Türkiye on the UNESCO World Heritage List

People's choice of destination in the increasingly competitive global tourist market determines the cultural and natural heritage treasures of the nations. Turkey is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the globe, with a history that is rich and a diverse cultural heritage.

A division of the United Nations, UNESCO works to safeguard and advance cultural and natural treasures. By including its cultural and natural resources on the World Heritage List, UNESCO deems a place to be a World Heritage. Visiting the works on these lists is regarded as a top travel priority for travelers. The possession of natural and cultural elements is simultaneously assured to be included as a World Heritage Site. Consequently, a major process of growth and protection.

The World Heritage List of Turkey

With 18 cultural sites, Turkey is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Goreme and Pamukkale come under both the natural and cultural asset categories, making up 16 of these resources. Here is a list of Turkey's World Cultural Heritage.

1) Grand Mosque and Hospital of Divrigi (Sivas)

The greatest specimens of masonry may be seen in the Grand Mosque and Hospital of Divrigi (Sivas) which was included to UNESCO's list of World Cultural Heritage in 1985. The Mengucek seigniory of the Seljuk State oversaw the construction of this mosque, which is part of a larger complex that also includes a hospital and a mausoleum. Researchers compare the ancient building to Spain's Alhambra Palace, and both domestic and international visitors are drawn to it.

2.) Istanbul's Historic Districts:

Istanbul, being the seat of three powerful empires, has a special historical significance. The "Historic Peninsula" has been included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List since 1985.

3.) Goreme National Park and Cappadocia (Nevsehir):

This area was included as a Mixed Heritage Area on the World Heritage list in 1985. Fairy chimneys, which are created by wind and rain, are common in the area. It is well known that the materials that blanket the area as a result of the Erciyes volcanic eruption were created over millions of years by wind and water erosion. Goreme is home to communities built underground for protection and churches cut into the rocks.

4.) Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites (orum)

Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites (orum), has been included as a cultural treasure on the World Heritage List since 1986. With its well-preserved reliefs, Hattusha, the capital of the Hittite Empire, is regarded as an outdoor archaeological museum.

5.) Mount Nemrut (Adiyaman):

Since 1987, it has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. With sculptures that are 10 meters in height and inscriptions that are many meters long, it is referred to as the sanctuary of the Commagene Kingdom.

6.) Hierapolis-Pamukkale (Mixed Heritage Area, Denizli, 1988)

Since 1988, Hierapolis-Pamukkale, which receives about 2 million tourists annually, has been included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the hubs of religious tourism is the historic city, which was crucial in the spread of Christianity across Anatolia. Travertines, which resemble cotton, are created when calcium precipitates in hot water.

7.) Xanthos-Letoon (Antalya-Mula):

The ancient city of Antalya, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988, is regarded as the most significant administrative center of the Lycian civilization, and the built tombstones and rock tombs discovered here are counted as significant works still existing today. The Roman theater and temples constructed in honor of Apollo and Artemis are located at Letoon, the religious hub of Lycia in Muğla.

8.) The City of Safranbolu (Karabük)

The City of Safranbolu (Karabük) is a preserved illustration of conventional Turkish home design. Safranbolu was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Every year, around 1 million local and foreign visitors visit the area. It is believed that since the 17th century, the dwellings located here have remained unharmed and in good condition.

9.) Troy Archaeological Site at Anakkale 

One of the most well-known ancient towns in the entire globe, if not the most. Since 1998, Troy has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Troy is best known as the location of the Trojan War in Homer's Iliad.

10.) The Edirne Selimiye Complex and Mosque

Mimar Sinan, one of the most renowned Ottoman architects, is famed for his masterpiece, the Selimiye Mosque, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. The mosque, constructed in the 16th century in Selim sultan II's honor, is a magnificent example of Ottoman architecture at its pinnacle.

11.) Atalhöyük Neolithic Area in Konya

The UNESCO has listed the Atalhöyük Neolithic Area in Konya as a world heritage site since 2012. The emergence of agriculture and hunting with the shift to settled life are only a few examples of significant social changes and advances that took place there.

12.) The Birth of the Ottoman Empire: Bursa and Cumalkızık

It covers works on the pioneers of Ottoman architecture in Bursa, the city where the Ottoman Empire transitioned from a state to a state. In 2014, it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

13.) İzmir's Bergama

İzmir's Bergama Multilayer Cultural Landscape Area was added to the World Heritage List in 2014. Settlement traces from the Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman, and Ottoman eras may be found there. The area, sometimes referred to as a cultural landscape, is renowned as a hub for health, education, and culture.

14.) Hevsel Gardens and Diyarbakir Castle's Cultural Landscape:

With inscriptions in Arabic, Hellenic, Latin, Assyrian, and Assyrian, Diyarbakır Castle serves as a symbol of the linked civilizations of Anatolia. Since the Assyrian era till the present, Hevsel Gardens has provided the city's food needs. In 2015, it was included to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

15.) Ephesus (Izmir):

This ancient city is regarded as one of the most significant in history. It provides information on Roman and Hellenistic era urbanism, architecture, and religious history. She gets included to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015.

The Silk Road, a crucial commercial route in the Middle Ages, is the first gateway from the Caucasus to Anatolia.

16.) Ani Archaeological Site (Kars)

There are architectural relics from Muslim, Christian, and pagan traditions there. It has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2016.

17.) Aphrodisias (Aydn):

The sculpting school is well-known in the ancient city of Aphrodisias, which exhibits Greek-Roman architectural and urban features. Marble from nearby quarries is used in the construction of the Aphrodisias quarries, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. 18.) Gobeklitepe (anlurfa): He is included to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. Göbeklitepe is regarded as the world's oldest temple center, where people congregate and hold rites. Hunter-gatherer tribes are said to have acquired knowledge of history and become established before the development of cities and villages. As towns are created, temples are also constructed. However, it is known that a temple existed in Göbeklitepe 12,000 years ago, at a time when people had not yet colonized the area. Hunters and gatherers are known to have to provide for themselves and keep wild creatures away from them. Due to this characteristic, Göbeklitepe draws interest from both domestic and international scholars, as well as from tourists.