ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY: VIRTUOSO.

THE WORLD IS WAITING AND SO IS VIRTUOSO'S GLOBAL NETWORK OF TRAVEL ADVISORS COLLABORATING AND LEADING THE CONVERSATION TO PURSUE YOUR TRAVEL DREAMS AND EXPERIENCES.

VIRTUOSO IS PROUD TO SUPPORT HIDDEN TURKEY.

[MUSIC] PETER: IT IS A COUNTRY OF CONSEQUENCE AND HISTORY, OF CONQUERORS, SULTANS AND A BRAVE NEW WORLD.

IT DATES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

IT'S BEEN THE CAPITAL OF THREE EMPIRES, BUT IT'S ONLY BEEN A REPUBLIC FOR A CENTURY.

TURKEY CONTINUES TO EXIST ON THE THRESHOLD OF HISTORY.

A NATION UNIQUELY CULTIVATED BY ITS GEOGRAPHIC POSITION.

IT BORDERS 7 COUNTRIES: FROM BULGARIA AND GREECE TO THE WEST, TO SYRIA AND IRAQ TO THE SOUTH.

AND IN THE NORTH AND EAST, ARMENIA, GEORGIA AND IRAN.

BUT THIS HUGE LAND BRIDGE HAS BECOME AN ALMOST OUTRAGEOUS MELTING POT OF MANY MORE CULTURES INFLUENCED BY THE WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, THE AEGEAN, THE MARMARA AND TO THE BLACK SEA THAT STRETCHES THE ENTIRE NORTHERN BORDER.

[MUSIC] THE BREATHTAKING ARCHITECTURE HAS BEEN THE STAGE FOR EPIC STORIES, FROM ALEXANDER THE GREAT TO THE EARTHQUAKES THAT SHOOK ITS VERY FOUNDATIONS.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THIS LAND HOME ALWAYS MANAGE TO REBUILD.

AND IF YOU START DIGGING, YOU ONLY HAVE TO LITERALLY SCRATCH THE SURFACE TO REVEAL THE LAYERS OF THE PAST AND A TURKEY YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED.

THE REAL BEAUTY OF TURKEY IS THAT YOU DON'T NEED A GUIDE BOOK.

YOU DON'T NEED TO VISIT A TRADITIONAL MUSEUM.

JUST LOOK UP, THEN LOOK DOWN, LISTEN.

THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS A MUSEUM.

THIS IS WHAT I CAME FOR.

THE SURPRISES ARE RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU, HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT.

I'M PETER GREENBERG, AND THIS...IS HIDDEN TURKEY.

[MUSIC] I START MY JOURNEY, AS SO MANY TRAVELERS DO, IN ISTANBUL.

IT'S A CITY FULL OF STUNNING IMPOSING PALACES, SURROUNDED BY A NEVER-ENDING SENSE OF INTRIGUE AND POWER.

IT'S BEEN CALLED THE CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD, BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHY.

IT EXISTS ON TWO CONTINENTS, DIVIDED BY THE BOSPHORUS: A NARROW AND STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED STRAIT OF WATER RUNNING THROUGH THE MIDDLE.

AND WHEN YOU SPEND ANY TIME HERE, IT SOON BECOMES OBVIOUS THAT ISTANBUL WASN'T JUST THE GATEWAY INTO THE EASTERN ROMAN, BYZANTINE AND OTTOMAN EMPIRES.

FOR MANY THE CITY WASN'T JUST A BRIDGE; YOU FEEL THAT THE WORLD MIGHT ACTUALLY START HERE.

[MUSIC] ISTANBUL IS NOT THE OFFICIAL CAPITAL, BUT IT MIGHT AS WELL BE.

WITH MORE THAN 15 MILLION RESIDENTS, IT'S THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST CITY, AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING METROPOLITAN AREAS IN THE WORLD, FUELED BY A YOUNGER GENERATION WHERE THE AVERAGE AGE IS JUST 32 YEARS OLD.

AND ANY TIME I TRAVEL TO ISTANBUL, I AM REMINDED OF THIS POWER, THIS ENERGY AND THIS PULSING JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN YOUTH AND THE RUINS OF PAST DYNASTIES.

AND THE STORIES THEY BOTH TELL.

IT IS, AT LEAST FOR ME, OVERWHELMING, AND SEDUCTIVE.

AND FOR MANY FIRST-TIME TRAVELERS, THEY START THEIR EXPLORATIONS ALONG THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE: THE CITY'S GRAND BAZAAR.

BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE TO THIS MARKET...

IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

[MUSIC] CAN I TRY TO SELL YOU SOMETHING YOU DON'T NEED?

[LAUGHING] PETER: IT'S A 330,000 SQUARE FOOT LIVING MONUMENT TO TURKISH CULTURE, PAST AND PRESENT, WITH A MAZE OF 65 WINDING STREETS AND NARROW PASSAGES ACROSS 50 ACRES.

[MUSIC] AND YOU CAN ALWAYS SPOT TEA BEING DELIVERED TO ANY ONE OF THE MORE THAN 4,000 BUSINESSES CRAMMED ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.

IT IS OFTEN REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FIRST SHOPPING MALLS OF THE WORLD.

ENVISIONED BY THE OTTOMAN SULTAN, MEHMED THE CONQUEROR, IT DATES BACK TO THE 1400S, AND I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR THE LAST FORTY YEARS.

YOU CAN FIND EVERYTHING HERE, ALMOST TOO MUCH OF EVERYTHING.

SPICES, GOLD, CLOTHING, LOKUM, THAT'S TURKISH DELIGHT, AND RUGS, RUGS, AND EVEN MORE RUGS.

WHEN I GO, I ALWAYS GO FOR THREE THINGS: THERE ARE THE ANTIQUE RAILROAD POCKET WATCHES, BUILT BY THE SWISS BUT MADE IN TURKEY.

AND THEN I SEEK OUT THE COOLEST RANDOM VINTAGE MARINE EQUIPMENT AND MEMORABILIA.

AND SINCE TURKEY IS WHERE SO MANY SHIPS COME TO DIE, THEY HAVE OLD COMPASSES, DIVE SUITS, EVEN BLAST PROOF TELEPHONES FROM OLD SUBMARINES.

I LOVE COMING IN HERE.

PETER: AND THEN I GO FOR SOMETHING ELSE THAT MOST VISITORS DON'T GO TO, BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T TAKE THE TIME.

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW TO STOP HERE, YOU'D WALK RIGHT BY IT BECAUSE IT'S A STORE THAT'S MAYBE EIGHT FEET WIDE, AND IT'S ONLY ABOUT THE COFFEE.

PETER: HEY!

BEKIR: HELLO, YOU ARE WELCOME!

PETER: I ALWAYS VISIT MY FRIEND BEKIR TEZCAKAR'S COFFEE STAND THAT'S BEEN IN HIS FAMILY AT THE SAME LOCATION SINCE 1909.

YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

FOR A LONG TIME.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, LIKE THIS MUCH, AND I WAS WORKING BEHIND THE BAR.

I COULDN'T KEEP THE BALANCE.

BUT THIS WAY, I MUST KEEP UNDER... YOU WERE TOO SHORT.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND I WAS HELPING MY FATHER.

HE WAS FOURTH GENERATION.

SO YOU ARE THE FIFTH?

I'M FIFTH, RIGHT.

WE ARE MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS OF AGE, 140 YEARS.

BUT THE BAZAAR ITSELF?

BAZAAR 550 YEARS OLD.

WOW.

AND IT'S STILL STANDING.

STANDING AND ORIGINAL, THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

PETER: THEY USE A FINE GRIND 100% ARABICA COFFEE, SUGAR AND WATER IN A SMALL COPPER POT CALLED A CEZVE.

THEN IT'S BREWED SLOWLY OVER AN OPEN FLAME.

HERE'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT: TURKISH COFFEE IS VERY STRONG.

IT'S AN INTENSE EXPERIENCE.

BUT IT'S WORTH IT.

PLEASE.

CHEERS.

MHMM.

VERY GOOD.

YOU KNOW BAZAAR, IN HISTORY, BEFORE THE TURKISH COFFEE.

IT'S SO INTERESTING.

REALLY?

THE BAZAAR WAS BEFORE THE TURKISH COFFEE?

BEKIR: EXACTLY.

BAZAAR SINCE 1461.

TURKISH COFFEE, AFTER THAT, 17 CENTURY.

