Topkapı Palace Museum

The first palace of the era following the conquest was built on today’s Beyazit Square. After that palace, which has left almost no remains, a new one was built. The new palace in Sultanahmet, of which construction ordered by Mehmed II. finished in 1478, was originally called the New Palace (Saray—i Cedid or Yeni Saray),

The Seven Ecumenical Councils in Asia minor

The seven ecumenical church councils were all held in Turkey. The chart below provides general information on these seven councils. All dates are AD. I. ECUMENICAL COUNCIL Date / Location :325 / Nicea in the Emperor’s summer palace Participants :Convened by Constantine with over 300 bishops present Heresy :Arianism Outcome :Creed adopted stating that Jesus

Ancient Priene ruins

Gloriously situated on the slopes of Mt Mykale, ancient Priene was a marvel of early city planning. Small but breathtaking, the site of its ruins makes a great place to while away a few hours. Nearby Eski Doganbey is an abandoned Greek settlement slowly finding new life as big-city refugees move in. Built on a

Ancient Miletus & Didyma

One of the oldest and most important Ionian cities was Miletus which had nearly a hundred colonies on the Black Sea. A center of education and art, the town originally stood right on the shore before alluvium from the River Menderes (Meander) silted up the area and left it stranded inland. To reach Didyma, the