Historic Villages in Türkiye: Destinations for Travelers eager to experience adventures and create lasting memories. That's what it's all about when you decide to visit and truly get to know Türkiye.
Therefore, write down the names and characteristics of these wonderful towns and villages.
Sirince
This picturesque village appears first on our list of Towns with history in TürkiyeIt is a small village that is located in the Aegean Region, one of the seven geographical regions of the country.
It is a village located between hills, often overrated by travelers, but a true treasure whose landscapes will take your breath away: rolling hills covered in vineyards and olive groves, with small houses with red and brown roofs among cobbled streets.
It is a village surrounded by vineyards, and the truth is that they are very good so visit a winery, or several, are part of the tour. These wines are complemented by local cheeses, Turkish sweets... But on the other hand, Sirince has its roots in history, in the so-called Hellenistic period, so the first thing to do is visit the small museum dedicated to the village's past.
Afterwards one can go out to explore old churches and traditional houses where one can see that shared past between the Hellenic/Greek and TurkishHow can you get to Sirince?
If you're in Istanbul, you can fly to Izmir Airport and drive for an hour to the village. Alternatively, you can rent a car or take a bus to Selcuk and then take a taxi or minivan from there. dolmush, up to Sirince.
The Turkish village offers a variety of accommodations, from cottages to boutique hotels. To fully enjoy the local colors and avoid crowds, the best time is spring and autumn.
Last tips? Bring cash, comfortable shoes, and time. Allow at least two days to enjoy the tour.
Cumalikizik
This town It is located on the outskirts of the city of Bursa, in northwest Turkey.Bursa is one of the largest cities in the country and one of the most industrialized. So if you go, explore the outskirts of the city and discover Cumlikizik.
The Ottoman village It is about 12 kilometers away going by highway, east of Bursa, and it is believed that, along with other villages in the area, it was founded at the beginning of the 14th centuryAmong all these villages, Cumalikizik is the best preserved and the most authentic of all.
Cumalikizik represents very well the Ottoman strategy of conquering rural areas first and then urban areas, thus providing, first, a secure land for their forces.
The old village has a square with an old tree and a cemetery at the entrance. The square is the widest part of the village, which has a very dense structure, and is the main public space. The plan was once to add it to the cemetery when it grew, but today it is used to house the bazar local and there is the mosque.
All the village's narrow streets are paved with local stones, and half of the streets are sloped to allow rainwater to run off and not accumulate in the middle. The village also has fountains in small squares here and there, between the three main streets, so they're super practical.
Cumalikizik has 270 houses, but only 180 are in use. In 2014 the village was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage.
Safranbolu
This town with history in Türkiye is also on the list of UNESCO World Heritage SitesHis Ottoman heritage makes him shine.
This place It is one hundred kilometers from Ankara, and more or less the same as the Black Sea coast, in the region of Paglagonia. It is rich in monuments from the Ottoman period, so it has been recognized by UNESCO since 1994.
Safranbolu has a history of three thousand years, which is no small thing, and they have passed through their lands Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, the Hellenes and Romans, Byzantines, and the Ottomans, among others. It has been in Turkish hands since 1196, but for the first time in Ottoman hands around the XNUMXth century, a time of splendor for the Ottoman Empire.
At that time, the town was conveniently located on the caravan route between Istanbul and Sinop. Many important buildings were built. From that time, you'll see old mansions, narrow cobbled streets, a picturesque bazaar, traditional public baths... everything seems suspended in time.
Adatepe
This XNUMXth-century town with history is located in the province of Canakkale, in the northwest of the country. It has a population of less than 400 people and a traditional appearance of stone houses.
Adatepe It is about 280 meters above sea level, on the western slope of Mount Ida, about 105 kilometers from the provincial capital.
From its height on the hill the views of the natural surroundings are wonderful. You can see the Gulf of Edremit with its islands, including Lesbos with its altar dedicated to Zeus, but among its streets you can appreciate the Turkish and Greek legacyIn fact, it is one of the few places in Türkiye where Greeks and Turks lived together, sharing their cultures.
Then, in 1924, when there was an exchange between Greece and Türkiye, an exchange of population, the Muslim Turks from Crete replaced the Orthodox Greeks in the village.
Well, the village is beautiful: old stone houses, two stories, with patio and gardenThe whole village is surrounded by fields of olive groves and the place was practically abandoned and lonely until the 80s of the last century when people decided to come, restore it and stay and live there.
Thus, the village revived and has been considered a protected area since 1989. Some of the restored houses have been converted into tourism, adding to the activities dedicated to olive oil production (oil and soap, for example), so it's understandable that 200 curious people come each year to discover Adatepe. Will you be one of them?
Goynuk
On our list of Towns with history in Türkiye It is followed by Göynük, a village in Bolu province, located in turn in the Black Sea Region, with a large part of its surface area dedicated to agriculture.
The town is a modest site, with wooden houses and buildings, narrow streets that wind and wind, with a very Ottoman spirit. It's still here today, and the history goes back thousands of years.
Goynuk It was absorbed by the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 14th century, so with this time on your back you will see a hundred houses built at the beginning of the 20th century, but also mosques, tombs, fountains and Turkish public baths and other older historical sites.
There is a small stream running through the center of the village, between its narrow streets, and a tower built on a hill, commemorating a military victory, and an old Ottoman mansion in the center.
Our list of Historic Villages in Türkiye: Destinations for Travelers ends here for today, but by no means can it include only these five destinations. We can add Uchisar, a town in Cappadocia, Kaleköand, on the coast of Antalya, the Greek Doganbey, Mardin, Assos, on the shores of the Aegean.
Beyond the names of historic towns, the truth is that any ancient village or town in Turkey offers fabulous historical and cultural experiences. Each has its own story, its own special atmosphere, its own charm, but all offer a window into the past and guarantee an unforgettable experience.