TURKISH COFFEE SO POPULAR FOR TURKISH PEOPLE, EVERYBODY IS THINKING YES.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT TURKISH PEOPLE, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT TURKISH COFFEE, TOO.

PETER: ENJOYING AN AUTHENTIC COFFEE IS ONE THING, BUT I HAVE OTHERE PLANS NEARBY.

[MUSIC] MOST VISITORS LEAVE THE GRAND BAZAAR AND HEAD STRAIGHT TO THEIR HOTEL, AND THEN THEY WALK RIGHT BY IT.

BUT TO GET HERE, JUST WALK PAST EVEN MORE TURKISH DELIGHT STORES-- THANKS, MAN.

--THEN LOOK FOR THIS UNASSUMING SIGN: CEMBERLITAS HAMAMI.

ON THE OUTSIDE, IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE ONE OF ISTANBUL'S OLDER MOSQUES.

[MUSIC] BUT INSIDE, YOU WILL FIND AN OASIS OF PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL RELAXATION.

A HAMMAM IS A TURKISH BATH AND CEMBERLITAS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY OPERATING COMPANIES IN TURKEY.

BUILT IN 1584 BY MIMAR SINAN, HE IS CONSIDERED THE GREATEST ARCHITECT OF THE CLASSICAL PERIOD OF OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURE, AND HE'S MOST FAMOUS FOR HIS SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE.

HE ALSO DESIGNED THIS OTHER HOUSE OF WORSHIP.

YOU SEE, TO MANY TURKS, HAMMAM IS A RELIGION.

AND YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR TIME.

THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF BATH OTTOMAN ROYALTY RECEIVED 500 YEARS AGO.

ESSENTIAL TO EVERY HAMMAM IS THE CENTRAL MARBLE STONE, RADIATING WITH HEAT GENERATED BY THE WOOD BURNING FURNACES BENEATH IT.

THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC RENEWAL EXPERIENCE AS YOUR SKIN IS EXFOLIATED...

MASSAGED...THEN RINSED.

HAMMAMS WERE FREQUENTLY BUILT ADJACENT TO MOSQUES TO ALLOW WORSHIPERS TO BATHE BEFORE PRAYERS AS WELL AS TO GENERATE INCOME FOR THE MOSQUES.

AT ONE TIME, A HAMMAM COULD BE FOUND IN ALMOST EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ISTANBUL.

NOW WITH MODERN RESIDENTIAL PLUMBING, ONLY ABOUT 60 REMAIN IN THE CITY, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO ATTRACT RESIDENTS AND SMART TRAVELERS WHO KNOW IT IS NOT AN ATTRACTION, BUT A REGENERATIVE LIFESTYLE.

[MUSIC] LIKE THE HAMMAM, ISTANBUL ABOUNDS WITH MAGNIFICENT ARCHITECTURE, AND SOMETIMES WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT TO FIND IT.

IN ONE CASE, IT'S A STRUCTURE.

YOU PASS OVER IT ON THE WAY TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

THIS IS THE GALATA BRIDGE, MOSTLY UNKNOWN TO VISITORS, BUT NOT FOR LOCALS.

IT'S A STRATEGIC LOCATION, BUT NOT JUST FOR TRANSPORTATION.

SINCE THE 6TH CENTURY, FIVE DIFFERENT BRIDGES HAVE SPANNED THIS PORTION OF THE BOSPHOROUS, AND EVERY DAY, NO MATTER THE WEATHER OR HOUR OF THE DAY, FOLKS GATHER HERE, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.

AND FOR THE PEOPLE ON THIS BRIDGE, IT'S NOT A HOBBY, IT'S A DAILY WAY OF LIFE.

SO WELCOME TO GALATA BRIDGE.

[CHUCKLES] IT'S UH...

IT'S A CROWDED BRIDGE, EVERYBODY IS FISHING!

MEHMET: YEAH.

A LOT OF LOCALS COME HERE TO FISH.

THEY CAN COME DURING WORK, AFTER WORK, BEFORE WORK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CATCH FISH AND THEY ACTUALLY TAKE IT HOME.

IT'S NOT ABOUT COMMERCIAL FOR THEM.

PETER: RIGHT, THEY'RE EATING WHAT THEY'RE CATCHING.

MEHMET: EXACTLY.

PETER: MEHMET YARANGUMELIOGLU IS LIVING PROOF THAT TURKEY IS ON THE MOVE.

RUNNING A SPEAKEASY BY NIGHT, BUT DURING THE DAY, YOU CAN OFTEN FIND HIM ON THE BRIDGE.

MEHMET: LET'S BAIT YOUR ROD.

THESE ARE LITTLE SARDINES.

WITH THESE, YOU CAN CATCH HORSE MACKEREL, SCORPION FISH, YOU CAN GET BUCK FISH.

THEY'RE ALL VERY TASTY.

AND ALSO THE LITTLE BLUE FISH, WHICH IS THE TASTIEST OF THEM ALL.

YOU GO ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

AND NOW YOU TRY TO GO THREE FEET UP.

PETER: RIGHT.

MEHMET: SOMETIMES YOU WAIT ALL DAY.

SOMETIMES YOU WAIT FIVE MINUTES.

[BOTH LAUGHING] ON ANY GIVEN DAY EVERYBODY IS OUT HERE FISHING?

MEHMET: EXACTLY.

BUT NOT A LOT OF TOURISTS DO IT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

SO THIS IS A TWO-FER.

WE FISH, AND WE SIGHTSEE.

EXACTLY.

PETER: AND THE FOLKS ON THIS BRIDGE, THIS IS NOT JUST SOME ANGLERS FUN GETAWAY.

THIS IS 10AM ON A TUESDAY MORNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC, AND YOU'VE GOT 500 PEOPLE ON A BRIDGE WITH ONLY ONE MISSION: CATCH IT, EAT IT.

AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

[MUSIC] PETER: I THINK I GOT SOMETHING.

MEHMET: YOU CATCH SOMETHING?

PETER: YEAH.

OH YEAH.

MEHMET: YEAH!

NICE FISH!

NICE FISH.

COME, BRING IT.

VERY NICE.

IT'S BEGINNER'S LUCK, HUH?

ALRIGHT.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT CATCHING FISH ON THE BRIDGE?

TELL ME.

THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO COOK IT.

WELL, WE CAUGHT SOMETHING.

PETER: SO AFTER CATCHING A FEW MORE, WE DIDN'T HEAD HOME.

INSTEAD MEHMET BROUGHT ME TO A SITE RIGHT OFF AND UNDER THE BRIDGE.

THIS IS AL FRESCO AT ITS BEST, AND YOU CAN'T BEAT THE WATERFRONT VIEWS.

SO THIS IS THE BIGGER ONES WE CAUGHT.

THIS IS THE ONE YOU CAUGHT, I THINK.

OH YEAH, OF COURSE, THE BIGGER ONE.

MEHMET: OH YOU CAUGHT THE BIG ONE, RIGHT?

THIS IS MINE.

THE LITTLE ONE.

[BOTH LAUGH] MEHMET: IT'S COOKING REALLY GOOD YOU SEE?

PETER: LOOK AT THAT.

MEHMET: YOU SEE?

PETER: IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO COOK AND TO PREPARE ESSENTIALLY A SIMPLE FISH SANDWICH.

AND YOU KNOW IN TURKEY, WE HAVE A SAYING: FISH CRIES IF YOU DON'T CONSUME IT WITH RAKI.

TELL ME MORE.

THE RAKI IS A SEED-BASED, TURKISH LICORICE.

BUT THIS IS NOT FINISHED, UNLESS YOU PUT WATER INTO IT.

IT TURNS INTO A GREY COLOR THAT WE LIKE.

WE CALL IT LION'S MILK.

PETER: WOAH.

TO THE FISH.

CHEERS.

WELCOME.

TO THE FISH.

YEAH, THAT'S GOT A KICK TO IT.

YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE STRONG.

AND NOW YOU WANT TO TRY SOME?

SURE.

MEHMET: AHH, WE ARE LOSING A LOT.

PETER: IT'S OKAY.

I GOT IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS NEEDS?

RAKI.

RAKI.

OKAY.

[LAUGHING] CHEERS.

PETER: ISTANBUL IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUB OF TRANSPORTATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND TRAVEL.

BUT IT IS ALSO A CITY OF BAKERS.

TURKEY LIVES FOR ITS BREAD.

AND IF YOU GET UP EARLY, YOU GO TO THE OLDEST BAKERY IN TOWN.

AND NOT FOR JUST ANY BREAD...

