Asian Turkey

September 17-25, 2024:

We flew from Istanbul to Ankara on September 17th, and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at the Ankara airport (no free shuttle after 6 pm – took a cab). We took a shuttle from the Holiday Inn Express to the Ankara airport on the morning of September 18th and picked up a rental car.

Our first stop on our drive was the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. We were lucky to find a parking place in a pay lot off a cobbled street next to the Ankara Castle/Citadel.

MUSEUM OF ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS – ANKARA:

The museum displays Anatolian archaeological artifacts in chronological order, from the Paleolithic Age to the Roman and Greek Classic Age.

Entrance and sculpture garden

Goddess Figurine (5750 BC)

Paleolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic Ages (+8,000-3000 BC)

Early Bronze Age (3000-1950 BC)

Assyrian/Hittite Ages (1950-1200 BC)

Phrygian Period (1200-700 BC)

Carved Stone Slabs – Hittite and Neo-Hittite Age

Classic Ages (Greece and Rome)

Two creatures with gaping mouths (Hittite Period)

Assyrian Period Ritual Boat

Phyrgian Inlaid Table

Phyrgian Bronze Cauldron

Hittite double headed ritual vessel

Assyrian Period Gold Decorated Skull

We next drove to Mustafapaşa in Cappodocia (about 3-1/2 hours – mostly freeway).

CAPPODOCIA, TURKEY:

Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Paşabağ Valley (Monks Valley), Göreme and elsewhere. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians.

Our Accommodation – Upper Greek House – Mustafapaşa:

Our accommodation was initially locked but we were able to get in by calling the host. We soon found out that the Upper Greek House is owned by the Ozturk family, which also owns the Old Greek House Hotel/Restaurant in Mustafapaşa. The owner, Suleyman, treats you like you are a special guest to his house.

Upper Greek House – Mustafapaşa

Old Greek House Restaurant – Mustafapaşa:

Our first night in Mustafapaşa, Suleyman drove us to the Old Greek House Restaurant. He introduced us to his wife Emine who prepares all the special dishes.

Old Greek House Restaurant

Chicken Kebab – Old Greek House Restaurant

Göreme Open Air Museum – Göreme:

There were no photos allowed inside, so photos from the Internet are included for the interiors of the rock cave churches in the Open Air Museum.

Göreme Open Air Museum

Göreme Open Air Museum – Dark Church – Exterior

Göreme Open Air Museum – Dark Church – Interior – Photos: dailysabah.com

Göreme Open Air Museum – Saint Basil’s Chapel – Exterior

Göreme Open Air Museum – Saint Basil’s Chapel – Interior – Photo: cappodociahistory.com

Göreme Open Air Museum – Apple (Emali) Church – Exterior

Göreme Open Air Museum – Apple (Emali) Church – Interior – Photos: aahmetyildiz.com

Göreme Open Air Museum – Saint Barbara Chapel – Exterior

Göreme Open Air Museum – Saint Barbara Chapel – Interior – Photos: cappodociahistory.com

Göreme Open Air Museum – Sandal Church (Çarıklı Kilise) – Exterior

Göreme Open Air Museum – Sandal Church (Çarıklı Kilise) – Interior – Photos: cappodociahistory.com

Göreme Open Air Museum – Refectory of the Sandal Church

Göreme Open Air Museum – wine or oil press room

Göreme Open Air Museum – More pics

Fairy Chimneys of Paşabağ Valley (Monks Valley) – Nevşehir:

Paşabağ Valley (Monks Valley) has the highest concentration of fairy chimneys in Cappadocia. These unusual rock formations were formed by millions of years of wind and rain eroding away at soft volcanic tuff. This left much harder rock behind and created the mushroom-shaped caps on top.

Fairy Chimneys of Paşabağ Valley

Saint Symeon Hermitages – Paşabağ Valley – Nevşehir:

Paşabağ Valley was was home to a community of hermits and their hermitages (cells and rock churches) are left behind.

Saint Symeon Hermitages – Paşabağ Valley

Zelve Open Air Museum – Nevşehir:

The Zelve Open-Air Museum is an incredible site that once housed one of the largest communities in Cappadocia. In this incredible cave town, you can walk amongst historic dwellings, churches, and religious chambers.

Column Church – Zelve Open Air Museum

Mosque – Zelve Open Air Museum

Monastery – Zelve Open Air Museum

Dwelling – Zelve Open Air Museum

Zelve Open Air Museum – Other Sights

Devrent Valley – Nevşehir:

Devrent Valley is also named Imagination Valley because all you have to do is let your mind run wild to see many stone sculptures including a camel.

Camel in Devrent Valley

Cappadocia Balloon Flight:

We were picked up at our hotel at 4:40 am to have breakfast and prepare for our balloon flight over Cappadocia.

