The Perfect Trip – Turkey

In this ancient country where Europe meets Asia, the sun shines down on a unique fusion of history and scenery, combining classical ruins, curious rock formations, golden beaches and tumbledown towns with memorable views; words by James Bainbridge

Your Trip mapped out – Delvs into Turkey’s past, from Ottoman splendor in Istanbul to cave dwellings in Capadocia.

ISTANBUL:  Best for Ottoman splendor. The imperial architecture of a formidable history still wows the  crowds against a backdrop of skyscrapers and modern prosperity.

AYVALIK: Best for coastal life. Drop the pace down a notch with a visit to the relaxed coastline of Ayvalik, with this time to savour the fresh cuisine and local spirits.

EPHESUS: Best for classical ruins. The river may have stopped flowing here but you can still relive history among the old city’s remarkable Roman buildings and streets.

LYCIAN WAY: Best for walking. Considered one of the best walks in the world, this epic journey will take you along ancient trails and closer to the people of the region.

KEKOVA: Best for a boat trip. Take a traditional sailing boat out to the island of the Sunken City and step into the submerged Lycian streets, lost nearly 2,000 years ago.

CAPPADOCIA: Best for horse riding. Mount an Anatolian steed and ride through the distinctive valleys of Cappadocia, where generations of people have carved homes from the rocks.

iSTANBUL displays all the signs of bullish development you’d expect in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, with shiny skyscrapers growing ever upward, shops as far as the eye can see and tankers queueing in the Bosphorus rivers. And yet, among the organized chaos of this great modern city, ancient mosques and palaces rise sphinx-like from the jumble of roofs.

For nearly 500 years, Istanbul – or Constantinople as it was previously know – was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, a powerful regime that, at its height, stretched from Hungary to Iraq. In the city’s imperial days, traders sold spices from distant dominions in the bazaars, dignitaries hunted in parks lining the Bosphorus, and buildings rose to immortalise the sultans. People came here from across the empire. ‘It was global before there was ‘global’ ,’says Ottoman historian Caroline Finkel, who has lived in the city for 25 years.

Standing proud near the city’s spice bazaar is Rustem Pasa Mosque. Built during the Ottoman Empire, it showcases the best Ottoman architecture and exquisite Iznik tiles, which cover the walls, columns and the façade of its porch. Rustem Pasa has a stillness, beauty and calm that offers respite from the glamour of the markets outside its walls. 

On a much grander scale is the famous Blue Mosque, also decorated with Iznik tiles and stained-glass windows. It lies in the Sultanahmet area, the old town centre that was once the heart of Ottoman life.

This remarkable mosque was built after the Ottomans took the city from the Crhistian Byznatine Empire, to compete with the Aya Sofya cathedral, which was a conspicuous reminder of the old regime. Now a museum, Aya Sofya was made into a mosque under the Ottomans. ‘It was about imperial rivalry,’ says Caroline, ‘making your own what was there before. Demolishing it by giving new meaning.’

 Blue Mosque

Haya Sopya Cathedral

The 1,500-year-old building of Aya Sofya still has a sacred atmosphere. Turkish families crowd the entrance, craning their necks to view the soaring ceiling. They wander through the hushed space and queue up at the weeping column, said to cure ailments with its tears. Ottoman features such as medallions with gilt Arabic calligraphy draw the eye, but the shadowy corners are rich with original Christian fragments from the Byzantine era – enduring signs of Istanbul’s rich past.

Further information: Entry to the Blue Mosque is free, but it closes for about half an hour at prayer times (listed at namazvakti.com). The Aya Sofya museum (US$13; muze.gov.tr/hagiasophia) is open Tue-Sun.

Where to Eat: Istanbul’s premier rooftop bar-restaurant, 360, has views of the old city from its eight-floor perch. DJs and sporadic performances add to the buzz (dishes from US$8; 360istanbul.com).

Where to stay: PERA PALACE HOTEL, opened in 1892, Pera Palace was the address in Istanbul for guests arriving oon the Orient Express. Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express was inspired by her stays in the Ottoman hotel, its neoclassical façade overlooking the Golden Horn estuary. Completed in September 2010, a two-and-a half-year, US$33m renovation has maintained the elegance of the eclectic architecture and the grandeur of the public salons. Rooms and suites reflect their famous past guests. With antique furniture and luxuries such as hamam like showers, modern comforts mix with vintage style (from US$365; perapalace.com).