I'M TALKING SIMIT.

TO UNDERSTAND SIMIT IS TO UNDERSTAND TURKEY.

TURKEY RUNS ON IT.

YOU CAN'T AVOID IT.

YOU CAN'T IGNORE IT.

IT'S A CROSS BETWEEN AN OVERSIZED BAGEL AND A PRETZEL, MADE WITH SESAME SEEDS AND MOLASSES.

THIS IS OLD SCHOOL BAKING.

SO GET THERE EARLY TO GET IT FRESH.

OH HOT!

HA, HA.

PETER: TODAY I'M ON A MISSION.

I BOUGHT FIVE, ONE FOR ME AND FOUR FOR ABOUT 50 OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS.

[MUSIC] ISTANBUL IS NOT JUST A CITY OF BAKERIES...

IT'S ALSO A CITY OF FERRIES.

AND THEY RUN CONSTANTLY...

EVERYWHERE... UP AND DOWN THE BOSPHOROUS.

BUT THEN THERE ARE THE FERRIES GOING TO ISTANBUL'S ONLY ARCHIPELAGO, THE PRINCES ISLANDS.

FOREIGN TOURISTS USUALLY DON'T GO THERE, WHICH IS WHY YOU NEED TO HOP ON THIS EARLY MORNING BOAT.

[BOAT HORN BLOWS] I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A GREAT GETAWAY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT A WORLD AWAY.

THE RIDE ALSO OFFERS YOU SOME OF THE BEST VIEWS OF ISTANBUL AND A CHANCE TO BE THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINED ON THE CROSSING.

IT'S AN ENDEARING AND TIME-HONORED TRADITION.

WHILE I WAS ARMED WITH MY SIMIT IN HAND, IT DIDN'T TAKE TIME FOR THE FRIENDS TO SHOW UP.

IN FACT, THEY BROUGHT FRIENDS.

I TRIED TO PERFECT THE ART OF SIMIT-THROWING, THEY HAD ALREADY PERFECTED THE ART OF SIMIT-CATCHING.

OH, GOOD CATCH!

PETER: IT WAS A GREAT DISPLAY OF ACROBATIC POWER AND PRECISION.

JUST BE SURE TO BRING ALONG ENOUGH SIMIT.

[MUSIC] THE FERRY MIGHT STOP AT SOME OF THE OTHER ISLANDS FIRST, BUT FOR ME, MY PORT OF CHOICE THIS MORNING, BUYUKADA, THE BIGGEST OF THE NINE ISLANDS.

YOU WON'T FIND CARS HERE, AND UNTIL RECENTLY, ONLY HORSE-CARTS PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION.

NOW, IT'S JUST A FEW ELECTRIC CARTS AND BICYCLES.

THE LOCALS COME HERE FOR THE QUAINT SEASIDE VILLAGE, THE OUTDOOR CAFES AND THE SPLENDID ISOLATION.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO.

PETER: BUT WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS TAKE A SMALL ELECTRIC CART THAT TAKES ME ON A WINDING ROAD THROUGH THE PINEWOOD FOREST ON A LONG CIRCULAR PATH AROUND THE ISLAND.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

PETER: BUT THE CART CAN ONLY GO SO FAR UP.

AT A CERTAIN POINT YOU'VE GOT TO WALK.

AND THEN, FROM THE MOMENT YOU SEE IT IN THE DISTANCE, YOU KNOW WHY THEY BUILT IT WHERE THEY BUILT IT.

THE HIGHEST POINT ON THE ISLAND, TO BE CLOSEST TO GOD.

IT'S A LONG, STEEP HIKE TO REACH THE THE MONASTERY OF ST. GEORGE, BUT I NEED TO GIVE YOU A WARNING...

IF YOU DON'T PACE YOURSELF ON THE WAY UP, YOU WILL BE CLOSER TO GOD!

[MUSIC] THE MONASTERY WAS FIRST BUILT BY THE BYZANTINES IN THE YEAR 963, AND WAS DESTROYED A FEW TIMES THEN REBUILT IN 1905.

TODAY, IT CONSISTS OF SIX SEPARATE CHURCHES AND CHAPELS ON THREE LEVELS.

BUT YOU WON'T FIND MANY PEOPLE INSIDE THIS SPRAWLING COMPLEX.

TODAY, THE MONASTERY IS MOSTLY EMPTY; INHABITED BY ONLY ONE PRIEST.

PETER, WELCOME TO ST. GEORGE'S MONASTERY.

PETER: AMAZING.

EZQUIEL : YEAH.

PETER: HIS NAME IS EZQUIEL AND HE DUTIFULLY CARRIES ON SOLO, DOING THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IN THE NAME AND THE SPIRIT OF ST. GEORGE.

AND THE SILENCE HERE: IT'S INTENTIONAL.

JUST TO BE QUIET, FAR FROM THE CITY, AND NOT HAVING THE DISTURBANCE FROM OUTSIDE.

PETER: IN THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, ST. GEORGE, IS ALSO CONSIDERED THE PATRON SAINT OF ISTANBUL.

HE'S ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED SAINTS FOR HIS SERVICE AS WELL AS HIS SUFFERING.

THIS IS THE MAIN ITEM OF ST. GEORGE.

THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE, THEY GO THERE AND THEY PRAY TO ST. GEORGE.

YES.

PETER: THERE ARE REGULAR SERVICES IN THE SMALL CHURCH EVERY DAY, BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE COME.

EXCEPT ONCE A YEAR ON APRIL 23RD, WHEN THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS, INCLUDING MUSLIM TURKS AND CHRISTIANS, WALK UP THAT HILL TO THE MONASTERY.

IT'S SAINT GEORGE'S DAY, TO COMMEMORATE HIM AND HIS SELFLESS WORK CARING FOR THE MENTALLY ILL.

IN THAT SPIRIT, AT ONE TIME THE MONASTERY WAS A HOME FOR MENTAL PATIENTS, EACH OF WHOM WERE GIVEN...BELLS.

THOSE BELLS WERE USED TO BE HUNG ON THE PEOPLE WHO WERE MENTALLY ILL. TO WHOM ST. GEORGE WAS A VERY...

HE WAS DEVOTED TO THEM.

HE USED TO CURE THEM, YES.

TO HEAL THEM.

PETER: IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO VISIT, EZQUIEL WILL GIVE YOU A SMALL BELL AS A BLESSING, A SYMBOL OF SAINT GEORGE.

AND WITH THAT BLESSING, HE'S HAPPY TO SHARE WHY HE STAYS.

EZQUIEL: WELL, FAITH OF COURSE, AND TO BE NEXT TO GOD.

PETER: AND IT'S HARD TO IGNORE THE VIEW.

EZQUIEL: WHEN YOU SEE THINGS FROM A HIGHER PLACE, YOU CAN ADMIRE THE CREATION.

PETER: HE HAS A POINT.

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE PRINCES' ISLANDS, AS WELL AS THE ASIAN, EASTERN SHORE OF ISTANBUL.

AND THE SEA OF MARMARA.

BUT YOU REALLY COME HERE, NOT JUST FOR THE VIEW, BUT FOR THE STORIES STILL TOLD.

IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND IT, HISTORY ALSO LIVES ON AN HOUR'S FLIGHT AWAY, IN LAODICEA.

WHICH UNTIL QUITE RECENTLY, NO ONE EVEN KNEW EXISTED.

WHEN YOU THINK OF ROMAN RUINS, TURKEY DOESN'T USUALLY COME TO MIND, BUT IT WAS UNDER ROMAN RULE STARTING IN 129 BC AND OFFICIALLY BECAME THE CAPITAL OF THE EMPIRE IN 330 AD, AND HAS SOME OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE AND BEST PRESERVED SITES IN THE WORLD.

MOST TOURISTS, ESPECIALLY CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS, FIND THEMSELVES AT EPHESUS, WHERE VISITORS LINE UP AT ITS GATES AND TERRACE HOUSES.

BUT I PREFER LAODICEA, AWAY FROM THE CROWDS.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST RUINS, LIFE STILL HAPPENS HERE.

IT'S SO QUIET HERE.

YEAH.

THIS PLACE IS VERY PEACEFUL.

WHEN I WALK DOWN THESE STREETS, I FOUND PEACE.

DO YOU HEAR ANYTHING?

YOU CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

I HEAR BIRDS.

YEAH.

