126 Items
Aghtamar monastery and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
The Aghtamar monastery and cathedral that sit on Aghtamar island were built by Armenians in the 10th century AD. It existed as a monastic site and community until 1915 when the community was destroyed. By 1951 the whole site was abandoned, extensively vandalised and was set for demolition, fortunately it was saved. It has undergone extensive and somewhat damaging restoration in recent years often not sympathetic to the sites original construction. The carvings that adorn its outer walls are among the most fascinating aspects of the Cathedral.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Armenia, Armenian, C10th, Cathedral, Church, Monastery, Turkey
Deyr ul Zafaran
A large late antique monastery built on top of a pagan temple to the sun. Deyr ul Zafaran is a Syrian orthodox monastery and is a major tourist draw in the region. It has been heavily restored and had unsympathetic additions made to it to attract and help facilitate more tourism and generate more income.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Church, Late Antique, Monastery, Pagan, Syrian Orthodox, Temple, Turkey
Theodosiopolis/Erzurum Citadel 
Due to the city's strategic importance and violent past the citadel of Erzurum has been rebuilt and repaired many times. However the citadel these days is little more than a shell with practically no interior buildings remaining.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Anastasius, Byzantine, Defensive Network, Fortifications, Late Antique, Medieval, Ottoman, Roman, Theodosius II, Turkey
Rhizon/Rize City Wall
Remains of the western city walls that ran down to the sea from the citadel/kale. Much like the citadel, some sections have been very heavily restored. Other sections seem to have been completely abandoned to the elements.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Byzantine, Defensive Network, Fortifications, Greek, Late Antique, Medieval, Roman, Turkey
Rhizon Citadel/Rize Kalesi
Remains of the heavily restored citadel of Rhizon/Rize. It has been turned into a park of sorts with a café/restaurant.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Byzantine, Defensive Network, Fortifications, Greek, Late Antique, Medieval, Roman, Turkey
Buzluca Kale
Buzluca Kale is a large fortified enclosure atop a plateau west of the the town of Arakli. The interior of the enclosure is entirely given over to groves of hazel trees for nut production. Apart from this the fort seems to be mostly ignored and has received limited attention from archaeologists.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Byzantine, Defensive Network, Fortifications, Late Antique, Roman, Turkey
Kalecik
The small fort of Kalecik sits atop a rocky outcrop next to the Black Sea about 1.5km north of Buzluca Kale.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Byzantine, Defensive Network, Fortifications, Medieval, Turkey
Hortokop Kale/Gizenenica/Chazanenica
At the village of Hortokop, just south west of the town of Macka, lie the remains of a circular fort. The fort has seen some limited archaeological investigation, nothing recently and no proper excavation at all.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Byzantine, Defensive Network, Fortifications, Late Antique, Roman, Turkey
Zerzevan
A substantial fortified settlement atop a plateau above the main road from Mardin to Diyarbakir. In recent years archaeological excavation has been undertaken at the site.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Anastasius, C6th, Cistern, Defensive Network, Fortifications, Justinian, Late Antique, Turkey
Selman Kale
A long, narrow castle perched atop and cut into a rocky outcrop above the steep sided valley of the Tigris river.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Castle, Defensive Network, Fortifications, Late Antique, Medieval, Turkey