UNESCO was established under the United Nations (UN) to introduce cultural and natural assets with universal values, which are accepted as the common heritage of all humanity, to the world, to create awareness in society to protect the said universal heritage, and to ensure the necessary cooperation for the survival of cultural and natural values that have been damaged or destroyed for various reasons. The World Heritage List, which was created according to the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and determined by the World Heritage Committee (DMK), includes 1223 heritages declared as World Heritage Sites. Turkey, which contains many beauties with its history, natural beauties and food, also has 21 cultural assets on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Let's explore this list together.
Istanbul Historical Peninsula: The city of Istanbul, founded in the 7th century BC; has always been very important for the civilizations that have ruled in the city throughout its history due to its strategic location connecting Europe and Asia. The part of Istanbul, which was the capital of great empires such as the Roman, Eastern Roman and Ottoman Empires and is referred to as the historical peninsula and surrounded by the Golden Horn to the north, the Bosphorus to the east and the Sea of Marmara to the south, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. This area includes the Sultanahmet Urban Archaeological Site, which includes the Hippodrome, the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque Serif, Hagia Irene, the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque and Topkapi Palace; the Süleymaniye Conservation Area, which includes the Süleymaniye Mosque and its surroundings; the Zeyrek Conservation Area, which includes the Zeyrek Mosque and its surroundings; and the Istanbul Land Walls Conservation Area.
Göreme National Park and Cappadocia (Nevşehir): The most important feature of the area, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, is the extraordinary rock formations formed as a result of wind and water erosion of the Erciyes and Hasan Mountain tuffs, and the rock-carved spaces that are warm in winter and cool in summer and therefore have suitable internal climate conditions for all seasons. Göreme, especially in the 7th-13th centuries. It became an important center of Christianity with the settlement of Christians escaping from oppression between the centuries. The areas included in the UNESCO World Heritage List include Göreme National Park, Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı Underground Cities, Karain Dovecotes, Karlık Church, Yeşilöz Theodoro Church and Soğanlı Archaeological Site.
Mount Nemrut: It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The tomb of the Commagene King Antiochus I, who reigned on the slopes of Mount Nemrut, which is 2150 meters high in the Kahta District of Adıyaman, built to show his gratitude to the gods and ancestors, is one of the most magnificent ruins of the Hellenistic Period with its monumental statues and unique view. The monumental statues are spread over the eastern, western and northern terraces. The eastern terrace is the sacred center and therefore the most important statues and architectural remains are located here. The well-preserved giant statues are made of limestone blocks and are 8-10 meters high. Although its existence is known, the king's tomb has not yet been discovered.
Pamukkale-Hierapolis: The archaeological city of Hierapolis, which contains magnificent white travertines formed by calcium oxide waters coming from the southern skirts of Çaldağı and ruins from the late Hellenistic and early Christian periods, is one of the most striking centers that has survived from ancient times to the present day. Located 2 km from Denizli, this area is also famous for its healing waters believed to be good for a wide variety of ailments. The ancient city, which was the capital of the Phrygian region and a bishopric center during the Byzantine period, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.
Troy Ancient City: Troy, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998, is one of the most famous ancient cities in the world. The 9 layers seen in Troy show a period of more than 3000 years without interruption and allow us to follow the civilizations settled in this unique geography where Anatolia, the Aegean and the Balkans meet. Troy also serves as a reference for other archaeological sites in Europe and the Aegean with the uninterrupted layering it displays. First excavated in 1871 by Heinrich Schliemann, then by W. Dörpfeld and C.W Blegen, excavations are still ongoing in this magnificent archaeological city.
Edirne Selimiye Mosque and Complex: The most important monumental work of Edirne, which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire before the conquest of Istanbul, crowning the city's silhouette and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011, was built in the 16th century in the name of Sultan Selim II. The Mosque and Complex, which are the most magnificent works of their period and later times with their technical perfection, dimensions and aesthetic values, are considered to be the work of the Mastery Period of Sinan, the most important of the Ottoman architects, one of the most magnificent examples of architectural art and a masterpiece of human creative genius.
Bursa and Cumalıkızık: The World Heritage Site “Bursa and Cumalıkızık: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire”, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014, consists of six components: the Hanlar Area, which includes the Orhangazi Complex and its surroundings, the Hüdavendigar (I. Murad) Complex, the Yıldırım (I. Bayezid) Complex, the Yeşil (I. Mehmed) Complex, the Muradiye (II. Murad) Complex and the Cumalıkızık Village. The important commercial role of Bursa, which was established as the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and shaped by the complexes, is demonstrated by the large inns, covered bazaars and bazaars in the city. The Hanlar Area has been the heart of the city’s economy since the 14th century. Bursa’s urbanization model, which is an exceptional example of an early Ottoman city, set an example for later Ottoman-Turkish cities.
Ephesus Ancient City: The “Ephesus” World Heritage Site, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015, consists of four components: Çukuriçi Mound, Ayasuluk Hill (Selçuk Castle, St. John Basilica, İsa Bey Bath, İsa Bey Mosque, Artemision), Ephesus Ancient City and the House of the Virgin Mary. Ephesus, one of the most important centers of the ancient period, was inhabited continuously for approximately 9000 years starting from the prehistoric period and throughout the Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman, Principalities and Ottoman periods, and has been a very important port city and cultural and commercial center in all stages of its history. Today, with the House of the Virgin Mary, which is considered a place of pilgrimage by Christians, and the Islamic structures built during the Principalities period, Ephesus also offers a unique accumulation of religious history that still stands today.
Göbeklitepe: Göbeklitepe Archaeological Site, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018, is located 18 kilometers northeast of Şanlıurfa city center, near Örencik Village. The area was discovered in 1963 during a surface survey conducted jointly by Istanbul and Chicago Universities and was identified as “V52 Neolithic Settlement”. The real value of the area began to emerge with the excavations initiated after 1994. Following these studies, it was understood that Göbeklitepe was a cult center dating back 12,000 years. In the middle of approximately 20 round and oval structures with diameters of up to 30 meters, there are 2 “T” shaped, 5-meter high, limestone freestanding columns. There are also smaller columns on the interior walls of the structures. The aforementioned scientific data regarding Göbeklitepe provide important information that necessitates the re-evaluation of the theoretical framework and datings regarding the Neolithic period in archaeological studies. It has been understood that Göbeklitepe is a unique sacred site for the Neolithic period with its location, dimensions, dating and monumentality of its structures. Since the area remained untouched in its natural environment for 12,000 years, it provides important archaeological findings.
Apart from all these areas, other cultural assets from Turkey included in the List are listed below.
Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital (Sivas) [1985]
Hattuşa (Boğazköy) - Hittite Capital (Çorum) [1986]
Xanthos-Letoon (Antalya - Muğla) [1988]
Safranbolu City (Karabük) [1994]
Çatalhöyük Neolithic Site (Konya) [2012]
Bergama Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape Area (İzmir) [2014]
Diyarbakır Castle and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape [2015]
Ani Archaeological Site (Kars) [2016]
Afrodisias (Aydın) [2017]
Arslantepe Mound (Malatya) [2021]
Gordion (Ankara) [2023]
Anatolia's Medieval Period Wooden Hypostyle Mosques [2023]
culturally;
If you want to discover all these cultural assets that fascinate with their culture and history, you can stay in one of our houses located in Kadıköy, one of the most central locations of Istanbul, and you can visit www.jcozyhomes.com and examine our houses in detail.
We wish you a good holiday.
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