Ephesus and Bergama, Two UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites in Izmir

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Ephesus Ancient City is the most important ancient city in Turkey and one of the best preserved and restored cities. Today, you can still wander around the streets, temples, theatres, libraries, houses and statues for hours. Important structures such as the impressive Celsus Library, theatre, Hadrian's Temple and the magnificent Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, are located here. Among the ruins, public toilets and even mostly BC. There is also a brothel from the fourth century.

Bergama was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. It has survived many invasions and destructions over the ages, but has always been a resurgent settlement due to the value of its strategic location. As the archaeological excavations confirm, Bergama's history dates back to BC. It goes back to the second millennium. The city survived Persian domination and the conquest of Alexander the Great. The brightest phase of its history; B.C. When it became the capital of the Pergamon Kingdom in the 3rd and 2nd centuries, it lasted for almost one hundred and fifty years. During this period, one of the world's largest libraries was built here and the city became a healing center.

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Hierapolis Ancient City in Denizli

Hierapolis, which was an ancient spa city in the Roman and Byzantine periods and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List today, is located near Denizli. This region is now known as Pamukkale; It is home to world-famous calcite travertines filled with warm, mineral-rich waters. Pamukkale is a popular thermal centre; Its calcium and iron-rich waters are believed to have healing properties. The ancient city located above Pamukkale, BC. King of Pergamon II in the 2nd century. It was founded by the Eumenies and is believed to honor the name of Hiera, the wife of Telephos, the legendary founder of Pergamum.

The city has grown and gained importance thanks to its hot springs. Pamukkale; It is famous for its calcite travertines filled with warm, mineral-rich waters. The region where Pamukkale is located has a special structure with its hot springs coming out of the Lykos (Çürüksu) Valley. In Hierapolis you can see the remains of baths, temples and other ancient monuments. You can also swim in the Cleopatra Pool, which is a rumored source where the Egyptian Queen took a bath. Hierapolis, the city where St. Philippus, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, was killed, is one of the holy settlements in terms of Christianity. It was declared a religious center in the 4th century and became a bishopric center during the Byzantine period. The Tomb of St. Philppus and the Martyrdom, which were unearthed as a result of excavations in the ancient city, are among the sacred structures of Christianity.

The Ancient Roman Bath, located in the Ancient City of Hierapolis, has now been converted into the Hierapolis Archeology Museum. You can visit various archaeological finds in and around Hierapolis in the museum halls with stone blocks made of travertine.

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Bodrum Castle and Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum in Muğla

Bodrum Castle was built on the peninsula known as Zephyirion in ancient times. In 1406, St. It was built by the knights of Jean. Bodrum Castle reflects the gothic architectural features by preserving the original plan and character of the Knights Period. Castle, St. It is the only well-preserved example of John's knights. It is also one of the best preserved medieval monuments in the world and stands as a monolithic legacy. Stones left after the destruction of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, were used in the construction of the castle. After the Knights of Jean left Bodrum in 1523, the castle was used as a prison by the Ottomans until the 19th century. It was damaged as a result of British and French bombardment during World War I.

Today, Bodrum Castle is home to the Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum. Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum is one of the most important underwater museums in the world and the only one in Turkey. The museum received the "Special Commendation" award in the European Museum of the Year competition in 1995.

Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum has 14 exhibition halls and has the richest Eastern Mediterranean Amphora collection in the world. The shipwrecks of Yassıada, Devil Creek and Serce Harbor are also exhibited in the museum. The world's oldest sunken shipwreck, which sank in 1025 in the Serçe Harbor Shipwrecks Glass Wreck Hall, was removed from the ship, which had 3 tons of broken and unbroken glass. Bodrum Archaeological Museum, Carian Princess Hall, English Tower, Eastern Roman Wreck, Turkish Bath Exhibition, Glass Shipwreck Hall, German Tower, Coin and Jewelry Hall, Glass Hall, Secret Museum Snake Tower, Uluburun Wreck, Dungeon, Commander's Tower and Solitaire Glass Wreck consists of parts. The biggest amphora collection is in Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum. Next to the cross vault are the Ax Tower and the “Queen Island” hall.

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Milet and Didim in Aydın

Miletus (Miletos), the capital of civilization, culture, art and science, is one of the most important cities in the history of humanity with its 3,500-year history. The city, which is considered the center of positive science; It is the home of people who question, observe and think to understand nature. Miletus, also known as the "city of philosophers", has produced many historical figures such as philosophers Thales, Anaximandros and Anaximenes and city planner Hippodamos. Miletus, which was dominated by free thought 2,600 years ago, became a center of attraction and became the largest city of the Ionian civilization that developed on the shores of Western Anatolia. It has become a cosmopolitan place that attracts people from all over the world. It eventually became the capital of this civilization.

Miletus is located on the southwestern border of the Menderes Plain, between Söke and Didim, in an area with no traffic density. Instead of big cities, there are several beautiful villages around it: Doğanbey in the north, Batıköy in the west, Akköy in the south and Balat next to it. “Balat” got its name from Palatia, the late ancient name of Miletus. Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park extends to the Menderes Delta in the west of Miletus. The ancient city of Miletus has a pastoral character due to its location and the small settlements around it.

The great stoas surrounding the South Agora were built during the Hellenistic period. Although the agora is hidden under lush green areas today, the gigantic infrastructures of the stoas can be easily seen on the ground, giving an idea about the size of the city center during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Located only 150 meters from the Miletus theater, the building was built by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. This bath, which was built by the Emperor in the name of his wife Faustina, was repaired in certain periods.

