In Turkey, following ancient civilizations

Turkey is a country with a history of 8000 years, spread over two continents, with remnants of ancient civilizations.

Being visited annually by around 40 million tourists, Turkey is much more than seaside and all-inclusive. Antalya, Bodrum, Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus – everyone has heard of these fascinating places.

At the same time, Turkey has many ancient places, cities still undiscovered by mass tourism, but very famous.

All of Turkey is a whole museum. Everywhere you go you come across ruins of old ancient settlements, old fortresses.

Recently, the Association of Travel Agencies of Turkey organized a tour for media representatives from several countries to publicize new tourist destinations. Thus, for four days, the journalists got to know the tourist attractions of southeastern Turkey - Kahramanmaraș, Osmaniye, Adana, Mersin and others. Although all locations have a rich history and many archaeological remains, we will mention only some of them.

The first tourist destination was the city of Kahranmaraș. Located in southeastern Turkey, the city was founded by the Hittites in 1000 BC. In 64 BC, it was conquered by the Romans and renamed Kaiseria Germanicia, after the Roman emperor Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. The town attracts visitors with its unique climate, plateaus and natural parks, caves, dams, rivers, lakes and mountains, as well as ancient history and distinctive cuisine.

Kahramanmaraş is among the centers of traditional handicrafts in Turkey. The city's historic bazaars, such as the Covered Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), along with the many surrounding workshops and shops, offer plenty to see in terms of traditional crafts. The bazaar is believed to have been built in the late 16th century. It is one of the oldest examples of covered bazaars from the Ottoman era and attracts attention with the prayer dome in the middle. Today, there are 116 shops in the bazaar.

Also here is the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), built between 1442-1454. The wooden-roofed mosque is characteristic of the architectural style of Anatolian beyliks (small principalities) and the Seljuk period of early Anatolia.

One of the largest mosques in Turkey with a capacity of 10,000 people is located in this city. It was completed in 2011 and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.

Architectural wonder - Ceyhan Bridge, believed to have been built in the 15th century. 158 meters long, it is still intact today in its original appearance.

The second city visited was Osmaniye. Known as the "city of castles", Osmaniye connects the east and west of the country. It is also the hometown of the famous writer Yaşar Kemal, the first Turkish writer nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature. The geographical location and the contributions of a multitude of civilizations and people have given the city a rich and diverse cuisine. Osmaniye is also considered the capital of peanuts and radishes.

Another impressive ancient city is Castabala-Hieropolis.
10 km from Castabala is Karatepe Castle, the largest open-air museum in Turkey and a unique example of architecture, being a frontier castle of Adanava – a city-state during the late Hittite period in Anatolia. Its construction was ordered by the "sovereign of the region" Azatiwada in the 8th century BC. to defend the city against attacks from the north.
Later, we arrive in Adana, the birthplace of the famous kebab, home to the largest Mosque in the Islamic world, besides those in Istanbul and Saudi Arabia.

Adana is the sixth largest city in Turkey with 3 million inhabitants.
The Adana Archaeological Museum is a regional one, but it exhibits artefacts discovered in archaeological excavations in the city and its surroundings, as well as in Kahramanmaraş, Tarsus and Mersin.

Mersin is a port city in the eastern Mediterranean on the southeast coast of Turkey. Mersin International Port is the most important commercial point not only in Turkey but also in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The city is a rich mix of historical and cultural heritage.

After Adana, we stop in the city of Tarsus. Saint Paul was born here.

Mersin is a port city in the eastern Mediterranean on the southeast coast of Turkey. Mersin International Port is the most important commercial point not only in Turkey but also in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The city is a rich mix of historical and cultural heritage.

Some of the historical sites in Mersin are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These include Alahan Monastery, St. Paul's Monument Museum, Mamure Castle and the Ancient City of Korykos (Virgin's Castle).
Mersin occupies an important place in the citrus sector of the world. Every year, the Citrus Festival is held here.

From Mersin to Antalya there are more than 600 kilometers.

History, culture and traditions make Turkey one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in the world, reaching the sixth place in the list of the most visited countries. From ancient ruins and temples to lavish palaces, the country is a paradise for history and culture lovers and well worth a visit.