The overwhelming beauty of Turkey is evident through its varied landscape and lengthy history. Wedged between the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean Sea, Turkey has been an important center of trade for millennia. Truly, Turkey is the “Cradle of Civilization”, a land of immense archaeological, cultural, and biblical value. Multiple empires spanning across the centuries have left their mark on this rich land begging to be explored.

Southeastern Turkey is home to the world’s oldest temple, Gobekli Tepe. The 11,000-year old stone monument predates Stonehenge by 6,000 years. Nearby, the vast Neolithic settlement of Catalhoyuk provides evidence of prehistorical culture and practices for a period of 2,000 years. The ancient city of Troy in Northwestern Turkey is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. The extensive excavations have unearthed cities dating back to 3,000 BC as well as the setting of the Trojan War, immortalized by Homer in the Iliad. Istanbul, the only city straddling two continents, has a substantial history. Formerly known as Constantinople, the city was the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Extraordinary mosques such as the Hagia Sophia can be found throughout the city as one explores remarkable sites such as the Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace.