Religious Sites
House of the Virgin Mary, The Temple of Artemis, The Oracle at Miletus, Topkapi Palace, Mevlana Museum, Blue Mosque, Basilica of St. John, Beyazit Camii, Aphrodisias, The Asklepion, St. Paul in Ephesus, Church of St. Savior in Chora, Hagia Sophia, Akdamar Church and many more.
Turkey, being one of the oldest countries in the world houses several Mosques, Churches, archaeological excavations, and Sacred Sites that date back to the early settlements. With all these, the sacred places in Turkey are enchanting, awe-inspiring, mesmerizing places for pilgrims and tourists coming from all over the world full of divinity.
Being adorned with a matchless cultural and spiritual legacy, it is one such place that will cast its magical spell upon you and make you fall in love with the sacred institutions and various holy places in Turkey of Christianity Sects, Religious Orders, and National Cultures. If you are planning a visit to this sacred land with your loved ones to explore the cultural heritage and sacred antiquity.
Here are some of the best-sacred places in Turkey:
01 Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
The ‘Seraglio’ (quarters of the wives of Ottoman Household) turned museum sheds light upon the many secrets of the Ottoman Empire. Historically rich, the palace houses majestic courtyards with thousands of rooms, crafted with exquisite blue-tinted walls. The beautiful palace though is now a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. It seems like a small kingdom of the Sultans, hidden away from the gaze of the world.
The museum has antiques, clothing, bear inscriptions, weapons, courtyard kitchens, and a library to name a few. It has treasured one of the oldest world maps, which dates back to the 11th century. The star attraction of one of the most loved sacred places in Turkey is the Queen Mother’s apartments.
02 Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Hagia Sophia is one of the iconic places of tourist interest in Turkey. Being a testimony to the Byzantine style of architecture, it has been one of the important witnesses of several historical events. It was initially built as a church, then it was modified into a mosque and later modified into a museum.
It was constructed in the late 6th century and was considered to be the largest monument of those times because of its large domes. It has been a centre of religious, political and artistic life for the great Byzantine empire and has also offered many scholarly insights to the world.
03 Blue Mosque, Istanbul
The mosque was built by Sultan Ahmed after he lost the great war with Persia, as a gesture for peace. It is known as a blue mosque for its blue-tinted interior decors. The mosque is one of the finest representations of Ottoman architecture and calligraphy.
The domes are decorated with thousands of hand-painted glazed ceramics in exquisite tulip patterns. The ground floors are lit up by hundreds of stained-glass windows. The mosque is beautified by a large fountain and iron chains that hang right in front of the court entrance.
04 House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus
The excavated shrine is believed to be the resting place of Mother Mary; after the crucifixion, she took shelter in a small hamlet in the vicinity of Ephesus. The entire story remains shady to date, cause the place was seen in visions by a bedridden German nun, Anne Emmerich. Its scenic beauty is made buoyant by the exhilarating Mt. Koressos.
Thousands flock to this ancient city every year to pray, hike and tie their wishes to the wishing wall. A romantic water fountain located nearby the shrine is believed to be an elixir by pilgrims. The pilgrim considers it to be one of the must-visit sacred places in Turkey because of its connection with Mother Mary.
05 The Temple of Artemis, Ephesus
The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus is one of the ancient places of worship that was constructed around 650 BC being completely financed by the wealthy king of Lydia. To keep the structure intact from the groundbreaking earthquakes, marshy land was chosen, which was also believed to be the sacred place to Cybele, the Anatolian Mother Goddess.
The temple attracts several tourists and pilgrims from all over the world to strengthen the cult of Artemis. The temple has been reconstructed in the 4th century and the excavation of the sculptures and artefacts from the original site has been kept in the museum of the reconstructed temple. The exhibition hall is a must-see sacred place in Turkey because of its historical significance.