TURKEY

KAPPADOCIA It's a small land in the center of the anatolic region . Its moonlike appearence, with a mixture of needles , pinnacles, strange high fungiform towers created by wind and rain during the century ,is beautiful and very peculiar. But there are also Goreme ' monastries, Uchisar fortresses, the underground town of Derinkoyu( where Christians escaped from enemies), the valley of Zelve. On the whole , the landscape is dream-like and fascinating.

PAMUKKALE The name means "cotton fortress" but the place is a miracle of the nature. Water springs out everywhere from the soil: clear, fresh waters flow down from the slopes and little streams of warm calcareous water slide on the rocks all around. The result is an unforgettable view of white terraces and large warm basins, toghether with fabulous falls of solidified water. Spend a night there!

EPHESOS Herodotos wrote that Ephesos was founded by Carnians 1500 years B.C. During the centuries the city experienced periods of splendor and decadence, passed through invasions and heartqueak. Under the Roman Empire reached great prosperity and importance; Ephesos was enriched by beautiful monuments and got more than 200.000 inhabitants.
Important monuments are :THE Theatre. The Marble Road leading to a large square where you can admire Coelsus Library.Built in 110-135 A.D. to celebrate the governor Coelsus Polimenus,it is the most famous building in Ephesos.
In the nearby village of Selcuk there is an interesting museum.

AFRODISIA On the road form Pamukkale to Pergamo we arrived in Afrodisia,a roman town dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite. Here are very important ruins of a theatre, an odeon, a temple and one of the largest stadium in the ancient world ( 250m. long, 34m wide, 22 lines of stairs): it could contain 20000 spectators. Vey well preserved.

ISTANBUL This city of Istanbul, unique and misterious.
Pearl between two seas, it's like the sun
Light of the Universe ..." ( Nedim 17th century)
Once upon the time a little village called Bysantium rose on the Bosforo Channel ; later it became the splendid Costantinopolis, Bysantium again, and then Istanbul (since 1453), the luxurious capital of the Ottoman Empire. At the beginning of 20th century Ottomans lost the Empire, Ankara is now the political capital of Turkey, but Istanbul is always the most important, vital, rich, beautiful and densely populated town in Turkey. The most important monuments are in the old town, on the European bank of Bosforus channel. A four days visit is absolutely necessary to admire and enjoy the town. Facing St. Sophia stands the elegant, six minarets, SULTAN AHMET MOSQUE. Built between 1606 and 1616 by architect Mehmet, the building is known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue-white tiles of its interior. The cascading domes and four slender minarets of SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE dominate the skyline of the Golden Horn's West bank. It's considered the most beautiful of all imperial mosques in Istambul and was built between 1550 and 1557 by Sinan, the renowned architect of the Sultan Suleyman Golden Age. On the crest of the hill the building is magnificent for its great size, which the 4 minarets rising from each corner of the courtyard emphasize. Here is a global view of the historical centre of Istambul, with The Blue Mosque, Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the obelisque square with the cistern church. In this marvellous town you can't miss a visit to the Topkapi Palace, in the ancient bizantin acropolis, the Grand bazaar, Dolmabace palaceand museum of islamic history. Istambul nights are very exciting, especially in Ortakoy and Beyouk, and taxis are not very expensive.

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Roberto Dalfini.dalfinir@usa.net
Ultimo aggiornamento:20-04-99

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