The Historical Churches of Turkey

It is no secret that Turkey has a colorful and vibrant past. From the domineering Romans to the banished Ottoman Empire, it has seen civilizations come and go. In the years spanning Turkish history, empires and religions have left their mark including many historical churches. If you read deep enough into the transcripts of the bible, you will also discover that Turkey is home to the seven churches of revelations. Better still, take a whirlwind tour of the historical churches of Turkey to experience the fine architecture and magnificence.

The Brilliance of the Hagia Sophia

The first stop of any tour of historical churches in Turkey would have to be the most famous and renowned church of Hagia Sophia. Built in 360, it began life as a wooden roof building only to be burned down in the years 404 and 532 during mass riots. The last destruction turned out to be a blessing in disguise as two men called Isidore and Anthemius were commissioned to rebuild it and they are credited with designing one of the Earth’s most magnificent buildings.

In following years, it was converted into a mosque and then fell into a dire state of repair until 1923, when the new leader of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, decided the fine architecture and magnificent appearance should be admired by all. It became a museum showcasing the best of Christianity and Islam and is today one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions.

The Red Basilica in Bergama

Leaving Istanbul, we travel down the west coast of Turkey to the Red Basilica in Bergama. This impressive church was built in the 2^nd Century only to overcome near-destruction after an invasion by the Arabs in the 8^th Century. The church has a prominent position in the town and a visit should also be combined with a trip to the local museum and Acropolis. When it comes to red brick structures that played a major part in history, the Red Basilica certainly claims a leading position.

The Humble Church of the Virgin Mary

We set off from Bergama to the town of Selcuk, which is home to the Church of St Mary, a building with great significance for Christians and Muslims. In the early 19^th Century, a nun had visions of the last resting place of the Virgin Mary. Two gentlemen followed her visions and discovered an old stone house high in the hills of Selcuk, just as the nun described.

When you visit, be sure to drink water from the fountains as they are said to bring fertility, good luck and health. Combine the visit to the church of St Mary with a tour of Ephesus and then head to the next destination of historical churches in Turkey.

The Cave Churches of Goreme

Visiting Goreme is a must as there is an abundance of historical churches all over the region. For many years, Christians had to practice in secret and were terrified of the Romans. They formed churches from the soft volcanic rock that the Cappadocia landscape is well known for. While the architecture of the cave churches is not of great size or magnificence, the original mosaics that depict the life of Christ are.

The Church of St Nicholas

From the rugged landscapes of Goreme we head to the South West coast to the town of Demre. This is home to the church of St Nicholas who was the bishop of St Myra, the saint of sailors and children and later claimed fame as Santa Claus. The church is open all year round, however, festivals are held on 6^th of December which is the feast of St Nicholas. The original Sarcophagi of Saint Nicholas lies in the north corridor off the main passage.

The Simple but Magnificent Cave church of St Peter

Located in Antakya, this church is believed to have been built by St Peter himself. It is a simple structure yet it boasts an original alter, a stone throne and the original mosaics can still be faintly seen on the walls. Whether or not you believe that the church was the brainchild of St Peter, it is important to know that he did preach in this area at the time of construction so it is quite possible that he played a major part in forming this building, parts of which have stood the test of time from the 4^thCentury.

The Sacred Akhtamar Church 

At the furthest East point of Turkey is Lake Van, and in the middle of that lake stands an island which is home to Akhtamar church. Dating back to the10th Century, this church saw people from all walks of life until the 19^th Century when it was abandoned. Any visitor will instantly note the superb Armenian architecture that was refurbished in the years after 2005. Out of all the historical churches in Turkey, the Akhtamar can claim its place as one of the most impressive due to the Gothic-like structure, the remote island location and its colorful history.

Sumela Monastery and Church in Trabzon

The last stop on our whirlwind tour takes us to the Black sea region on the outskirts of the city of Trabzon. The Sumela monastery and church has an impressive history dating back to 386 AD, however it is more famous for its peculiar location on the steep edge of a cliff face. The monastery is open all year round apart from on the 15^th of August which is the assumption day of St Mary and passes are required.

