Turkey The Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia are one of the signature natural sites of Turkey and one of the finest examples of geological formations known as Hoodoos. A large area of amazing rock formations, the fairy chimneys consists of pyramids and columns of rock, many of which are topped with larger delicately balanced rocks. The chimneys are located in and around the town … [Read more...]
MOUNT AQRAA
Syria/Turkey (1,709 m) – Sacred Pagan Site Mount Aqraa on the Mediterranean coast was an incredibly important site in ancient times. Standing at one of the primary terminus points of the Silk Road, it was a landmark for both caravans and maritime travelers. But it was most famous a religious center, and was the site of many temples and shrines from the time of the Canaanites … [Read more...]
BATTLE OF GALLIPOLI (GALLIPOLI BATTLEFIELD)
Gallipoli, Turkey (1915 AD) The Gallipoli Campaign was the largest and longest battle to occur in the Ottoman theater during World War I. Outside of the Western Front, it was also the largest disaster of the war for the Entente powers. Over eight hundred thousand men fought on both sides, with a total of nearly half a million casualties. Although devised and organized by … [Read more...]
BATTLE OF MANZIKERT (MANZIKERT BATTLEFIELD)
Malazgirt, Turkey (1071 AD) The Battle of Manzikert was one of the definitive conflicts between the Muslim east and the Christian west during the Middle Ages. Fought between the centuries-old Byzantine empire and the decades old Seljuk sultanate, the Muslim victory was both a military triumph as well as a cultural one, and of immense strategic importance to the balance of … [Read more...]
BATTLE OF ADRIANOPLE (ADRIANOPLE BATTLEFIELD)
Edirne, Turkey (378 AD) The Battle of Adrianople was one of the decisive engagements that ultimately led to the downfall of the heartlands of the Roman Empire. Unfortunately for the Romans, it was a totally avoidable and unneccesary battle brought on by hubris, and the humiliating defeat only encouraged the Germanic tribes to further encroach on Roman territory. The Battle … [Read more...]
BATTLE OF ISSUS (ISSUS BATTLEFIELD)
Issus, Turkey (333 BC) The Battle of Issus was the second of the three major battles between the armies of Macedon under Alexander the Great and Persia under Darius. It is also generally considered to be the most pivotal, as it was a decisive victory for the Macedonians and essentially paved the way for the fall and conquest of the mighty Achaemenid Empire of Persia. It also … [Read more...]
KOCATEPE MOSQUE (MASJID KOCATEPE)
Ankara, Turkey When the modern nation of Turkey left behind its centuries-old capital at Istanbul and relocated the government to Ankara, they also left behind countless spectacular mosques. Ankara then had virtually no major mosques to speak of. In order to rectify the situation, and establish Ankara as an important Muslim city within the new republic, Turkey built the … [Read more...]
MEVLANA MUSEUM
Konya, Turkey While Sufism originated in Persia and other eastern Islamic nations, it reached the pinnacle of its popularity much later in the Turkish territories of Asia Minor. This was due in large part to one Jala Al-Din Rumi, one of the greatest and most revered of Sufi philosophers, who came to Konya as a refugee fleeing the Mongols. He contributed much in the way of … [Read more...]
SULTAN AHMET MOSQUE (MASJID SULTAN AHMET)
Istanbul, Turkey After the Hagia Sofia and the Masjid Suleymaniye, it is almost unthinkable that Istanbul could witness an even more beautiful mosque constructed in its midst. However, the Masjid Sultan Ahmet, also known as the Blue Mosque, impossibly outshines all of its predeccesors. No other mosques in Turkey, and few other mosques in the world, can rival the stunning … [Read more...]
MOSQUES OF MIMAR SINAN (MASJID SULEYMANIYE, MASJID SELIMEYE)
Istanbul & Edirne, Turkey Mimar Sinan is renowned as the greatest architect of the Ottoman dynasty and, quite possibly, the greatest Islamic architect of all time. His career spanned five decades, during which time he oversaw the reconstruction of Istanbul as the new grand capital of the Islamic caliphate. Literally hundreds of buildings in and around Istanbul are … [Read more...]