Preparation for takeoff

Takeoff

Early Morning (before sunrise)

Sunrise

165 Balloons in the Air

Over Love Valley

Enjoying Our Balloon Flight

Just Passing By…

Landed and Deflating Balloon

Champagne Celebration

Mustafapaşa:

Like many other small villages of Turkey, Mustafapaşa is steeped in Greek Orthodox history, specifically the Ottoman years before the Turkish War of Independence in the early 20th century, when Turks and Greeks lived side by side in harmony.

As part of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, Greece and Turkey agreed to uproot two million people in a massive population exchange.

Men playing dominoes in town square

Church of Saints Constantine and Helena – Exterior

Church of Saints Constantine and Helena – Interior

Shopping in Mustafapaşa

Mehmet Şakir Paşa Madrassa

Camii Kebir (Grand Mosque)

Haralambos Soultanidis Mansion (Kapadokya Üniversitesi)

Maraşoğlu Bridge

Saint Nicholas Monastery – Exterior

Saint Nicholas Monastery – Interior

Saint Nicholas Monastery – Monk’s Cells

Saint Nicholas Monastery – Cemetery

Monastery Valley

Saint John the Theologian Church

Our sauces for dinner (Colorado Barbeque Sauce?) in Mustafapaşa town square

SILLE:

Sille, also known as Sille Subaşı and historically Sylata, was one of the few villages where the Cappadocian Greek language was spoken until 1922.

Sille, Turkey

Aya Eleni Kilisesi (Hagia Helena Church):

It is believed that the original church on this site was founded by Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great (327 AD).

Church Exterior

Inscription and paintings of Saint George and Saint Minas on white horses

Nave and Iconostatis

Dome and Columns

Icons

Mellotron or Keyboard (unusual in Greek Orthodox Churches)

Despot Throne

Ambon or Pulpit

Ciborium (used to hold Eucharist bread)

Altar and wall frescoes

Zaman Müzesi/Şapel (Museum of Time/Chapel):

Many rare works from the Roman, Ottoman and Republican periods are exhibited in the museum established in Sille Chapel.

Zaman Müzesi/Şapel (Museum of Time/Chapel)

Roman and Ottoman period sundials/gnomons

Astrolabe and other time measuring devices

Ottoman period crescent star hall clock

Desk calendars

Table Clocks

Pocket Watches

Usturlab (Astrolabe)

KONYA:

Konya is a city south of Ankara in Turkey’s Central Anatolia region. It’s a pilgrimage destination for Sufis, focused on the tomb of the founder of the Mevlana order, Jelaleddin Rumi, in the Mevlana Museum. Sema whirling dervish ceremonies take place at the Mevlana Cultural Center, east of the museum.

Mevlana Square:

Our day of arrival coincided with the opening of the Annual Mystic Music Festival in Konya. We were treated to a special presentation of 99 Whirling Dervishes in Mevlana Square.

99 Whirling Dervishes – Mevlana Square

Mevlânâ Müzesi (Mevlânâ Museum)

Selimiye Mosque

Mevlana Cultural Center:

Later we were treated to a whirling dervish performance at the Mevlana Cultural Center.

Whirling Dervish Performance at Mevlana Cultural Center

ASPENDOS ROMAN THEATER:

The Roman theater of Aspendos is a Roman theater in the ancient city of Aspendos in Turkey. It was built in the 2nd century and is one of the best preserved ancient theaters of the Greco-Roman world.

Aspendos Roman Theater

Aerial View – Photo: iantalya.com

ANTALYA:

Antalya is a Turkish resort city with a yacht-filled Old Harbor and beaches flanked by large hotels. It’s a gateway to Turkey’s southern Mediterranean region, known as the Turquoise Coast for its blue waters. Remnants remain from Antalya’s time as a major Roman port. These include Hadrian’s Gate, built to honor the Roman emperor’s visit in 130 A.D and 2nd-century Hidirlik Tower, with harbor views.

Antalya Archaeology Museum:

The Antalya Museum is one of the most important museums in Turkey and covers periods from prehistory to the 19th century. It includes 13 exhibition halls and an open air gallery containing over 5,000 works that illustrate the history and culture of Anatolia. The Museum won the “European Council Special Prize” in 1988.

Antalya Archaeology Museum and Open Air Gallery

Pre-History Hall

Urn Burial from Emali

Figure of a woman, found in Hacilar Höyük

Mosaic Hall

Hekate, the goddess of the underworld

Heads and Portraits Hall

Disc with the Signs of the Zodiac

The Dancer – Emperor’s Hall

Emperor Trajan – Emperor’s Hall

Septimius Severus – Emperor’s Hall

Plancia Magna – Emperor’s Hall

Apollo – Hall of Gods

Athena (head of Medusa on her chest) – Hall of Gods

Helios – the Sun God

Serapis – Hall of Gods

The Weary Hercules

Hermes from Perge – Perge Theater Hall

Marsyas – Perge Theater Hall

Sacrifice Frieze

Sarcophagus of Domitias lulianus and
Domita Philiska – Sarcophagi Hall

Hercules Sarcophagus – Sarcophagi Hall

Dionysius Sarcophagus – Sarcophagi Hall

Garland Sarcophagus – Sarcophagi Hall

Sarcophagus for a dog – Sarcophagi Hall

Icons Wall

Saint Nicholas Icons

Treasure from Aspendos – Coin Hall

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk coin – Coin Hall

Walking Tour of Antalya:

Here are the highlights of our self-guided walking tour of Antalya.

