beaches, islands, ports, coves and peninsulas that are fascinating to explore. Fewer visitors realize Turkey has recently opened up the new field of health tourism so both men and women may enjoy soaking in the healing waters of hot springs and being covered with health-promoting mud.

As we focus on sacred sites and pilgrimage destinations our Turkey holidays are more likely to be spent on the trail of ancient religious sites. Not only are there shrines and monuments associated with Christianity and Islam, but one can find ruins of temples devoted to deities and beliefs long lost in the mists of time. Not surprising as this civilization can be traced back more than 10,000 years, influenced by Hittites, Hourrites and Hattis among others.

One of our favorite destinations is the Cappadocia region, famous for its underground cities. We recently viewed an “Ancient Astronauts” television program that speculated whether these unique dwellings were designed as protection from warring extra-terrestrials whose rockets may have soared overhead. In fact there are more than 3,000 churches carved out of the living rock that may be seen, with some being open to the public. The underground bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens in the village of Derinkuyu have been dated back to the seventh century, and were used by Christians who were escaping from persecution.

Our final not-to-be-missed Turkish city is Ephesus, where one of the seven wonders of the ancient world once stood. Although the marble Temple of Artemis is now in ruins, if you go to the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk you may still see the goddess Artemis herself, in the form of a famous multi-breasted sculpture, as pictured above.