[MUSIC] OTHER THAN A FEW TRAVELERS LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT SOCIAL MEDIA BACKDROP, MOSTLY THE ONLY PEOPLE YOU'LL SEE HERE ARE ARCHAEOLOGISTS, LIKE DOGAN PECEN, WORKING TO DISCOVER, UNEARTH, AND THEN STUDY THIS ONCE THRIVING CITY.

SO WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?

WE ARE INSIDE A STREET.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN STREETS IN LAODICEA.

YOU KNOW, IN ANCIENT TIMES, THERE WAS 80,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE.

PETER: DID YOU SAY 80,000?

DOGAN: YEAH, 80,000.

PETER: THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.

DOGAN: YEAH.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CITIES IN THE REGION.

[MUSIC] PETER: THERE HAVE BEEN SETTLEMENTS IN THE SPOT SINCE 5500 BC, BUT THE ACTUAL CITY OF LAODICEA WAS FOUNDED IN 260 B.C.

AND NAMED BY KING ANTIOCHUS II FOR HIS WIFE LAODICE.

THEY DIVORCED LESS THAN 10 YEARS LATER, AND GUESS WHAT?

SHE GOT CUSTODY OF THE NAME, AND IT STUCK FOR THE REST OF THE CITY'S THOUSAND YEAR EXISTENCE.

LAODICEA WAS ON THE PATH OF SEVERAL MAJOR TRADE ROUTES, CREATING A BUSTLING CENTER OF COMMERCE.

SO THIS IS THE STREET OF SHOPS?

YEAH, THEY ARE SHOPPING EACH SIDE, AND THEY ARE SELLING SOME FABRICS, ARTIFACTS AND TERRACOTTA THINGS.

PETER: THE CITY'S WEALTH CREATED A LEVEL OF GRANDEUR THAT RIVALED MUCH LARGER CAPITAL CITIES.

LAODICEA MIGHT HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW AND THRIVE, WERE IT NOT FOR THE EARTHQUAKES THAT PLAGUED THE AREA.

AFTER BEING DESTROYED AND REBUILT SEVERAL TIMES, THE RESIDENTS FINALLY LEFT FOR GOOD AFTER THE BIGGEST QUAKE IN THE EARLY 7TH CENTURY.

AFTER THAT, THE BUILDINGS FELL TO RUIN, AND THE CITY WAS SLOWLY AND LITERALLY SWALLOWED UP BY THE EARTH.

THE STRUCTURES WERE HIDDEN UNTIL 2003 WHEN THE FIRST SERIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION BEGAN.

ONE BY ONE, DAY BY DAY, AS THEY DUG DEEPER, SOME COLUMNS APPEARED, AND THEN, MORE WERE REVEALED.

WHEN IT WAS 2003, YOU CAN'T SEE EVEN ANY COLUMNS HERE.

THEY WEREN'T HERE?

BUT THEY WERE HERE.

YEAH.

WE DUG UP AND RESTORED THEM.

PETER: THEY'RE RIGHT WHERE THEY ORIGINALLY WERE.

DOGAN: YEAH.

PETER: AND WHEN THEY KEPT DIGGING, THEY FOUND SOMETHING EVEN MORE REMARKABLE.

THIS IS AMAZING, AND YOU ONLY FOUND THIS IN 2010?

YEAH.

WE FOUND THIS PLACE 2010, AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS PLACE WAS HERE.

PETER: AND NOT JUST ANY CHURCH, LAODICEA WAS A PROMINENT EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY BEING ONE OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES ADDRESSED IN REVELATION, THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE.

THE MODERN PROTECTED ROOFING SHOWS HOW LARGE IT WAS, OCCUPYING AN ENTIRE CITY BLOCK.

THE SIZE AND ORNATE CONSTRUCTION SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANT PLACE THAT IT HAD IN THE CITY.

WHAT IS THIS?

DOGAN: THIS IS THE BAPTIZING ROOM, AND IF YOU WANT TO BE CHRISTIAN, YOU NEED TO BE FIRST BAPTIZED.

PETER: THIS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND BEST PRESERVED BAPTISMAL POOLS EVER FOUND.

[MUSIC] AND THERE IS STILL MUCH TO UNCOVER AND REBUILD.

THIS REMAINS AN ACTIVE ARCHAEOLOGY SITE, AND THE CURRENT FOCUS IS ON THE WEST THEATRE, WHICH ONCE COULD HOLD 8,000 OF LAODICEA'S RESIDENTS.

THE WORK HERE IS PAINSTAKING, BUT FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS, IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE.

THERE'S LITERALLY A NEW DISCOVERY EVERY DAY.

[MUSIC] FROM THE CITY OF LAODICEA FAR OFF IN THE DISTANCE, THE CITIZENS EVEN THEN, COULD SEE WHAT LOOKED LIKE AN ISOLATED SNOWY VISTA.

AND AS YOU GET CLOSER, IT STARTS TO LOOK LIKE SOMETHING ELSE OUT OF A FAIRY TALE.

ITS NAME SOUNDS LIKE IT, TOO.

PAMUKKALE, WHICH LITERALLY TRANSLATES TO COTTON CASTLE.

ANCIENT LEGENDS TOLD OF GIANTS WASHING THEIR GARMENTS IN THE CLIFF SIDE POOLS AND THEN LEAVING THEM TO DRY, CREATING THE WHITE COTTON LANDSCAPE.

[MUSIC] THE LESS MAGICAL, BUT STILL MIRACULOUS EXPLANATION, IS THAT CALCIUM RICH WATER BUBBLED UP FROM HOT SPRINGS AND FLOWED ACROSS THE GROUND, LEAVING BEHIND CALCIUM CARBONATE DEPOSITS AND FORMING RICHES OF TRAVERTINE, THE SAME MATERIAL OF STALACTITES AND STALAGMITES.

OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THE TRAVERTINE POOLS FORMED AND INSPIRED A BELIEF IN THE WATER'S HEALING PROPERTIES.

IN PAMUKKALE, THE MYTH TELLING NEVER ENDS.

IN ONE STORY, EVEN CLEOPATRA CAME TO BATHE HERE.

TODAY, THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS CROWD THE PLACE, BEING PROMOTED STILL AS THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD.

[MUSIC] BUT FOR ME, I PREFER ANOTHER WHITE LANDSCAPE IN TURKEY THAT'S HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT TO MOST AMERICANS, AND IN FACT TO MOST OF THE WORLD.

EUROPEANS MAY LOOK TOWARD THE ALPS AS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR SKIING, BUT TURKEY HAS A WORLD-CLASS SKI SLOPE OF ITS OWN: MOUNT ERCIYES.

[MUSIC] GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT'S THE MOST CENTRALIZED SKI RESORT IN TURKEY, NOT FURTHER THAN FOUR HOURS BY PLANE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

GEOLOGICALLY, MOUNT ERCIYES IS AN EXTINCT VOLCANO THAT RISES 13,000 FEET, PROVIDING MORE THAN 33 MILES OF AVAILABLE SLOPES.

AND THE BEST PART?

NO TREES TO RUN INTO.

PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS AND EVEN FOR HOSTING CHAMPIONSHIP RACES.

[MUSIC] IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT PROFESSIONAL SNOWBOARDER, MEHMET FATIH ERSOY, WOULDN'T SNOWBOARD ANYWHERE ELSE.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU CAN GO SKIING IN TURKEY.

YEAH.

YOU CAN USE ALL SLOPES AND ALL MOUNTAINS.

SO YOU'VE GOT WIDE OPEN SPACES HERE.

YEAH, SPACES FOR US IN TURKEY.

[MUSIC] PETER: TO YOUNG SNOWBOARDERS LIKE MEHMET, TAKING TO THE SLOPES MEANS SO MUCH MORE.

NOT JUST SPACE...

BUT SPEED.

I FEEL THE FREEDOM IN THE SLOPES, LIKE A PLANE BECAUSE I DO SO FAST TO 100 KILOMETERS PER HOUR.

PETER: YOU'VE GONE 80 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE SLOPE?

YEAH, WITH SNOWBOARDING.

YOU'RE CRAZY.

YEAH.

YOU ARE CRAZY.

THANK YOU.

[BOTH LAUGH] [MUSIC] PETER: WELL, I'M NOT THE CRAZY ONE HERE.

FAR BE IT FOR ME TO CHALLENGE A PRO-SNOWBOARDER TO A RACE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO COME DOWN THIS HILL?

THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY.

ARE YOU READY?

I TELL YOU WHAT, YOU GO YOUR WAY.

YEAH.

I'LL GO MINE.

LET'S GO.