The historical churches of Turkey are the gateway to the country’s glorious past. Turkey’s history has shaped its present day attitude on preserving with the highest integrity, the footsteps of our ancestors.

Natalie Sayin, My Destination Cappadocia
December 2011

Photos added by Destination Expert. 

Cairo's Orientalist Pleasures

Cairo has no boulevard, modern parks and skyscrapers this city’s buildings are centuries old. Cairo offers you old Cairo Temples, Christian, Jewish and Muslim Landmarks, modern art and sculpturing, Pharaoh Era ancient residential areas, Nile River and pyramids.

You can stay Marriott, Ramses Hilton, Talisman, Grand Hyatt which are very close to Cairo popular city centre.

" Cairo City View"

Cairo Tower in the centre of the Cairo where is in Nile River’s Gezira Island, in Zamalek region. This tower is 187 metres high and is higher than the Big Giza Pyramid. Panaromic Cairo City view is charming from Cairo Tower.

"Cairo Tower"

Egypt is known all around the world with its pyramid besides many of that pyramids had been around Cairo. Also, that time-honored magnificent buildings are in the southern part of The Nile Delta. The big pyramids of Giza the most famous buildings of the country. This architectural buildings are subsisted of the seven wonders of the World.

"Giza in Cairo"

"The Nile Delta Pyramids of Cairo"

Castle is the most visited place of Cairo. During 7 years, that place was hosting Egypt Crown which has 3 different type of mosque, palaces and terraces.

"Darb-al- Ahmar"

Cairo is known as Islamic Cairo. Because many Islamic art works are dense in that area Furthermore, Cairo is in Unesco World Heritage list. Mohammed Ali Mosque is the one of most visited places by tourists which is in Salahide Castle. Beit al-Suhaymi is the best example of Islamic Cairo which is in Gamalliyat. Thenceforward, Beit el-Suhaymi is consist of family hostels in the bargain its garden of inside is cute. Bab Zuweila is a magnificent place with its two doors with tower where is in Darb al Ahmar. In addition to Bab Zuweila was used as a southern door of the Cairo’s Kingdom when was in Fatimid period.

"Fatimid Period Work Art in Cairo"

Egypt Museum exhibited old Egypt antiques thereto it has wide collection. 136,000 pieces of that collection exhibition and its room used as depot are thousand of art Works. In Tahrir Square, Royal Mummy Room has 27 mummies which are relative to Pharaoh Era which also has neoclassical building. Hotels which is near Egypt Museums are Museum View, New Garden Palace, Pharaoh Palace, Ramses Hilton.

" Cairo Egypt Museum"

"Magnificent Mummy and Sculpture"

Cairo has a variety and colorful culture which is 7.000 years old. With its modern art, music,dance, theatre, cinema, gallery and so many cultural centres are pieces of Cairo’s rich culture.

" Ibn-i Tulun"

Gezira Art Centre hosts four gallery where is in Zamalak. In addition to, Gezira Art Centre has temporary exhibitions, a cinema saloon, a conference saloon and a open-air theatre. 10.000 tables and sculptures are in there besides it takes the place of Hussein el Me’mar Paha Street and third exhibition floored which is Townhouse Gallery is appealed public of city also it is a modern art center.

"Gezira Art Centre"

National Cultural Centre’s Cairo Opera House are the most important scene arts centre. Cairo Opera House in Gezira Island on the Nile River is a place of the most significant art centre which puts on the stage the best dance performance. All around the year, jazz, classic music, opera, Arabic music and ballet are arranged in this place. Hotels which is near Cairo Opera House are; Novotel Cairo El Borg, Sofitel El Gezirah, Four Seasons At Nile Plaza, Sheraton Cairo Towers.

"Cairo Opera House"

International Cairo Film Festival is firstly arranged in 1976 thenceforward this World renown cultural event are pieced together artistic and cultural elements who belonged to east and west.

