Trojan Ruins, Kalafat Köyü, Çanakkale Merkez, Çanakkale, Turkey
The ancient city of Troy was immortalized in Homer’s epic Iliad and Wolfgang Petersen’s 2004 Hollywood blockbuster starring Brad Pitt and Eric Bana. Today Troy is a UNESCO World Heritage site that can be reached with a day trip from Istanbul courtesy of Crowded House Hotel & Tours. The ruins attract international tourists curious to explore the remnants of a city that once hosted the infamous Trojan War—a 10-year battle between the Trojans and the Achaeans (Greeks) allegedly vying for the love of Helen of Troy.
The day trip includes return transfers to the site approximately 340km west of Istanbul, lunch in Crowded House’s secret garden and a 90-minute guided tour that uncovers 5,000 years of legendary stories and layers of civilization that once thrived here.
Don’t forget to snap the quintessential “I’ve been to Troy” photo, a pic peering out of the belly of the towering wooden Trojan horse located at the entrance to the site. Some tourists will ask, “Is it the original?” Of course it’s not—it’s a replica reconstructed by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism from the images on ancient coins.
Epic Turkey Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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