OKAY, GO!

[MUSIC] ALRIGHT.

YEAH!

OH, COME ON!

[LAUGHING] PETER: I COULD BASK IN THE TRIUMPH, BUT I'M JUST HAPPY TO MAKE IT OFF THE SLOPE WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON.

A 45 - MINUTE DRIVE FROM MT.

ERCIYES WILL TAKE YOU TO ONE OF THE MOST MAGICAL PLACES ON EARTH: CAPPADOCIA.

AND EVERY MORNING AT SUNRISE IN THIS SPOT, IN THE HEART OF CAPPADOCIA, IS A SHOW UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

[BALLOONS LIGHTING] MORE THAN 100 BALLOONS TAKE FLIGHT TO CATCH THE FIRST RAYS OF SUNLIGHT.

[MUSIC] WHEN YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF BALLOONS IN THE AIR, THEY'RE STUNNING, THEY'RE AMAZING, AND THEN YOU SEE WHAT GROUND THEY'RE FLYING OVER.

IT'S BECOME THE VISUAL TRADEMARK OF SO MUCH OF TURKISH TOURISM.

IT'S THAT ONE SHOT OF BALLOONS, AND I GET IT.

OVER HALF A MILLION PEOPLE TAKE A BALLOON RIDE HERE EVERY YEAR WHICH MAKES CAPPADOCIA THE NUMBER ONE HOT AIR BALLOON DESTINATION IN THE WORLD.

SO, IT'S NOT EXACTLY A HIDDEN DESTINATION.

BUT IN REALITY, IT IS BECAUSE THE REAL WONDERS OF THIS PLACE ARE NOT JUST UP IN THE AIR.

[MUSIC] YOU CAN WANDER ON YOUR OWN THROUGH THE NUMEROUS TRAILS THAT CRISS-CROSS CAPPADOCIA, BUT TO GET THE BEST PERSPECTIVE, FIRST, SEEK SOME HIGHER GROUND.

HOW ARE YOU, MAN?

HELLO, PETER.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

WELCOME TO CAPPADOCIA.

WOW.

WELCOME TO MY CITY.

PETER: OMER OZCELIK IS A RESIDENT OF ORTASIA, A TOWN OF 15,000 RESIDENTS THAT DATES BACK POSSIBLY AS FAR AS 1,300 BC.

NICE VIEW.

IT'S NOT ONLY A NICE VIEW, IT'S A LIVING AND BREATHING CITY.

PETER: THE MOST PROMINENT FEATURE OF THE CITY IS ORTASIA CASTLE, A NATURAL FORMATION THAT WAS CRAFTED INTO A FORTRESS USED BY MULTIPLE EMPIRES.

BUT IT'S JUST A START.

I HAVE A LOT TO SHOW YOU.

[MUSIC] PETER: MOST PEOPLE SAY THAT THE NAME CAPPADOCIA COMES FROM A PERSIAN WORD FOR LAND OF BEAUTIFUL HORSES.

BUT FOR ME, THE TRUE BEAUTY IS THE LANDSCAPE ITSELF.

[MUSIC] PETER: IT'S SO QUIET OUT HERE.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROSE VALLEY.

I KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE A MOVIE SET, BUT ACTUALLY THE WHOLE PLACE WAS CREATED BY NATURE ITSELF IN ABOUT LAST TEN MILLION YEARS.

THIS PLACE, ONCE UPON A TIME, WAS A LAKE.

THIS PLACE WAS FORMED BY EROSION, VOLCANOES, WIND, A LITTLE BIT OF ICE, AND MOSTLY WATER.

ALL THESE MATERIALS HERE WHICH CREATED THIS KIND OF ROCK THAT WE CALL A TUFIS, IS COMING FROM VOLCANOES.

PETER: SO NO VOLCANIC ERUPTION LATELY?

THE LAST ONE WAS ABOUT 10,000 YEARS AGO.

SO, WE'RE OKAY HERE?

WE ARE OKAY.

[MUSIC] PETER: THE VOLCANIC ASH PARTICLES HARDENED AND THEN OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS THEY ERODED INTO THESE UNIQUE ROCK FORMATIONS CALLED FAIRY CHIMNEYS.

THE LEGEND SAYS THAT FAIRIES DECIDED TO LIVE UNDERGROUND, AND THESE ARE THE CHIMNEYS OF THEIR HOUSES.

THAT'S THE LEGEND.

AND DO YOU BELIEVE IT?

OF COURSE.

[LAUGHING] YOU REALLY BELIEVE IT?

OF COURSE NOT.

[PETER LAUGHING] PETER: NATURE ISN'T THE ONLY FORCE CHIPPING AWAY.

THIS POROUS ROCK IS SO SOFT THAT HUMANS CAN CARVE IT OUT WITH AXES AND CHISELS, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING THAT MOST OF THE TOURISTS NEVER SEE.

[MUSIC] PETER: THE EASILY MALLEABLE ROCK RESULTED IN THOUSANDS OF CAVES IN CAPPADOCIA, BOTH NATURAL AND MANMADE.

ONE PERSON ALONE COULD CARVE OUT A ROOM BIG ENOUGH FOR A SHELTER IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

THIS MADE CAPPADOCIA A PLACE OF REFUGE, AND FOR ONE COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR.

NOW HERE'S THE THING, CAPPADOCIA IS A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE FOR EARLY CHRISTIANS.

PETER: THE EARLY CHRISTIANS' REFUSAL TO WORSHIP THE ROMAN GODS AND EMPERORS MADE THEM A TARGET OF PERSECUTION, OFTEN SUFFERING VICIOUS TORTURE OR EXECUTION.

CAPPADOCIA'S ROCKY INFERTILE LAND DREW LITTLE ATTENTION FROM THE ROMAN EMPIRE, SO IT PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT PLACE FOR CHRISTIANS TO LIVE AND WORSHIP IN SECRECY.

THEY HAD CARVED THIS LITTLE CAVE OVER HERE TO USE AS A CHURCH.

PETER: IT CAN'T BE MORE THAN A HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, BUT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY VITAL FOR THE EARLY CHRISTIANS.

PETER: IT WAS A SANCTUARY.

OMER: IT WAS.

IT HAS TO BE SMALL AND HIDDEN IN SOME CORNER.

SO, A TINY CONGREGATION HERE.

A REALLY TINY ONE.

PETER: AND THE ROMANS NEVER FOUND IT?

OMER: THE ROMANS NEVER FOUND IT.

PETER: BUT WE DID.

OMER: BUT WE DID.

PETEER: IT'S ONE THING TO ATTEND CHURCH IN A CAVE, BUT IMAGINE HAVING TO ABANDON THE SURFACE ALTOGETHER WITH THE GROUND PROVIDING THE PERFECT COVER TO HIDE FROM THE ROMANS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT AN ENTIRE UNDERGROUND CITY, KAYMAKLI, AN ASTONISHING LOCATION.

OMER: WE ARE CALLING THIS PLACE A CITY, BUT ACTUALLY, PEOPLE DIDN'T LIVE IN HERE.

PETER: WHEN THEY HID OUT.

OMER: YEAH.

WHEN THERE WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION OUTSIDE, THEY WERE HIDING IN HERE.

PETER: THESE TUNNELS WERE FIRST EXCAVATED AROUND THE 8TH CENTURY BC BY REFUGEES OF THE HITTITE EMPIRE AND WERE FURTHER EXPANDED BY CHRISTIANS NEEDING ASYLUM.

OMER: YOU SIMPLY CANNOT IMAGINE THAT THE WHOLE TOWN, EVERYBODY IN THE TOWN, IS ACTUALLY IN HERE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE.

PETER: 5,000 PEOPLE IN HERE?

OMER: YEAH.

REMEMBER WE ARE IN THE FIRST OF EIGHT FLOORS.

PETER: EIGHT FLOORS?

OMER: EIGHT FLOORS.

PETER: OH, MAN.

OMER: JUST FOLLOW ME AND PLEASE WATCH YOUR HEAD.

LET ME SHOW YOU HOW THEY SURVIVED.

[MUSIC] PETER: AND THE WAY THOSE TUNNELS ARE DESIGNED, THEY WERE NOT WELCOMING YOU IN, BUT IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH IT, AND I'M TALKING LITERALLY, YOU'RE IN FOR AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FEATS OF ENGINEERING I'VE SEEN IN MY LIFE.

OMER: OBVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY NEEDED TO STAY HERE.

A WEEK?

A MONTH?

TWO MONTHS?

