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1. Selimiye Mosque in Edirne

Selimiye Mosque is famous for its technical excellence and aestheticism, and its enormous dome, which is referred to as the pinnacle of single-domed structures, was built by Mimar Sinan.

2. Historical sites of Istanbul

Istanbul, located between the continents of Europe and Asia, was the capital of Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations. Sultanahmet, Suleymaniye, Zeyrek and, Istanbul Land Walls Conservation Areas are on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985.

3. Bursa the capital of the Ottoman Empire

Bursa was the first major city and second capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Bursa is a picturesque city, on the shores of the Marmara Sea and with its back to the mountains, Uludag is one of Türkiye’s most popular winter sports destinations.

4. Troy in Çanakkale

One of the most renowned ancient cities in the world after the epic of Homer’s Iliad draws in history buffs in spite of the looting and destruction that occurred upon its discovery. The 9 layers seen in Troy illustrate more than 3,000 years of history.

5. Pergamon in Izmir

Pergamon, known as the city of the firsts, contains layers belonging to the Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman and Ottoman periods. The multi-layered cultural landscape area represents the best example of the Hellenistic period urban planning, with the monumental architecture of the ancient Pergamon settlement. The temple of Athena, the Temple of Trajan, the steepest theatre structure of the Hellenistic period, the library, the Heroon, the altar of Zeus, the Temple of Dionysus, the agora and the gymnasium are among the most outstanding examples of this planning method and period architecture.

6. The Ancient City of Ephesus in Izmir

The ancient city of Ephesus, home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 Wonders of the world, is one of the most important centers of the ancient period. It has been inhabited continuously for about 9000 years starting from the prehistoric period and has been a very important port city and cultural-commercial center. It houses works that bear witness to the early Christian period, such as the basilica built on St. John’s Tomb, Artemision, built in the 8th century B.C, and the House of the Virgin Mary, a Christian pilgrimage site.

7. Aphrodisias in Aydın

Aphrodisias is named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Aphrodisias is one of the best-protected ancient cities in Anatolia. Dating back seven thousand years, the city gained prominence and wealth thanks to its marble quarries. This material lead to the founding of a sculpture school and eventually Aphrodisias became a centre for this art.

8. Xanthos-Letoon in Mugla

The first known democratic union in history, the two important ancient cities of the Lycian Union that have survived to the present day are Xanthos and Letoon.

9. Hieropolis-Pamukkale in Denizli

One of the 29 places inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Pamukkale boasts both natural and historical features. A natural wonder formed by the aftermath of 400 thousand-year-old earthquakes. The archaeological city of Hierapolis, famous for its ruins from the late Hellenistic and early Christian periods, is one of the most striking centers that has endured from ancient times.

10. Çatalhöyük in Konya

The Neolithic City of Çatalhöyük is notable for its presentation of transition to settled social life, an important period in the development of humanity, and important social changes such as the beginning of agriculture and hunting.

11. Göreme National Park and Cappadocia in Nevsehir

Cappadocia has a landscape unlike any other, as a result of the erosion caused by active volcanoes of geological times. The lava and ash spewed by Mount Hasan, Erciyes and Güllü Mountain 10 million years ago formed a tuff layer. These layers hardened over time and transformed into different shapes with the erosion caused by rain and wind. Cappadocia, famous for its mystical air and labyrinthine of underground cities Ürgüp, Goreme, Uchisar, Ortahisar, distinct fairy chimneys, rock Hotels, and impressive valleys, is well worth a visit.

12. Hattusha in Çorum

As the Capital of the Hittite Empire, for centuries Hattusha has been a very important center in Anatolia.

13. Safranbolu in Karabuk

Safranbolu, located in the Paphlagonia region of Homer’s Iliad saga, has been a settlement since ancient times due to its geographical positioning on the road connecting the Black Sea coast to Western, Northern and Central Anatolia. Safranbolu has been controlled by the Turks since the beginning of the 14th century and became a prominent center of trade linking Asia and Europe in the 18th century. A great example of untouched Turkish urban history, this city is truly rare with its traditional urban nuances, wooden masonry houses, and monumental structures, all of which have been declared sites.

14. Divrigi Ulu Mosque in Sivas

This mosque, flagged with Anatolian traditional stonework, is home to tens of thousands of decorative features each bearing an individual distinct style illustrating the harmony and balance of the universe. Divrigi Ulu Mosque boasts numerous beautiful doors but the most magnificent of all is the Gate of Paradise, embellished in decorations representing heaven.

15. Mount Nemrut in Adıyaman

According to the legend, King of Commagene I Antiochos intended to unite the religion of the Greeks with the religion of Persians of the East and dreamed of making Mount Nemrut the center of a new world religion. The religion, with the aim of world domination and immortality, spread from this origin point to the rest of the world. The tomb and monumental sculptures built by Antiochos to attest his gratitude to the gods and his ancestors are the most magnificent relics of the Hellenistic period. The monumental sculptures are spread across the East, West and North terraces. The East Terrace is known as the sacred center and houses the most important sculptural and architectural remains. These well-preserved giant sculptures are made of limestone blocks, each about 8-10 meters high.

16. Göbeklitepe in Sanlıurfa

Up until the discovery of Göbeklitepe, the start of history as we know it, the oldest temple known to man was Stonehenge in England. The fact that Göbeklitepe dates back exactly 7000 years before Stonehenge has transformed our understanding of human history. Göbeklitepe is unique for many reasons, but the most important is that it is the oldest place where monumental (megalithic) structures, especially for ceremonies, have been built. Such scientific data provides important information that calls for a re-evaluation of the theoretical framework and the Neolithic period.

17. Diyarbakir Castle and Hevsel Gardens in Diyarbakır

Diyarbakir Castle, which has survived for the past 7,000 years, holds important universal heritage having been shaped by the succession of civilizations that ruled the region. The Hevsel Gardens, home to more than 50 species of birds, around 10 species of mammals and lush scenery, is a public civic garden, that bears the traces of more than 30 civilizations. Besides its agricultural value, it has a unique cultural and historical identity as it has endured for 8,000 years.

18. Archaeological Site of Ani in Kars

Ani is the city known as 1001 churches and the city of 40 gates. So far 40 churches, chapels, and mausoleums have been identified in Ani. The Archaeological Site of Ani dates back to the Early Iron Age of the 16th Century. As a multicultural Silk Road settlement up to the 16th century, there are many diverse examples of architecture and art from the Middle Ages. Settlement began in the 4th century in İçkale; The first instance of the transition from the closed city model to the open city model in the region. The city developed into a multicultural trade center since it was located in the area where trade became most widespread, making it the melting pot of Armenian, Georgian, Byzantine and Seljuk cultures.

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18 Tourist sites in Turkey inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List