Turkey is a dazzling destination that straddles Asia and Europe, packed to the brim with ancient ruins leftover from a parade of conquerors and endowed with showcase scenery that never fails to impress. Its vivid culture, world-renowned cuisine, and rich heritage enthral visitors. At the same time, its breath-taking landscapes—from the sun-drenched Mediterranean to the majestic mountains and arid steppe—are highlights in and of themselves.
Sanliurfa is one of the world’s oldest recognised civilised regions, situated on the great fertile plain of upper Mesopotamia in Turkey’s southeastern Anatolia region. Its history dates to the 4th century BC, although it may be as old as the 12th century BC. Abraham and Job were both born in Urfa, according to legend.
The prophets Hiob, Jethro, St. George, and Abraham are said to have existed in the settlement, which is why it is known as the ‘City of Prophets.’ The cave claimed to be Abraham’s birthplace has been restored, but several mosques now surround it.
Despite its tradition, there are signs of modernity, with new districts sprouting up with urban apartment buildings, malls, and restaurants. However, the city’s old quarters, with their stone houses clustered around courtyards, mosques, and peasants, invoke stereotypical depictions of oriental society that the rest of contemporary Turkey has worked hard to avoid. Take a walk around the old bazaar, which is lined with old hotels, and you’ll be taken to another age.
This is Urfa’s biggest draw for western tourists. It is simple to be seduced by the city’s oriental beauty, but the impoverished neighbourhoods, where people live in cave houses, serve as a grim reminder that, considering Turkey’s comparatively good economic success in recent years, the country’s southeastern regions remain ravaged by poverty.
Urfa, on the other hand, has more to do than just charm. Tourists come to Urfa to see the city’s architectural and ethnographic sights, and ancient history buffs will visit museums that display Neolithic and Chalcolithic artefacts from the lower Euphrates region.
Urfa is known for its pond full of fish situated in the heart of the city. The origins of this pond, known as the ‘Balikli Gol’ (frog lake), can be traced back to Mohammed’s period when an Islamic holy man was about to be burnt by non-believers who had prepared a fire to burn him with, but the logs turned into carp. The fire turned into water, forming the fish lake.
The Ottoman Rizvaniye Mosque is located on the opposite side of the lake. The Firfirli Mosque, which used to be the Apostles’ Church, is also worth seeing. Ayn-i Zeliha and Sanli Urfa Citadel.
Urfa has the feel of a conservative country town in many respects. Owing to many mosques in the area around the fish lake, alcohol is not readily accessible. The city does, however, have several pubs. The tea gardens are wonderful, particularly in the evenings, but families and single men are separated.
The population is mostly made up of Kurds and Turks, though there is also a sizable Assyrian/Syrian minority. Foreign travellers will feel at ease because the city has a low crime rate and female violence is uncommon. However, since more men are on the streets than women, foreign women may choose to travel with at least one other male.
If you’re looking for the cheapest turkey visa, why not check out the wide range of turkey e visa offered by turkey visa online? We have a different visa available if you want to book your e for turkey and log on to our website www.turkeyvisaonline.com to see what we can do for you.
Turkey visa online is the best when you plan to visit for a short stay in turkey for the adventures on the Turkish land.