Fabulous Turkey … the land at the intersection between East and West influences. The Meryemana is a major tourist attraction and has a curious history. Tradition holds that the Virgin Mary journeyed to Ephesus with St. John, and is said to have died here. The main building here dates from the Byzantine era (6th century) but its association with the Virgin only began in the 19th century, following the visions of the German nun, Katharina Emmerich, who gave a precise description of the situation and appearance of a house at Ephesus in which she claimed the Virgin had lived and died. In 1891, on the basis of this account, a French priest discovered the ruins of a small church, which had evidently belonged to a monastery and this is now revered as the Virgin’s house. The chapel here is tiny, and be aware that the site is often crowded with tour bus groups. A small wishing well is on site, where it is customary to tie a piece of cloth and make a wish.
Nemrut is a 2,134 meter (7,001 ft) high mountain in southeastern Turkey, near the city of Adiyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene built a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek, and Persian gods on the mountain top. Since their construction, the heads have toppled from the bodies and lay scattered throughout the site. The summit of Mount Nemrut provides a great view of the surrounding mountains. The main attraction is to watch the sunrise from the eastern terrace which give the bodyless heads a beautiful orange hue and adds to the sense of mystery of the place.
With its stunning, lonely setting, built into a cliff face, Sumela Monastery (Monastery of the Virgin Mary) is the star attraction for visitors along the Black Sea Coast. Wandering around this abandoned religious complex, with its church interiors crammed with dazzling and vibrant frescoes, is a must for anyone who makes the long journey to Turkey’s northeast region. The monastery first opened during the Byzantine era and was only closed in 1923. Today, wandering its empty cells, it’s easy to imagine the isolated lives of the monks who once lived here.
Among the most intriguing and fascinating tourist attractions of Turkey are the underground cities of Cappadocia. Visiting the underground cities is an exciting, authentic and fascinating journey. Built over a period spanning hundreds of years, the area now includes several such complexes many of which are now open to the public. The main tourist locations are the underground cities of Kaymakli, Derinkuyu. The Cappadocia underground cities have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.
Most Ephesus excursions will take you The Isa Bey Mosque, constructed by the locals in the 14th century has a spectacular marble portal which your Ephesus tour guide will be happy to show you. Also, a visit to the Basilica of St John is a must along with a walk around the Ephesus Archaeological Museum where you will see unique works of art including the Statue of Artemis. Ephesus Kusadasi Turkey Tours are very popular as you get to see the lovely coastal town of Kusadasi while enjoying your Ephesus day tour. Marble street is a great place to take some pictures as the view looking down on Ephesus is spectacular. More details on https://www.goodmantours.com/ephesus.
One of the most important museums in Turkey, the Istanbul Archaeological Museum is actually three museums: the Archaeological Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum and the Tiled Kiosk Museum. The three museums combined contain more than 1 million objects from civilizations around the world. Founded in 1891, it was the first Turkish museum, and was located on the Topkapi Palace grounds. The Tiled Kiosk dates back to 1472. The museums contain thousands of precious artifacts, including the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great.