Istanbul

Istanbul is a city that literally straddles two continents—Europe and Asia—with the Golden Horn (an estuary of the Bosporus Strait) dividing the European and Asian sides. Unfortunately, the city’s strategic setting also made it the envy of scores of conquerors down through the ages—Greeks, Romans, Venetians, and Ottomans all had a hand in ruling this one-time terminus of the legendary Silk Road that linked Asia with Europe. And with each conqueror, it seemed, the city’s name changed—going from Byzantium to Constantinople to present-day Istanbul. The countless architectural and cultural treasures that recall the glory of this one-time capital of the civilized world include the opulent Topkapi Palace, former home of the sultans; the elegant Blue Mosque; Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine art; and the centuries-old Grand Bazaar, a bustling labyrinth of more than 4,000 exotic shops and stalls. One of the great cities of the world, today’s Istanbul is a vibrant, modern metropolis teeming with reminders of its epic past.

Explore Istanbul with O.A.T. on:

• Turkey's Magical Hideaways
• The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul
• Turkish Coastal Voyage: Greek Islands, Istanbul & Athens
• Post Trip:Istanbul: Turkey’s Cultural Capital on New! Eastern Balkan Experience: Bulgaria & Romania

Troy

Today, legendary Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serves not only as a historical touchpoint but as a land rooted in myth. Paris' abduction of the beautiful Helen of Troy and subsequent siege of the city during the 13th century BC were immortalized by Homer in The Iliad. Until 1870, it was thought that Troy was a fictional place—but that year, the German businessman, Heinrich Schliemann, began excavations in a location he deduced from his readings of The Iliad. Remarkably, he uncovered the historical city of Troy, and continuing excavations have revealed the remains of a total of nine subsequent cities of Troy rising above the “windswept plain of Ilium.” The site's west gate is thought to be where Odysseus' clever ruse of the Trojan Horse was brought through to finally defeat King Priam's city.

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• Turkish Coastal Voyage: Greek Islands, Istanbul & Athens

Kusadasi

A seaside resort town located on Turkey’s Aegean coast, Kusadasi is best known as the jumping off point for exploring the nearby ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kusadasi holds many charms of its own, however, including a harbor area that is home to a bustling bazaar area, many 19th-century half-timbered homes, and a restored 300-year-old caravanserai. For a pleasant seaside walk, visitors often head to a causeway just south of the harbor to Pigeon Island, a great locale to watch a sunset and check out the remains of a 13th-century Byzantine fortress that became the lair of a trio of infamous Turkish pirates in the 16th century.

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• The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul
• Turkey's Magical Hideaways
• Turkish Coastal Voyage: Greek Islands, Istanbul & Athens

Ephesus

Any listing of the world’s top ancient sites must include Ephesus, the best-preserved Greco-Roman city in the entire Mediterranean region. The second-largest city in the Roman Empire, Ephesus was once home to about a quarter million inhabitants—and the temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The litany of visitors to Ephesus reads like a Who’s Who of ancient history—Androcles, Xerxes, Alexander, Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, St. Paul, the Virgin Mary, and on and on. Even with about 80% of the city yet to be unearthed, Ephesus is a place to witness the Greco-Roman world come alive as you stroll the marble stones of the Sacred Way to the Library of Celsus, view the Roman baths, marvel at the advanced street lighting, and imagine St. Paul preaching the Gospel at a three-tiered Roman theater that once seated 25,000, built into the slope of a nearby hill. And as a reminder that Ephesus was once a pretty wild sailor’s town, there is also a prominent sign for a local brothel.

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• The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul
• Turkish Coastal Voyage: Greek Islands, Istanbul & Athens
• Turkey's Magical Hideaways

The Turquoise Coast

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is the ruggedly beautiful stretch of Mediterranean coastline between Antalya and Fethiye that is also referred to as the Turkish Riviera. In a country already blessed with scenic beauty, this region is the most scenic of them all—which may be why Marc Antony is said to have given the entire Turquoise Coast to his lover, Cleopatra, as a wedding gift. With forested mountains plunging into a sea of jade waters, the Turquoise Coast is dotted with picturesque bays, pretty coves, and tranquil inlets. Adding to the allure are ancient cities perched on hilltops and Lycian tombs carved into the cliffs. And while historians aren’t really buying the wedding gift story, few dispute that the Egyptian queen did indeed cruise along this scenic stretch of coastline with Marc Antony. At Manastir Bay, a remote inlet about an hour away from the Greco-Roman ruins of Lydea, there is a place known as “Cleopatra’s Baths.” Surrounded by half-sunken ruins, the clear pools of these ancient baths are fed by thermal springs and draw visitors far and wide to enjoy the reputed healing powers of the mineral-rich waters. The fine sand along the beach is said to have been brought over by Mark Antony from Egypt—a gesture to further prove his love. Whether the famous Egyptian pharaoh actually bathed here or not, a languid float in the warm waters of Cleopatra’s Baths is an experience fit for a queen.

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• Turkey's Magical Hideaways

Bodrum

A 3,000-year-old Turkish city, Bodrum, known as Halicarnassus in ancient times, is now a bustling international yachting center. In ancient times, Halicarnassus was the hub of a kingdom that encompassed most of Asia Minor. When its ruler, Mausolus, died in 353 BC, his brokenhearted widow, Artimisia, decided to erect a magnificent tomb in the style of the Greek culture that he admired. We get the word “mausoleum” from this splendid structure, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

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• Turkish Coastal Voyage: Greek Islands, Istanbul & Athens

Göreme Open-Air Museum

The whimsical landscapes of Cappadocia might have sprung from a fantasy novel. Volcanic eruptions millions of years ago created layers of soft tufa rock that the wind sculpted into thousands of towering “fairy chimneys,” a panorama of giant dripping cones, gravity-defying spires, and undulating cliffs, all changing colors with the passing clouds and shifting angle of the sun. Early Christians sought refuge in this sprawling expanse of ancient rock formations, carving out homes, frescoed chapels, and entire underground cities to escape persecution. One of the highlights of Cappadocia is Göreme Open-Air Museum, a Byzantine monastic complex located just outside the village of Göreme (described by Lonely Planet as “one of Turkey’s unspoiled treasures.”). Göreme Open-Air Museum, which is comprised of a cluster of rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries mostly dating from the 10th to 12th centuries, is also one of Turkey’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Elaborate Byzantine frescoes adorn many of the church walls in this vast monastic complex—especially at Karanlik Kilise, or Dark Church, whose breathtakingly detailed frescoes have retained much of their vivid colors over the centuries due to the absence of light.

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• Turkey's Magical Hideaways
• Post Trip:Cappadocia's Unique Landscapes & Vibrant Ankara on The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul

Ozkonak Underground City

Ornate rock churches and family dwellings carved directly into the soaring fairy chimneys are one thing—but what went on underneath the land of the living in Cappadocia is even more extraordinary. Entire underground cities once dotted the landscapes of Cappadocia, built to protect the local population against invaders. One of them, Ozkonak, is estimated to have housed thousands of people. Carved eight levels deep into the earth, Ozkonak featured a vast series of tunnels and rooms—including stables, living quarters, wine-making facilities, kitchens, and much more—and was primarily used during Byzantine times for protection from invading Arabs. Long after peace came to the region, though, many locals still lived in Ozkonak and other underground cities. Archaeologists have uncovered about 35 subterranean complexes like Ozkonak across the vast landscapes of Cappadocia—and new ones are being discovered all the time.

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