Things to do in Bergama

Pergamon Ancient City

Bergama Museum

This museum exhibits some of the artifacts unearthed from the Pergamon site, as well as the scenes of people's life at that time. There are many sculptures from the ancient Greek period, and the beautiful mosaic floor is also impressive. Located in Turkey, Pergamma was originally an ancient Greek colonial city-state, and was once the economic and cultural center of the Hellenistic region. Because its rulers loved art, Pergamma created brilliant sculptures.

Akropolis

The Acropolis of Bergama is built on a rock formation 280 meters above the ground. From there, you can overlook the entire city and the Aegean Sea. The scenery is breathtaking. The ancient Roman theater has stepped auditoriums, and the stage designed in ancient Greek style is below. Although the stage wall and part of the auditorium at the back have been damaged, its height difference and wide view are still amazing.

Asclepieion of Pergamon

Red Hall Basilica

Located on the only way between the Bergama minibus station and the Acropolis cable car, it was originally a temple dedicated to the gods of ancient Egypt, built in the 2nd century AD. According to the "Book of Revelation", this is one of the seven churches of the apocalypse, and it is a church not to be missed by Christians. Its tall and majestic and ancient architectural style makes visitors from all over the world shocked by the power of faith.

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Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia faces the Blue Mosque across the street. It was originally the main cathedral of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century AD, and was converted into a mosque in 1453 after the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople. This building blends the cultural imprints of both Byzantine and Islamic traditions and is one of Istanbul's landmark structures. Externally, the iconic great dome and four minarets added in different periods are visible; in front of the entrance stands an ablution fountain, beside which rises a stone column carved with patterns at its top. Passing through nine doors from the inner narthex leads into the central hall, where the central "Imperial Door" was once used by Byzantine emperors and empresses, and above the door is a mosaic depicting an emperor prostrate before Christ. The floor and walls of the hall's interior are adorned with polychrome marble, with windows at varying heights and low-hanging chandeliers modulating the light, creating an extraordinarily grand sense of space beneath the lofty dome. The pendentives of the dome retain Byzantine-era mosaics of six-winged seraphim, one of whose faces was revealed after restoration while the others remain covered by golden star ornaments. On the semi-dome of the apse is a 9th-century mosaic of the Virgin and Child, looking down from above. Between the columns of the nave hang eight giant circular discs with gold Arabic calligraphy on a black background, bearing the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, the four caliphs, and Muhammad's two grandsons, added as Islamic decorative elements during the Ottoman period. Toward the altar is the mihrab (prayer niche) oriented toward Mecca, with the minbar (pulpit) to its right, and in the floor beneath the central dome is embedded a marble disc called the "Omphalion," the site of Byzantine emperors' coronations. A ramp at the end of the corridor beside the hall leads up to the second-floor gallery, which was once the place of worship for dignitaries and women of the court. The gallery walls preserve numerous Byzantine mosaics, among which the Deesis mosaic depicting Christ with the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist is highly acclaimed. On the right side of the gallery is the "Empress's Box," directly above the ground-floor "Imperial Door." Standing on the second floor overlooking the entire hall, one can better appreciate the magnificent design of the domed space; the junctions of capitals, column bases, and shafts are adorned with vivid patterns on gold and blue grounds, finely carved.

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Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern, located next to Hagia Sophia, served as the palace's underground water reservoir from the Byzantine era to the Ottoman Empire. Today, it is considered one of Istanbul's most romantic and mysterious tourist attractions. Entering the cistern, you feel as if you've stepped into another world of Istanbul. The clear sounds of water droplets falling on the surface are constantly heard, and carp occasionally swim in the pool. Dim streetlights lining the edges of the underground passage create a peaceful, deep, mysterious, and captivating atmosphere. This enormous cistern, 140 meters long and 70 meters wide, is the size of a football field. 336 thick Corinthian columns, 9 meters high, support the massive brick vaults, creating a truly impressive sight. Each column features meticulously crafted, unique reliefs. Because of its unique and mysterious atmosphere, it has served as a filming location for productions such as the Hollywood film "Skyfall" and Jackie Chan's "The Accidental Spy." The Basilica Cistern has a very large water storage capacity and is still used by the people of Istanbul today. It is said that if the cistern were completely full of water, it could meet the water needs of the entire city for a month. While the teardrop-shaped columns in the center of the cistern attract the attention of many visitors, the columns on the northwest side of the cistern, supported by two inverted Medusa heads, are one of the most impressive parts of the Basilica Cistern. The history of the Basilica Cistern dates back to the 6th century AD and it was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. Initially, it was used to store water for the nearby palace and buildings. Later sealed, the cistern was rediscovered after the conquest of Istanbul in the 16th century. Bringing water from the forests near the Black Sea, this structure both met the palace's water needs and served as a strategic refuge against enemy sieges. It is truly an underground palace, a product of the imagination.