SO TO SURVIVE, THIS LITTLE ROOM OVER HERE WAS USED AS A FOOD STORAGE.

PETER: THERE WERE PLACES FOR FAMILIES TO SLEEP AND STABLES TO KEEP ANIMALS.

THEY EVEN HAD SPACE RESERVED FOR MAKING WINE.

OMER: THAT'S WHERE THEY PUT THE GRAPES AND GET THE JUICE FROM HERE.

PETER: THE ORIGINAL WINE CELLAR.

OMER: EXACTLY.

EVERYTHING THEY'D NEED TO REMAIN IN HIDING UNTIL THE DANGER HAD PASSED.

PETER: I KNOW, LET ME GUESS: WATCH MY HEAD.

OMER: THIS WAY DOWN IT'S GETTING A LITTLE MORE NARROWER.

PETER: A LITTLE MORE?

OMER: A LITTLE MORE.

PETER: GET OUT.

OMER: JUST WATCH YOUR HEAD.

PETER: WOAH.

CAN I ASK YOU ONE QUESTION?

OMER: OF COURSE.

PETER: HOW TALL WERE THESE PEOPLE?

OMER: JUST LIKE US.

REMEMBER, IT'S VERY HARD FOR THE SOLDIERS ALSO.

PETER: YEAH.

OMER: YOU SEE THIS ROUND STONE?

PETER: OH YEAH.

OMER: IT'S ACTUALLY A DOOR.

SO YOU ROLL IT, AND YOU CLOSE THIS ENTRANCE.

PETER: IN THE CENTER OF THE DOOR IS A HOLE THAT ALLOWS FOR VENTILATION, THE ABILITY TO MONITOR OUTSIDE ENEMIES, AND IF NEED BE, A PLACE TO USE A SPEAR OR BOW AND ARROW FOR DEFENSE.

LET ME GUESS, THAT WEIGHS A LOT.

A LOT.

PETER: WHEN YOU TAKE IN THE SHEER ENORMITY OF THIS CITY, YOU UNDERSTAND HOW DIRE THE SITUATION MUST HAVE BEEN FOR THE RESIDENTS TO DESIGN AND THEN BUILD THIS.

HOW THEY EVEN THOUGHT OF THIS, LET ALONE CONSTRUCTED IT, PRESERVED IT, THEN DEFENDED IT, AND DID IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT ITS STILL EXISTING TODAY.

PETER: WOW.

I MEAN, THIS IS JUST AMAZING.

[MUSIC] PETER: AS FASCINATING AS CAPPADOCIA'S PAST IS, YOU'RE MISSING OUT IF YOU DON'T EXPERIENCE ITS PRESENT.

IN THE VILLAGE OF GOREME, MODERN LIFE IS THRIVING.

THERE'S SHOPPING, DINING, AND YOU CAN EVEN BOOK A HOTEL ROOM IN A CAVE.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN CAPPADOCIA FEELS LIKE A VICTIM OF OVER TOURISM WITH SOME SHOPS EVEN CHARGING A FEE TO TAKE PICTURES AND GIANT ROWS OF ATMS ENCOURAGING YOU TO WITHDRAW AND THEN SPEND MONEY.

BUT KEEP WALKING AND YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

THE REAL BEAUTY HERE IS WHILE THERE ARE TOUR GUIDES, YOU MAY NOT NEED THEM.

YOU COULD EASILY BE INTERRUPTED... AND THEN REDIRECTED.

MAN: MERABA.

MERABA.

MAN: COME AND JOIN.

I'M GONNA WATCH YOU GUYS DO THIS.

MAN: YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BACKGAMMON?

PETER: I DO... ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

PETER: AND BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I WAS IN THE GAME.

OH.

OH.

MAN: HE'S FOCUSED ON THE GAME RIGHT NOW, OKAY.

[LAUGHING] PETER: BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW WHAT THE INTERPRETATION OF THAT IS?

I'M LOSING.

MY FRIEND, YOU ARE GOING SO FAST ON THE WAY TO LOSING.

[LAUGHING] STORY OF MY LIFE.

HERE WE GO.

PETER: BACKGAMMON IS AN INSTITUTION HERE.

AND UNBELIEVABLY, THE GAME HAS BEEN AROUND EVEN LONGER THAN TURKEY, DATING BACK ALMOST 5,000 YEARS TO ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA.

TO BE HONEST, YOU NEED THE LUCK.

NO KIDDING.

[LAUGHING] 1-2-3-4-5-6 PETER: I THOUGHT I KNEW HOW TO PLAY BACKGAMMON; I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO WIN.

LUCKILY FOR ME, WE WERE ONLY PLAYING FOR TEA.

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO PLAY LIKE THIS?

PETER: HERE WE GO.

AH!

BYE BYE!

PETER: I WAS LITERALLY BEING WELCOMED IN TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING THAT THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY LIKE CLOCKWORK.

IT'S HOW THEY END THEIR DAY.

AND IN THIS CASE, THEY HELPED ME END MINE.

ALL: OH!

AH LA LA.

PETER: YOU KNOW WHAT THAT ONE MEANS?

I LOST.

PETER: LET ME HEAR THAT AGAIN.

MEN: AH LA LA.

[LAUGHING] [MUSIC] PETER: IN TURKEY, IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO FIGURE OUT THAT HISTORY IS LAYERED ON TOP OF HISTORY.

IT'S A NEVER-ENDING TAPESTRY OF CULTURES AND MYTHOLOGY.

AND YOU'LL SEE HOW APPARENT THAT IS, IN JUST A FIVE-HOUR DRIVE FROM CAPPADOCIA TO ANTAKYA, WHICH HISTORY REMEMBERS AS ANTIOCH.

TUCKED AWAY IN THE THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTRY, JUST 30 MILES FROM THE SYRIAN BORDER, ANTAKYA IS ON VERY FEW BUCKET LISTS.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO GO.

BACK IN 300 BC, IT WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE SELEUCID EMPIRE.

ONCE ANTAKYA WAS ANNEXED BY ROME, IT BECAME THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE BOTH IN ACTUAL SIZE AND IMPORTANCE, TRAILING ONLY ROME AND ALEXANDRIA.

LATER, IN THE FIRST CENTURY AD, ANTAKYA BECAME THE CENTER OF A NEW RELIGION.

SOME BELIEVE THAT THIS CAVE SANCTUARY, TODAY CALLED SAINT PETER'S CHURCH, WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED BY THE APOSTLE PETER HIMSELF, MAKING IT THE FIRST PLACE WHERE FOLLOWERS WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS.

IN THE 6TH CENTURY, A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE KILLED 200,000 OF ITS RESIDENTS, A DEATH TOLL LARGER THAN THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE CITY TODAY.

AFTER BEING CONQUERED MULTIPLE TIMES, ANTAKYA WAS REDUCED TO LITTLE MORE THAN A VILLAGE, BUT IT WAS A TREASURE, SITTING ON THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF HISTORY JUST WAITING TO BE UNEARTHED.

TODAY, ANTAKYA IS KNOWN AS A MODERN COSMOPOLITAN CITY WHERE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS AND CULTURES INTERMINGLE, BUT THE PAST HAS NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN.

THAT'S THANKS TO A PERMANENT POPULATION OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS WHO HAVE MADE IT THEIR LIFE'S PASSION TO PRESERVE ANTAKYA'S SECRETS OF CIVILIZATIONS' PAST.

[MUSIC] I USUALLY HAVE A RULE WHEN I TRAVEL: ONLY ONE MUSEUM PER TRIP BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOUR EYES GLAZE OVER AND YOU REALLY CAN'T SPEND THE TIME TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE MOMENT.

BUT IN ANTAKYA, THE CITY IS THE MUSEUM, AND WHEN YOU FINALLY GET TO THE OFFICIAL MUSEUM, YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE REALLY SEEING, AS WELL AS WHAT YOU MAY BE MISSING.

THE ANTAKYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM WAS ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN 1934, BUT THIS ENORMOUS 350,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY OPENED IN 2014.

AND THEY ARE ALREADY OUT OF SPACE.

IT'S NOT CROWDED WITH VISITORS, BUT IT'S FULL, AND EVERY PIECE TELLS A STORY OF A LONG SINCE DEPARTED OWNER, OR OF A FAMILY, OR ANY ONE OF 13 CIVILIZATIONS THAT ALL LIVED IN ANTAKYA AT ONE TIME.

[MUSIC] IT'S A LOT TO TAKE IN.