Walking Tour of Antalya

Hadrian’s Gate in Antalya

Dinner along the Mediterranean:

We had an excellent dinner at Sauvignon Restaurant, along the Mediterranean, next to Hidirlik Tower.

Dinner at Sauvignon Restaurant in Antalya

After Dinner Walk:

We went for a stroll after dinner through nearby Karaalioglu Park.

Karaalioglu Park

Antalya Marina after dark

LAODICEA ANCIENT CITY:

The Laodicea Ancient City dates back to the 3rd century BC with excavations still taking place.

East Byzantine Gate

Syria Street

Church of Laodikeia

Mosaics – Church of Laodikeia

Peristyle House with Church

North Theater

West Theater

North (Sacred) Agora

Temple

Propylonlar

Wall paintings

Central Agora

Temple

Central Baths

Market

PAMUKKALE:

Our Accommodation – Venus Suites Hotel:

Largest selection for breakfast in all of Turkey. Nice patio by the pool for dining. Free Parking.

Venus Suites Hotel – Photos: Booking.com

Hierapolis:

Hierapolis was a Hellenistic Greek city built on the site of a Phrygian cult center of the Anatolian mother goddess Cybele, in Phrygia in southwestern Anatolia. It was famous for its hot springs, its high quality wool fabrics and dyes, and as the birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus.

South Gate

Gymnasium

Travertines

Hierapolis Archaeology Museum

Denizle’s Rooster

Central Baths

Church with Pillar

Theater

Saint Phillip’s Martyrion

Octagonal Baths

The House of the Ionic Capitals

Temple of Apollo

Sanctuary of Hades (Ploutonion)

SELÇUK:

Selçuk is a town near Izmir, in western Turkey. It’s the gateway to Ephesus, a vast, ancient city with the remains of a large theater and the Library of Celsus. South is the House of Virgin Mary, a domed chapel and religious shrine. The Ephesus Museum has items from the Artemis temple, plus other artifacts excavated from the Ephesus site.

Ephesus Archaeology Museum:

This museum houses a remarkable collection of artifacts unearthed from the ancient city of Ephesus.

Bust of Marcus Aurelius

Ivory Friezes – Terrace Houses

Head of Socrates

Egyptian Priest

Ayasuluk Hoard

Eros protecting a rabbit from a dog

Head of Eros

Ephesus Game Boards

Cybele Cult Exhibition

Beautiful Artemis

Great Artemis

Head and arm of the 23 foot tall Domitian

Head of Balbinas

Frieze of the Temple of Hadrian

Parthian Monument

Altar from the Temple of Domitian

Statue of Proconsul Stephanus

Relief with Garlands

Bust of Empress Iulia Paula

Emperor Commodus

Animal Shaped Pendant

Gold Earring

Head of Philosopher

Bronze Snake

Androclus and his dog

Ayasoluk Restaurant:

We found this restaurant highly rated on Google after visiting the Ephesus Archaeology Museum. We were not disappointed.

Ayasoluk Restaurant

Ephesus Ancient City:

The city of Ephesus was one of the largest and most important cities in the ancient Mediterranean world, lying on the western coast of Asia Minor (in modern day Turkey). It was one of the oldest Greek settlements on the Aegean Sea, and later the provincial seat of Roman government in Asia.

Situated at end of the Royal Road—the chief thoroughfare of the Roman East—the city was a western terminus of East-West trade, with one of the most important Mediterranean harbours for exporting products to Greece, Italy and the rest of the Roman West. The city itself developed around an ancient shrine of the earth goddess Artemis (Roman Diana), and later, from the beginning of the Christian era, became a key city in the expansion of Christianity, from which Saint Paul launched many of his missions.

Stoa Basilica

Odeon (Bouleterion)

Prytaneion

Sacred Way

Hermes and Ram

Hammer and Pestle

Fountain of Domitian

Temple of Domitian

Memmius Monument

Nike Frieze

Hercules Gate

Curates Road

Statue of the doctor Alexander

Trajan’s Fountain

Temple of Hadrian

Medusa – Temple of Hadrian

Terrace Houses

Library of Celsus

Marble Road

Brothel Advertisement – Depicts a left footprint, a heart, a woman, and a coin purse

Commercial Agora

Great Theater

Harbor Road

House of the Virgin Mary:

It is believed that Mary lived the final years of her life in a small stone house on Bulbul Mountain, which later became known as the House of the Virgin Mary. This house is now a Catholic Shrine.

House of the Virgin Mary

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