Bergama Cultural Center

Historic Areas of Istanbul

Historic Areas of Istanbul is the historic heart of the city, layering thousands of years of civilization from both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, with many of Istanbul's iconic monuments gathered within a compact area. Sultanahmet Square is the center of the historic area. It was once the Hippodrome during the Byzantine period. Today, ancient relics such as the obelisk brought from Egypt and the ancient Greek Serpentine Column still stand in the square. The Galata Bridge, extending north from the historic area, spans the Golden Horn. Locals often fish on the bridge, and the area below is lined with restaurants, making it a great place to experience Istanbul's local life. The main attractions in the historic area are concentrated around Sultanahmet, making it suitable for exploring on foot.

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Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahce PalaceLocated in the new city area of Istanbul, it is also commonly known as the new palace of the Ottoman Empire. The palace is tall and spacious, with a magnificent momentum, faintly revealing the glory and wealth of the once-prosperous Ottoman Empire. "Dolmabahçe" means "filled garden" in Turkish. This palace was built in the mid-19th century on the original harbor structure. It is located on the waterfront with beautiful scenery, attached to the European shore of the Bosphorus Strait, and was the residence of the last six sultans of the Ottoman dynasty. The mature architectural level of the palace makes the palace wall a total length of 600 m, the inner wall is covered with gold leaf, and the main body is made of white marble and Egyptian alabaster. Through a gorgeously decorated gate, you enter the palace surrounded by gardens. The flowers, plants, and trees in the garden are carefully cared for. There is also a Baroque clock tower standing in the garden. It is speculated that this clock tower also served as a watchtower at the time. At present, there are still guards standing at the entrance of the palace, and access control is strict. The motionless guards have also become a scenery line here. Follow the guide to visit the palace. The palace is mainly composed of two major parts, namely the Ceremonial Hall (Selamlık), the Harem and the concubines' quarters (Haremlik). It has a total of 285 rooms, 46 halls, and 6 Turkish baths, and can be called a masterpiece of exquisite beauty. When visiting, you can follow the provided audio guide to visit these two places. Tours are generally divided into two routes, and the guide commentary is all in English or Turkish. Basically, the tour time for each route is about 30-40 minutes. If your schedule is very tight, it is recommended to visit only the Ceremonial Hall. The Ceremonial Hall and the Crystal Staircase After entering through the main entrance of the palace, the first place to visit is the Ceremonial Hall. Here there are a reception hall for receiving envoys from various countries, a waiting room, rooms for meetings and private talks with important government officials, bathrooms, and children's rooms, etc. In addition, Turkish carpets, crystal candlesticks, ivory, gold, and decorative items presented by various countries are also worth carefully viewing. In particular, the staircase hall here should be mentioned. The pillars supporting the stair handrail are made of crystal, so it is called the "Crystal Staircase." When sunlight shines into the room from the glass canopy, a dazzling scene appears. The crystal lamp hanging down from the ceiling weighs about 2.5 tons and is made of crystal produced by Bakara in France. The sultan's coronation ceremonies were mostly held here, and you can see the sultan's throne inlaid with gold. The Harem and the Concubines' Quarters After leaving the Ceremonial Hall, the Harem occupies most of the northern part of the palace. This is a place where no other men except the sultan and princes were allowed to enter. This harem is separated from the previous imperial hall only by an iron gate. Here, rooms are decorated in different styles according to the preferences of the concubines, full of a strong Western style. For example, the Yellow Hall is the place where the women of the harem held meetings, and it is the largest room in the harem. Behind the bedchamber there are children's rooms, where everything is small and exquisite, and the shapes are quite cute. In addition, there is also the room where Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, passed away. The bed is covered with a silk Turkish flag, and the clock on the wall forever stays at the time of his death, 9:05. Other highlights After visiting the above two routes, if you still have time, you can also go to the Crystal Palace and the Clock Museum. Along the strait, the palace also has a 160 m long pier. It is said that in the past, ships were the main means of entering and leaving this palace. Of course, it is no longer in use now. You can stand here and look far at the beautiful scenery on the opposite shore and take photos as a souvenir. In addition, next to the clock tower in the garden there is also an open-air café. If you are tired from walking, you can sit down, drink a cup of coffee, look at the blue sky, and enjoy the sea breeze.