The Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island is a ruined Armenian cathedral dating from 921 AD. Beautifully situated on Lake Van, the church is famed for its fascinating medieval sculptures.

In ancient times it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but today the Temple of Artemis is represented by a single column standing in a swamp.

Discovered in a vision by a bedridden German nun in 1812, this stone building is believed by many Catholics and Muslims to be where the Virgin Mary lived her last years. There is also a healing fountain.

A very important civic building where the sacred fire of Hestia was tended, official visitors were received by civic and religious dignitaries, and where two statues of the Ephesian Artemis were found.

The Zeus Altar was constructed by Eumenes II (d.159 BC) as a memorial of his victory against the Galatians. The altar is now in Berlin's Pergamon Museum, but the original site provides a sense of the altar's size and spectacular location.

Although not generally accessible to the public, this cave is worth mentioning for the important frescoes and inscriptions that were found inside.

The capital of the kingdom of Lydia, Sardis had a very large and prosperous Jewish community and was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. The ruined ancient synagogue here is the most impressive in the west.

The burial site of the original Santa Claus.