Sacred pools and the world's oldest temple
Şanlıurfa, often just Urfa, is traditionally held to be the birthplace of Abraham, and its centre is the Balıklıgöl, a pool of sacred carp framed by mosques and gardens. The covered bazaar is one of the most traditional in the country, and the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum is excellent. Just outside the city lies Göbekli Tepe, a hilltop sanctuary of carved stone pillars built around 11,000 years ago, thousands of years before Stonehenge. Local food is rich and spicy: try Urfa kebab and çiğ köfte.