"International Cairo Film Festival"

Traditional Cairo dance is pretty much popular. Oriantal dance and oriental dance training are educated all around Cairo. Riding a horse, going to pyramids with riding a camel, renting sailing boat for Cairo tour and going for a row on the Nile River are important touristic activities.

"Going to Pyramids With Riding a Camel"

"Cairo Belly Dance Festival"

"Nile River Tour"

If you want to live east pleasure, hear delight oriental music, watch oriental dance, taste spiced gourmet foods, see pyramids , museums and archaeological artworks: true address is actually Cairo.

Jaipur: Country of Pink Winds

Jaipur is capital of the Rajastan State which is known as “Pink City” cause of buildings and houses color. Jaipur was named by Maharajah ll. Jai Singh who built the city also. In old city all of the buildings are pink. And in there, Indian-Mongolian architecture’s typical dome buildings. Sight of the city in night is pink coloured and egzotic. You could understand that Jaipur Street is insatiabled promenade besides you also colud add to see camel carriage and wild monkeys . Thus, the most second touristic place of India Jaipur which is not futility. Moreover, Jaipur has so many castles, palaces, historical buildings and its wonderful cinema which is called as Raj Mandir because of that Jaipur is must-see place of Rajastan’s city.

Lead a life of plesure of old city is renting a oto ryksah because old city is very big and it has a traffic problem accordingly walking is not avaiable fort the trip in Jaipur.

" Jaipur City View "

Hawa Mahal means “ Palace of Wind ” who is the most touristic signified construction of Jaipur. It is build for dynasty and hareem women who see the city without show theirselves and watch the everyday life and procession of the city in Jaipur. Hawa Mahal has magnificent pink front face in spite of this reverse side is not very good but you can see all the city if you get upstairs.

" Hawa Mahal View in Jaipur Street "

" Hawa Mahal Building in Jaipur "

Jantar Mantar is an open- air astronomical viewing place which was built by Jai Singh in 1728 and it is also in front of City Palace, in Jaipur. Therefore, sundials and the tools of observing the planets. The most attractivest thing in there is sundials whose high is 30 metres. lt is build for calculating solar eclipse time and seeing stars place, height and angle in Jaipur.

" Jantar Mantar Area "

City Palace is in middlest of old city of Jaipur which has variety gardens and buildings and large land.Last Maharajah still lives one part of that palace. The center of that place is Chandra Mahal which was watched all Jaipur with its cute gardens. Jaipur's City Palace’s first place ihas organized as the Museum of Maharajah II.Sawai Man Singh which has decorated luxury and magnificent carpets, miniatures and various works of art. In addition gun, Maharajah dress and caftan collection is exhibited in there.

" City Palace of Jaipur "

" Decoration of City Palace with Famous Jaipur's Upholstery "

" Magnificent Door Engravings of Jaipur "

Diwan-ı Khas ( Nobles’ Saloon) has an unique beauty with its marble overlap in Jaipur. Diwan-ı Aam (Public Saloon ) is a Mongolian Palace as the other Mongolian Palace whose has a lot of handwritings in Persian and Sanskrit.It was decorated by mosaics who has a small Kali Temple. In addition to, near of the Mubarek Mahal in Jaipur, has got a clock tower .

" Diwan-ı Khas Enterance "

Jal Mahal is out of Jaipur almost 6 kilometres which is on the Way of Amber Fort otherwise it is the summerhouse of Maharajah in Jaipur.

" Jal Mahal and Jaipur View "

Amber Fort is out of the city Jaipur almost 11 kilometres which is the Maharajah place before Jaipur built. Seperately, Amber Fort is a castle which was built in 1592. After that, it was enlarged and finished. The castle is in the highest rock in Jaipur which is included the most interesting examples of the Art of Rajput Era. You take by bus going to the Amber Fort then you arrive the Amber Fort, you see a rapid slope. Then, you need a elephant going to the castle enterance. Furthermore, trip with elephant is very slow and you also meet lots of sellers, snake players and beggars. You should not carry any banana, tangerine and and dried fruits it is hazardous in Jaipur's that area . Reason is so simple: because wild monkeys always steal a lot of thing so they could be yours.

