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THE COMPASS

Turkey

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT HARDING PICTURE LIBRARY / NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Stylish Istanbul holds one of the world’s youngest populations. Beach towns scattered along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts tempt tourists to resorts, while world-class archaeological sites dot unforgettable desert landscapes. Combined with innovative cuisine, maze-like bazaars, and friendly people, Turkey has something for everyone. Join us this week as we explore ancient ruins discovered under a lake, see why Istanbul's ancient imperial legacy lies hidden in plain sight, and see what's next for Turkey's Hagia Sophia.

Let's explore Turkey.

HISTORY & CULTURE

Video shows the remains of an ancient fortress sitting hidden beneath the lake's surface.

FOOTAGE BY ANADOLU AGENCY VIA GETTY

Ancient ruins discovered under lake in Turkey

Video shows the remains of an ancient fortress sitting hidden beneath the lake’s surface.

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Tourists take photographs in the Byzantine-era Chora Church, which subsequently became a mosque under Ottoman rule and was designated as a museum in 1945 by the Turkish Republic. Recently re-converted to a mosque by presidential order, the earliest phase of the current building dates to the 11th century A.D.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RENA EFFENDI, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Why Istanbul’s ancient imperial legacy lies hidden in plain sight

Thanks to politics and the passage of time, grand monuments of the 1,000-year Byzantine Empire are easy to miss in the modern metropolis.

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The ancient town of Hasankeyf sits on the bank of the Tigris River. The Ilısu Dam will cause the river to rise some 200 feet, submerging this modern café, the ruins of the 900-year-old bridge behind it, and Neolithic caves (in the background).

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATHIAS DEPARDON, INSTITUTE

In Turkey, a power play will leave ancient towns underwater

The nation’s plan to control its most precious resource includes a controversial dam that will drown some of its history.

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Beginning in the 1960s, work at Çatalhöyük (in central Turkey) has unearthed numerous levels of close-knit households where a large community of people lived during the Stone Age as humanity began to reject nomadic life.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARION BULL / ALAMY / ACI

This Stone Age settlement took humanity's first steps toward city life

Settled more than 9,000 years ago in Turkey, Çatalhöyük focused on farming with the seeds of urban living planted at its heart.

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TRAVEL

DREAM NOW, GO LATER

The Hagia Sophia, one of the world’s architectural marvels, overlooks the Bosporus in Istanbul.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MURAT TUEREMIS, LAIF / REDUX

What’s next for Turkey’s Hagia Sophia?

From church to mosque to museum to mosque again, Istanbul’s 1,500-year-old wonder continues to be one of the world’s most significant cultural landmarks.

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The Bodrum Edition offers striking views of the Aegean.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY
NIKOLAS KOENIG, BODRUM EDITION

Discover Turkey’s
under-the-radar
seaside paradise

With its wealth of pristine beaches, indulgent spas, and vibrant nightlife, the Turkish Coast is the perfect retreat.

The site became a religious refuge during the early days of Christianity. Monks excavated extensive dwellings and monasteries and created Byzantine fresco paintings in cave chapels beginning in the seventh century. The paintings endure in well-preserved isolation to this day.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID SUTHERLAND,
ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Escape to Turkey's otherworldly landscape

This rocky wonderland was shaped by millions of years of natural phenomena—but human hands performed equally incredible works here.

Patrons dine at a café in Istanbul, Turkey.

PHOTOGRAPH BY IZZET KERIBAR, LONELY PLANET IMAGES / GETTY IMAGES

Discover the best of Istanbul

Journey through Istanbul’s culture and history with these top 10 tips.

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WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT?

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