THOUSANDS OF ARTIFACTS... ...STATUES... ...SARCOPHAGI... AND NOT JUST WHAT YOU'D EXPECT.

THIS ONE MAY HAVE EASILY TAKEN 20 YEARS TO MAKE, CUT FROM ONE SINGLE PIECE OF MARBLE.

AS OPPOSED TO EVERY OTHER MUSEUM I'VE SEEN IN THE WORLD, EVERY SINGLE THING IN THIS MUSEUM IS FROM THIS CITY.

AND IT'S DISPLAYED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO WHERE THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIRST FOUND IT.

IT'S THAT REMARKABLE.

IN FACT, THIS MUSEUM CONTAINS ONE OF THE WORLD'S FINEST COLLECTIONS OF ROMAN MOSAICS DATING FROM THE 1ST CENTURY AD.

[MUSIC] AND THE REASON THEY HAVE SO MANY IS BECAUSE MOSAICS WERE BUILT INTO FLOORS AND OFTENTIMES WERE THE ONLY PART OF THESE STRUCTURES STILL RECOVERABLE BY THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS.

BUT TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE AMOUNT OF STUFF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I ASKED THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR TO SHOW ME THEIR STOREROOM.

TO SHOW ME WHAT THEY'RE NOT DISPLAYING.

AND WHEN THIS DOOR WAS OPENED... THAT'S WHEN YOU GOT THE FULL MEASURE OF HOW MUCH STUFF WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT, HOW MANY STORIES HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN TOLD YET, AND EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT, HOW MANY STORIES HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN FOUND YET.

[MUSIC] BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ANTAKYA, THERE'S ANOTHER STORY THAT'S JUST STARTING TO BE TOLD, AND IN AN UNLIKELY PLACE.

IT'S THE UNBELIEVABLE BUT TRUE TALE OF A NEW HOTEL.

AT FIRST GLANCE, IT LOOKS TO BE JUST ANOTHER MODERN HOTEL.

BUT YOU'D NEVER BELIEVE WHAT'S HIDING DOWN ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

[MUSIC] PETER: I'M JUST ASTOUNDED BY THE EXTENT OF ALL THIS.

YOU JUST WEREN'T OVER A SMALL LITTLE REMAINS, YOU WERE OVER A WHOLE CITY.

SABIA: A WHOLE CITY.

PETER: SABIA ABISOUGTLU'S FAMILY OWNS THE APPROPRIATELY NAMED MUSEUM HOTEL AND WHEN THEY STARTED DIGGING THE FOUNDATION TEN YEARS AGO, THE SHOVELS HIT SOMETHING HARD.

AND THEN THERE WERE MORE HITS.

AND BEFORE LONG, THEY STOPPED DIGGING.

THEY HAD UNCOVERED THE RUINS OF ANCIENT ANTAKYA.

AND AS THEY GENTLY SWEPT THE DEBRIS AWAY, IT EXPOSED SOMETHING MONUMENTAL.

SABIA: THIS IS THE LARGEST SINGLE PIECE MOSAIC IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

PETER: THIS IS IT?

SABIA: THIS IS IT.

PETER: AND WHO KNEW?

NOBODY.

SABIA: NOBODY KNEW.

IT'S A BIG SURPRISE FOR ALL OF US.

[MUSIC] PETER: MEASURING OVER 11,000 SQUARE FEET, THIS MOSAIC IS NEARLY 2,000 YEARS OLD.

FURTHER EXCAVATION REVEALED EVEN MORE FINDS FROM ANTAKYA'S LONG HISTORY.

SABIA: ROMAN BATHS AND THE GLASS MOSAICS, ARTIFACTS, ALL BELONG TO DIFFERENT PERIODS.

PETER: WITH SUCH AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE TROVE, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT CONSTRUCTION COULD NOT CONTINUE AS PLANNED.

PETER: SO YOU BUILT IT AROUND IT?

YEAH, AROUND IT.

ON TOP OF THE 66 STEEL COLUMNS, WE RAISED THE MUSEUM HOTEL.

PETER: TO ALLOW SPACE FOR THE RECOVERY WORK, AND THEN TO DISPLAY WHAT THEY FOUND, THE PLAN FOR 400 HOTEL ROOMS WAS SLASHED TO 200.

THEN 20,000 TONS OF STEEL WERE ASSEMBLED TO ELEVATE THE HOTEL.

AND NOW, IT HAS BECOME AN ARCHITECTURAL WONDER FLOATING ABOVE A HISTORICAL ONE.

PETER: AND THE HOTEL LOOKS DOWN ON THIS.

SABIA: YES.

SO AT NIGHT, YOU'RE SLEEPING ON THE MUSEUM.

IT'S LIKE IN THE FILM, YOU'RE REALLY SPENDING A NIGHT AT A MUSEUM.

[PETER CHUCKLING] [MUSIC] PETER: RAISING AND REDESIGNING THE HOTEL QUADRUPLED THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS, BUT IT WAS A NECESSARY PRICE TO PAY TO PROTECT THE HISTORY SLOWLY BEING UNVEILED BELOW.

THIS IS THE BEST PRESERVED MOSAIC IN THE WHOLE AREA.

THE BEST ROOM IN THE HOUSE?

YES, IT'S THE DINING ROOM, AND THE ARTIST WHO MADE IT USED 162 COLORS, ALL SEEN HERE.

PETER: AND HOW OLD IS THIS?

SABIA: IT'S FROM THE 2ND AD.

TALKING A LONG TIME.

A LONG TIME, YES.

PETER: AMAZING, AND THIS IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS LEFT?

SABIA: YES, THIS IS THE MAIN IDEA IN HERE: TO KEEP THE REMAINS IN ITS OWN PLACE.

WHEN YOU WALK HERE, YOU KNOW THAT THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO PEOPLE HAVE LIVED HERE, SMELLED HERE, EATEN HERE, TALKED HERE.

IT'S ALIVE AND YOU REALLY FEEL THE ENERGY OF IT.

[MUSIC] PETER: AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE MUSEUM HOTEL IS A PERFECT ENCAPSULATION OF TURKEY ITSELF.

IT'S A LAND THAT IS ONCE BOTH A WINDOW INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD AND A LIVING, VIBRANT, MODERN DESTINATION.

SABIA: EVERYDAY YOU DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW, AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE THE GUARD OF THIS PLACE AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO PROTECT IT AND DELIVER IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

PETER: WELL WHAT A LEGACY YOU'RE LEAVING.

SABIA: IT'S A PRESENT FOR HUMANITY.

THIS IS THE MAIN REASON.

[MUSIC] PETER: BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE ANTAKYA'S ANCIENT PAST COEXISTS WITH THE PRESENT, AND THAT'S AT UZEM CARSI, ANTAKYA'S LONG BAZAAR.

ANTAKYA WAS ONCE A STOPPING POINT ALONG THE SILK ROAD, THE LEGENDARY TRADING ROUTE CONNECTING THE EASTERN AND WESTERN WORLDS, GIVING BIRTH IN THE 1400S TO THE LONG BAZAAR WITH ITS AMAZING MIX OF GOODS.

THAT'S STILL TRUE TODAY, MAKING IT A DESTINATION ESPECIALLY FOR FOODIES.

SPICES ARE STILL A MAIN DRAW ALONG WITH A GREAT VARIETY OF FRESH OLIVES AND DRIED FRUIT.

AND WHAT ANTAKYA IS PARTICULARLY KNOWN FOR, AND THE REAL REASON I LOVE COMING...IT'S THE KUNEFE.

YOU CAN CALL IT A SWEET CHEESE PASTRY, BUT THAT DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DO IT JUSTICE.

THE RECIPE IS A THOUSAND YEARS OLD, AND MANY MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURES CLAIM TO HAVE CREATED IT.

IT'S SO DELICIOUS, OF COURSE, THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.

BUT A WARNING: KUNEFE ISN'T A SIMPLE DESSERT.

YOU CAN'T JUST WHIP IT UP AT HOME.

IF YOU WANT IT, AND BELIEVE ME, YOU DO, YOU NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE PROFESSIONAL.

TO GET TO MY FAVORITE PLACE, YOU WIND YOUR WAY THROUGH THE BAZAAR, UNTIL YOU GET TO CINARALTI KUNEFE YUSUF USTA.

MERABA.

MERABA.

KUNEFE.

KUNEFE.

MY FAVORITE.

PETER: IT'S A VERY SMALL PLACE.

