Trabzon, Kars, Ani to Van

Ancient Cities and Wild Landscapes of Eastern Turkey

Travelers to Trabzon

Dorothy Dunnett's amazing combination of devious plotting with historical accuracy concentrates on the barely known period just after the the Ottoman's conquered Constantinople. The remnants of the Byzantine court fled to a far corner of the Black Sea where shifting alliances and treachery gives Nicolo his chance. Modern travelers can still conjure the bittersweet search for the past:

A short drive took us to a trail that steeply climbed to the Sumela monastery which clings to the mountainside . Inside its chapel is decorated with ancient frescoes, with faces pocked and scarred by centuries of iconoclasts, both Christian and Islamic.

Best Books About Turkey and the Middle East
As always in my book lists and reviews, these are not definitive bibliographies, but rather books I've read and recommend

Christian Art in Turkey - hiking the ihlara valley
The whole canyon is honeycombed with rock-cut underground dwellings and churches from the Byzantine period. There are trails on both sides of the creek, but not particularly well marked.

Best Recipes from Turkey and the Middle East
Turkish and Middle Eastern food is varied and influenced from east and west creating tasty fusions.

We've made multiple trips to Turkey over the past 25 years, and have seen much of the country, but we've still got a lot to see and do. Some of the suggestions .

Christian Art in Turkey - Cappadocia
Cappadocia has been an important area for Christian Art for hundreds of years . The terrain is well suited to defense, with cave dwellings and underground cities easily carved from the volcanic tufa. This

Hiking in Turkey - Selge and Aspendos
Turkey offers many day hikes that combine moderate exertion with a journey into the past. We hiked along mountain paths that include parts of Roman construction once used

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