Country Reviews: Turkey, the Beauteous Transcontinental Nation Part II

Country Reviews: Interesting Places to Visit in Turkey

1. The Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia, located at the biggest city of Turkey, Istanbul, would be the first on our list for the astounding architecture. Before it was a grand museum like today, it was formerly a church for the Byzantine Empire and Constantinople. Then the Ottomans would come along to lay siege on Constantinople, taking the Hagia Sophia and turning it into an Islamic Mosque. After the fall of the great Ottoman Empire, the first Turkish President reformed it, turning it into a museum for all to lay eyes on the grand and exquisite work.
You should visit the Hagia Sophia because of the unique architecture where marble and mosaics had filled the grand hall. The mosaics that filled the Hagia Sophia also had imagery of various Christian references like the Virgin Mother Mary and his newborn son, Jesus. By reviewing the various mosaics, there are also images of several rulers of the past Byzantine Empire like Emperor Alexander the Second or Empress Zoe. All of the imagery in the dome would make this a must see place for history buffs or those who just want to witness something from the past.

2. Troy

If you had seen the epic war film, Troy, you would be delighted to hear that there is a real life replica of the Trojan horse in Troy. This would also be where you would be able to find the ruins of the long gone Trojan War, as recorded in the Iliad by Homer, one of the greatest Greek Poet of all times. You can see the amphitheatre of the past where the ruins are. There are also the previous walls of Troy, where the Trojan War had took place.
Today, near the Troy ruin, there lies a small rural village where they would sell trinkets and handicrafts local to the Troy area to tourists who had come to visit the old battlefield and city. If you would like to buy any of the handicrafts, be sure to haggle with the salesperson as some of those handicrafts are marked up to earn more money from tourists.  Archeologists are still digging the site, so you might see history being discovered during your time there.

3. Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace is the last on our list. It was the historical palace for the Ottoman’s Sultans during their reign of Turkey. Inside the Palace lie many holy relics about the Muslim world like The Prophet Muhammad belongings. It is one of the most must see places in Turkey and it is true; it is one of the most visited museums in Europe. The Topkapi Palace also serves as a government headquarters back in the days where the mint, treasury and other important government bodies worked there. If you are visiting the Topkapi Palace as a tourist, you might be interested in seeing the abundant collections of porcelain, some are gifts from China, murals and Ottoman miniatures that are important for the arts advancement back during the Ottoman Empire.
The fourth largest diamond, the Spoonseller Diamond, also resides in the palace of Topkapi Palace. It would be a must see exhibit for those that favor jewels with its multiple facets and beautiful shine.