The Great Palace Mosaics Museum (Büyük Saray Mozaikleri Müzesi) in Istanbul displays mosaics unearthed at the site of the Great Palace of Constantinople. The museum is included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Historic Areas of Istanbul.
The tiny fishing village of Gümüşlük has retained its charm by limiting development. My Turkish friends told me to visit in the afternoon to eat very reasonably priced fish at one of the restaurants up against the harbor. I took my family there when they came to visit one day during their cruise ship stop in Bodrum.
The Asclepeion of Kos, the most important archaeological site on the island, was one of many healing sanctuaries in ancient Greece dedicated to the god Asclepius. The priests at these temples usually prescribed a trip to the baths or a gymnasium for a cure, and sometimes used substances like opium to induce trances in the patients. Non-venomous snakes were also often used in the healing process along with dogs.
The ancient Agora is the largest archaeological site in Kos Town. Construction on the site dates back to the 4th century BC and contains the foundations of many homes and temples. It’s one of the largest agoras excavated in Greece to date.
Outside of the ancient Agora and the Western Excavation Area, Kos Town has a few more ancient Greek and Roman ruins to visit. No, they aren’t as spectacular as many other ancient ruins in Greece, but they’re worth seeking out if you find yourself on the island.
Of all the ancient sites I was able to visit in Kos Town, the Western Excavation Area was my favorite. It beat the ancient Agora in terms of mosaics and quality of ruins. It’s not quite as good as the Asclepeion just outside of town, but it’s worth seeking out. Admission to the site is free and it’s open 24 hours.
You’ve surely heard of the ancient Greek city of Halicarnassus (Ἀλικαρνασσός) and its famous mausoleum, but where was it located? The modern city of Bodrum in Turkey. Only a few bits and pieces of the ancient city are still around to this day.
After exploring the Samsun city center, I hopped on the train and headed to Amazon Island (Amazon Adası). This large “island” made of land reclaimed from the Black Sea sits on the outskirts of the city. It has been used as a public park since it opened in 2012. If you like cheesy, this place is for you.
The Black Sea city of Sinop is probably most famous for being the birthplace of ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes the Cynic. A statue of him holding his lantern and standing next to his dog is located at the entrance of the peninsula.
Sinop was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Pontus (Πόντος), a Hellenized dynasty of Persian descent ruling over ethnic Greek subjects. Bits and pieces are left today from that great empire, which lasted from 281 BC to 63 BC.