" Amber Fort Stairs "

" Amber Fort Enterance Door "

For going to the Place of Maharajah in Jaipur, pass the enterance with masaics and sculptures then Jai Mandir is seen, is known as Victory Saloon whose has a lot of small mirrors and also plafond and a wall of Jai Mandir. Sukh Navas is known as Pleasure Corner of Jaipur, has a engraved sandalwood and ivory whose condition is very good, now. There is a water way in Jaipur which performs for freshen up to Maharajah like an air condition.

You have to visit the Jaipur if you riding an elephant, seeing very interesting architectural buildings and living egzotic dreams. Finally, Jaipur addresses you. Have a egzotic dreams.

The Other Face of Paris: Subterranean Graveyard

The most oldest and the most strongest in the earth, one of the piece of that rich world’s only one part is mysterious subterranean of Paris. Underneath of Paris has all sorts of places: canals and water depot, gravery in the church and bank safe boxes, old limestone stock quarry, night clup and wine vaults which has used as an art gallery.

That tunnels and caves had digged ejecting stone for use in buildings in 19. century later farmers were feed mushroom. Moreover, farmers were reached hundreds of tones per year, at that time. During the 2. World War, French resisters were hidden theirselves in some of stock quarry in Paris although Germans were built shelters in the others. Nowadays in that tunnels in Paris, members of the other mysterious group go on a pleasure trip who end days and nights in that area. At that time, that group of people are footloose who has no leader: “cataphiles”. Subterranean lovers of Paris.

Entering quarry has forbidden since 1955 so cataphiles especially consist of the youthes who want to escape terrestrial and its rules. Old people said that: Paris resistant tradition has fed punk culture while 70’s and 80’s. At that time, ait is easy to get down because that quarries has so many open doors. Some of cataphiles discover the door basement of schools which was forgetten afterwards they get into tunnels by crawling which is full of bones.

Louis spits fire in a old stone quarry who is a fire dancer from Paris.

Under the Opéra Garnier is old opera building has metro and also a pool. In 1860’s while building was constructed, opera workers fed big fishes with mussels. It was done for safing constructing site.

One of municipality inspector getting down to examine to stone quarry. Cave-in or sunken could done in tunnels.

Catacombs of Paris lie down skulls, shinbones and thighbones, well arranged. In 18. and 19. Century, the municipality removed so many skeleton from their grave and in night moved it old stone quarry.

Some of 6 million people in Paris catacombs, epitaph is shown us where buried the first people and skulls are also on the epitaph: Innocents Graveyard. In the centre of Paris, who known as “Les Halles” which was removed and as soon as people. Human remains are approximately thousand years old. After that, the other bones from the other graveyard was put in there. The big enlightened person’s bones like Rabelais and Robespierre from France are there according to some guesses.

People live in Paris are going down everyday on 18. Arrondisement’s Lamarck-Caulaincourt Station. But, people get down who want to live deepest experience, they join to walk trip who visit “the ghost station” from time to time. It is also noteworthy range of experience for everybody.

Yopie and Dominique who are the “cataphiles”, scuba diving into stone quarry which is water-logged. Then, they climb upward on the abandoned train rail. Cataphiles also love freedom so they prefer the underground and irregularity.

Chez Georges’s cellar in Saint-Germain-des-Pres’s arched ceiling is an other cataphiles meeting places in Paris. People meet in there where was a wine cellar in Paris.

Fire are flying in entertainment night on the Notre Dame in the Ile de la Cite. Some of limestone blocks of the cathedral in Paris which built in 12. Century have been taken left side’s stone quarry. Marc Vire is archaeologist , he said that: history of stone quarry is a city history.

Book Meeting in a stone quarry, artist Michel Chevereau and writer Jack Manini sign theirselves comic books. The book define the Paris in occupancy of Nazis.

Paris’ underground world is the most strongest and different connection than the other cities.. This world is very rich. You also join that adventures when you go to visit Paris consequently you can see the other mysterious face of Paris.