Streets squares and districts to visit Turkey

At the entrance, the ladies will offer you dolls and other souvenirs (woolen socks and slippers for the winter, extra!) They are adorable and we are far from the solicitations in the ultra tourist places. The children of the village will not fail to offer their assistance, but here the route is simple and the churches well indicated.

Visit Soğanlı, it is splendid! And the landscape changes a bit from the center of Cappadocia. The tour goes along the banks. You start from the right bank up to the snake church where you cross over to go down the other side and back to the village. The most remarkable churches are, following the direction of the visit: Karabaş Kilise ("Church of the Black Head") from the ^11th century, part of a monastery with some frescoes; Yılanlı Kilise ("Church with the Snake") name given because of one of the frescoes of St. George slaying a dragon, many outbuildings and nooks and crannies all over. As you change banks, you come across Kubbeli Kilise ("the church with the dome"): dating from the ^10th century, it is very remarkable for the architecture of its dome carved directly into the cone. Right next to it stands Saklı Kilise ("the hidden church"), which has no frescoes but a vast basilica and many tunnels. Then comes Tahtalı Kilise ("Church of St. Barbara") to the west of the village, with its well-preserved frescoes and Geyikli Kilise ("Deer Church") particular for its iconostasis. They date from the ^11th and ^13th centuries.

A favourite neighbourhood for artists and bohemians, it has long been known for its cosmopolitan character. Foreigners working in Istanbul appreciate it, especially the French community. The chic trend coexists with the picturesque, which inevitably attracts young people from all walks of life. With a rebellious but irreverent soul, the district is open to all. The street on the right opposite the mosque, Akarsu Caddesi, is the beating heart of Cihangir.

To get to this district, it is possible to take the Yeni Çarsı Caddesi which runs alongside the Galatasaray high school. Then, by the second street on the left, you reach rue Française and Çukurcuma, a district that is mainly known for its antique dealers. In the first Hayriye Street, next to the Koyu Kahve, is the Apelyan building, which you will recognize by its yellow facade and Italian-style architecture. Dating from the 19th century and having belonged to the Apelyan family.

The easiest way to get there is to take a boat from Eminönü. The district is known for its fish restaurants and its military, a strategic point. The village, its narrow streets with wooden houses, its few shops are dominated by the hill Yuşa Tepesi. It is easy to get there in 30 minutes, for its fortress (Yoros Kalesi) and the wonderful view of the Bosporus and the Black Sea. Two fishing villages further away: Anadolu Feneri with its lighthouse (fener) and Poyrazköy with its small paying beach.

Along the road that runs along the sparsely populated coastal strip, you will come across the Austrian consulate, the summer palace of the German consulate, the Art Nouveau presidential residence and a villa belonging to the former Italian ambassador. This private mansion has become the property of the State. Tarabya has a beautiful small cove, unfortunately disfigured by an imposing hotel. In this upscale district of the capital, pleasure boats await their wealthy owners, facing fish restaurants, trendy bars and social clubs.

The valley is located 6 km northwest of Nevşehir. The walkers are more rare because the path is recent. You will find yourself in a fascinating nature with beautiful greenery. This area is full of churches and thousands of pigeonholes dug into the cliffside. The gigantic rocks are riddled with holes or drawn. Hiking in these places is an impressive experience. After 4 km, a hairpin turnoff leads to the Fırın-Asma valley, where you can visit the church of the same name.

This valley allows you to reach Göreme and its open-air museum from Ürgüp. The dolmuş, departing from the center of Ürgüp, will drop you off on the Nevşehir-Ürgüp road, at the starting point of the hike, which is south of Müze Caddesi. This 6 km long hike, also known as the "valley of love", contains beautiful specimens of phallic formations, some rock churches, including El Nazar Ikilesi at the end of the walk. This quiet walk will be an opportunity to meet the inhabitants who will offer you açay or a bunch of grapes.

It is more of a han (commercial patio) than a passage. Built in the early 19th century in neoclassical architecture, it was used by the Russian consulate until 1924 and was also used as a prison. Recently restored with its salmon-coloured facade, this building unfortunately no longer has much to do with what it used to be. It still has an inner courtyard and now houses some shops and the illusion museum.