Nusa statues found here are currently exhibited at the Istanbul Archeology Museum. In the Miletus Museum, there is a large pool of the bath and a lion statue on the side of the pool, which is used as a fountain.

The Faustina Bath is very well preserved. After extensive restoration work in recent years, the size, spatial diversity and rich interiors of these complexes have emerged. In addition to the Faustina Bath, there are many smaller baths such as the Southern City Bath to the south of the İlyas Bey Mosque, as well as large baths such as the Humeitepe or the Capito Bath.

Ancient Heritages in Manisa

Manisa hosted important civilizations and the first Christians in ancient times.

Three of the ancient churches, also known as the Seven Churches of Revelation, were at Sardis, Thyatira, and Philadelphia, Manisa.

The area where the ancient city was founded is today's modern Akhisar district center. It is bordered by the northern part of the ancient city of Lydia, the Roman province of Asia, and by ancient Mysia to the north. Ancient Thyatira was an important and wealthy trading town on the way from Pergamum to Laodicea. The city, which is understood to be a weaving center in ancient times, has been engaged in military and commercial activities as it is located at the crossroads of various roads. Among its remains, inscriptions belonging to the artisans' dripper's guild, which made purple madder, were found. Thyatira was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation from the earliest times of Christianity.

The city of Sardis (Sardis or Sardis) BC. It was the capital of the Lydian Kingdom in the 6th century. The city of Sardis and its surroundings were irrigated by the Pactolus river. Known to have gold in its sediments, the river was the source of the wealth of the Lydian King Kroesos (Kroisos/Karun) and helped make the city prosperous. According to legends, Midas was filled with gold as he bathed in the Pactolus river. The world's first coins were minted in Sardis by King Alyattes, father of Croesus. The most important architectural structures unearthed in the excavations are the ancient synagogue and sports hall. Synagogue, BC. It is a uniquely beautiful structure built in the 3rd century. The gym is right next to the synagogue. It is understood that the ornate eastern façade of the Gymnasium was built in the early 3rd century AD. The arched shops on the sides of these two buildings date back to the Byzantine Period. Opposite the gym is a large building called the Bronze House, a striking structure of antiquity. Most of the ancient city of Philadelphia, located in the Alaşehir district, remains under modern settlement. In Roman times, Philadelphia was referred to as "Little Athens" due to the large number of temples and festivals held in the city. During the Byzantine period, the city preserved its importance. During the excavations in Philadelphia, a theater and temple belonging to the Roman Period were unearthed.

Karahisar Castle in Afyonkarahisar

Karahisar Castle, located in an urban protected area within the city center of Afyonkarahisar, has been identified with the city because it has an important place in the formation of the name Afyonkarahisar. The history of the castle, built on a volcanic mountain, dates back to 1,350 BC. Karahisar Castle was used to store the state treasury during the Ottoman period. The 226-meter-high castle with a magnificent structure offers a unique view to its visitors. BC at the top of the castle. The cultural traces of the Phrygians who lived in Anatolia between 1,200-676 have been found, and there are many places of worship and four large cisterns dedicated to the Mother Goddess Cybele. The Maiden's Tower, located a little higher next to the castle, is also a must-see. Karahisar Castle has become a place of wishes for those who want to get married, have children or have other desires. Those who want to get married are shouting from the Maiden's Tower saying, "O my faith, my faith, my golden throne, it's time to get married". Sometimes wishes rise from the castle "It's time to have a child". There is a rumor among the locals that those who go to Karahisar Castle will stay in Afyonkarahisar for seven years. But without considering this, you can go to the Castle and enjoy the magnificent view that will be presented to you from the top of the castle.

Uşak Ulubey Blaundus Ancient City

Blaundus Ancient City was built on a peninsula-shaped land surrounded by deep and steep valleys. Blaundus was built by those who came from Macedonia after the Anatolian Campaigns of Alexander the Great and it is said that the people of the city called themselves Macedonian Blaundus. The city, which joined the Kingdom of Pergamum and then the Roman Empire after Alexander the Great, gained much more importance and lived its heyday in the Roman period. Among the important structures of the ancient city are the stadium, castle, theatre, temples and rock tombs. The existing ruins of the city are the stadium with one-sided seating levels, the arch of the entrance gate of the northern walls, some parts of the city walls, the mint and the temple of the Roman Emperor Claudius.

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Phrygian Valley in Kütahya

The region defined as “Phrygian Epictetus” (Little Phrygia), which is a mountainous settlement within the triangle of Kütahya, Afyonkarahisar and Eskişehir, is known as “Phrygian Valley” today. Phrygian highlands, BC. It was covered with the tuffs of the Turkmen Mountain, an ancient volcano in the east of Kütahya, where the Phrygians lived between 900-600 BC. Open-air temples, altars and rock tombs dedicated to the Mother Goddess Cybele, as well as many other buildings used for defense and shelter, have survived from this period. Crosses painted with root dye, writing and fresco remains from Roman and Byzantine settlements can still be witnessed. There are natural castles called "Deliktaş Castle" and "Penteser Castle" built by the Phrygians and Byzantines with the stone carving method. The “Phrygian Valley” is truly a place worth seeing. This place is full of the most interesting and imposing pine forests that are worth seeing. In addition to the pine forests, the instinctive rock structure, which has great similarities with Cappadocia, should not be overlooked.