Turkey has witnessed many different religions leaving the country with a wealth of religious tourist attractions. There are the world famous examples, the stunning Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul. Both are spectacular and definitely worth visiting but what about the other , lesser known sites? Akdamar Church is an ancient Armenian place of worship, situated on a small island in the middle of Lake Van in Eastern Turkey. Believed to have been built between 915 and 921. Sanliurfa Sanliurfa is known as the city of the prophets. Legend has it that Prophet Abraham may have been born in Urfa and a mosque is situated onthe cave where he was meant to have been born. The Pool of the Sacred Fish is also within Sanliurfa. When King Nimrod tried to kill Abraham by throwing him into a fire God turned the flames into water and the wood into fish. In the province of Sanliurfa, lies Harran, an important area for the Jewish faith. This is the place that Abraham and his family lived for many years. Harran is also the location of the first Muslim university built at the end of the 8th Century. Only a few ruins remain on the site. Konya is one of the most important places for Islam. The birth place of Rumi (or Mevlana). His tomb is situated within the museum dedicated to his teachings. A small mosque on the site is used for the exhibition of ancient Korans and prayer rugs. There is also a box containing the Holy Beard of Muhammad. The followers of Mevlana created the Order of Whirling Dervishes, famous for their whirling dance which is a form of religious meditation. Bursa has many areas religious importance. Ulu Camii (The Great Mosque) is the largest mosque in the city. The city is also an important location for Turkish Jews. There
Turkey has witnessed many different religions leaving the country with a wealth of religious tourist attractions. There are the world famous examples, the stunning Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul. Both are spectacular and definitely worth visiting but what about the other , lesser known sites? Akdamar Church is an ancient Armenian place of