AND DON'T LOOK FOR THE MENU, THEY'VE ONLY GOT ONE ITEM, SO YOU KNOW THEY'RE GOOD AT IT.

CAN I HELP A LITTLE BIT?

CHEF: YES.

-WITH YOU?

-YES.

PETER: OKAY.

PETER: AND CHEF FATI ALLOWED ME TO JOIN THE COOKING.

KUNEFE STARTS WITH KADAIF, A VERY FINE PASTA, AND THE WAY THEY MAKE IT IS REMARKABLE.

THE DOUGH IS STRAINED ONTO A SPINNING, HEATED STONE.

AFTER IT COOKS, YOU'VE GOT YOUR BASE FOR KUNEFE.

PETER: LITTLE MORE?

-OKAY.

-OKAY.

PETER: NEXT IS A COMBINATION OF SOFT CHEESES AND A LOT OF THEM.

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH CHEESE.

I HAVE LOVED THIS DISH FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

I FIRST HAD IT IN LEBANON AND THEN EGYPT, THEN JORDAN.

BUT THE BEST PLACE TO HAVE IT?

TURKEY.

-TURKEY.

-TURKEY.

YES.

PETER: ADD ANOTHER LAYER OF KADAIF AND THEN YOU'RE READY FOR THE FIRE.

THAT'S IT.

OKAY.

PETER: CHARCOAL, THE WHOLE DEAL.

THIS IS OLD SCHOOL KUNEFE.

PETER: VERY IMPORTANT: YOU HAVE TO KEEP THOSE COALS BURNING HOT.

AH, I SEE, OKAY.

PETER: AFTER 15 MINUTES OF COOKING, IT'S TIME FOR THE PATENTED MOVE THAT CINARALTI IS KNOWN FOR.

STAND BACK.

YEAH, SHOWTIME, PETER.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

-WOAH!

-YEAH!

WELL DONE.

PERFECTION.

PETER: FINALLY, IT'S TOPPED OFF WITH A MORE THAN GENEROUS SERVING OF SUGARY SYRUP.

THIS IS WHAT I CAME FOR.

IMAGINE THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH IN THE WORLD WITH HONEY.

PETER: AND WITH EACH BITE, YOU'LL SOON UNDERSTAND THE ENDURANCE OF KUNEFE AND WHY THIS DESSERT HAS NEVER CHANGED IN A THOUSAND YEARS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED NOW?

A NAP?

[LAUGHING] [MUSIC] WHILE ANTAKYA WAS PART OF THE LAND ROUTE BRINGING PEOPLE TO TURKEY FROM THE EASTERN AND WESTERN WORLDS, MANY ALSO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY BY WATER.

ON ITS SOUTHERN COAST ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN, WAVES HAVE BEEN CRASHING HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS BRINGING ASHORE COUNTLESS GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO MAKE IT THEIR HOME.

[MUSIC] TO REALLY TAKE IN THE MAJESTY OF THIS SHORELINE, YOU NEED TO SEE IT FROM ON HIGH.

[MUSIC] ROUGHLY AN HOUR'S FLIGHT FROM ANTAKYA WILL TAKE YOU TO MOUNT OLYMPUS.

AND THOUGH IT MAY LOOK DIVINE, IT IS NOT THAT MOUNT OLYMPUS.

IN FACT, THERE ARE ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT MOUNTAINS CALLED OLYMPUS IN THE CLASSICAL WORLD.

TODAY, IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS MOUNT TAHTALI.

IT STANDS 7700 FEET TALL AND IF YOU'RE FEELING ADVENTUROUS, THERE'S A BREATHTAKING WAY TO GET TO THE TOP.

THE OLYMPUS AERIAL TRAM TRAVELS 14,000 FEET IN JUST 10 MINUTES AND IS ONE OF THE LONGEST SUSPENDED CABLE CARS EVER MADE.

[MUSIC] ONCE YOU'RE AT THE TOP, THE VIEW IS, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, OVERWHELMING.

HONESTLY, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

AND WHEN YOU'RE READY TO LEAVE, WELL, THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO GET DOWN.

[MUSIC] IT'S THE HIGHEST PARAGLIDING SPOT IN THE WORLD AND IT'S JUST BEGINNING TO BRING THRILL SEEKERS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE.

IS THIS A GREAT SHOT OR WHAT?

AND YOU KNOW WHY?

'CAUSE I'M NOT IN IT.

THE DESCENT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 35 MINUTES TO AN HOUR, SO YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO TAKE IN THE AMAZING VIEWS ALL THE WAY TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.

JUST THINK OF THE HISTORY OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.

TRY TO IMAGINE ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND HIS ARMIES AS THEY CROSSED THROUGH THIS LAND ON THEIR CONQUESTS.

[MUSIC] IF YOU'RE LUCKY, AND YOUR PILOT TIMES IT RIGHT, YOUR AERIAL JOURNEY ENDS RIGHT ON THE BEACH, STEPS AWAY FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN, INVITING YOU TO BEHOLD ALL THE SITES ALONG THIS TURQUOISE COAST, LIKE IN THE NEARBY QUAINT VILLAGE OF KAS.

IT'S SUCH A STARK DIFFERENCE FROM THE OTHER PARTS OF TURKEY AND YOU MIGHT FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE.

THERE ARE CHARMING SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND ONCE YOU'VE EXPLORED EVERYTHING ON LAND, THE REAL TREAT IS WHAT YOU FIND UNDERWATER.

[MUSIC] THE SECRET IS STARTING TO GET OUT THAT TURKEY IS BECOMING ONE OF THE COOLEST DIVING DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD AND FOR GOOD REASON.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

WHY IS THERE A TANK AND A WORLD WAR II PLANE ON THE SEAFLOOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURKEY NEVER ENGAGED IN COMBAT DURING THE WAR?

WELL, THEY WERE PLACED HERE BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ATTRACT DIVERS AS WELL AS TO CREATE ARTIFICIAL REEF ENVIRONMENTS THAT SUPPORT CORAL GROWTH AND THE ANIMAL POPULATION.

AND IT WORKED.

[MUSIC] THERE'S MORE TO DISCOVER UNDER THE SURFACE NOT FAR AWAY AT KEKOVA ISLAND, BUT IT'S A PROTECTED AREA, SO YOU'LL NEED TO ARRANGE FOR SOMEONE LIKE IBRAHIM GENC TO ESCORT YOU THERE BY BOAT.

THIS IS OUR BOAT.

PLEASE.

[MUSIC] PETER: LIKE ALL OF TURKEY, MULTIPLE CIVILIZATIONS HAVE CALLED THIS AREA HOME.

AND ON THE 10 - MINUTE BOAT RIDE OUT TO THE ISLAND, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SEE HISTORY EVERYWHERE.

UP ON THE HILL SITS SIMENA CASTLE WHICH DATES BACK TO THE 4TH CENTURY BC OF THE LYCIAN CIVILIZATION, BUT THESE WALLS ARE FROM BYZANTINE CONSTRUCTION IN THE 1200S BUILT TO PROTECT AGAINST PIRATE INCURSIONS.

[MUSIC] DOTTING THE HILLSIDE ARE ANCIENT SARCOPHAGI, AND ONE IS STILL PROTRUDING FROM THE WATER.

THAT HALF-SUBMERGED SARCOPHAGUS IS LITERALLY JUST THE TIP OF THE HIDDEN GEM OF KEKOVA.

IBRAHIM: YOU KNOW, HERE WAS A VERY IMPORTANT TRADE ROUTE.

MANY SHIPS THEY WERE SUNKEN WITH A LOT OF GOODS: GOLD, SILVER, OR A LOT OF AMPHORAS.

THAT'S WHY UNDER THE WATER IS THE HIDDEN TREASURE.

HAVE YOU FOUND ANY?

ME?

NOT YET.

[BOTH LAUGH] PETER: AND IT'S NOT JUST TREASURE RESTING ON THE SEAFLOOR, IT'S AN ENTIRE CIVILIZATION.

YOU KNOW, THEY SAY IT'S A MINI ATLANTIS BECAUSE THIS CITY WAS SUNKEN DURING THE 2ND CENTURY AD BY A BIG EARTHQUAKE.

PETER: YOU CAN SEE ON THE HILLSIDE, SIGNS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EVERYDAY LIFE IN KEKOVA, TRAILING DOWN TO BUILDINGS THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED TO BE WATERFRONT PROPERTY, BUT ONE DAY UNEXPECTEDLY BECAME IT.

AND HERE WE CAN SEE SOME PLACES: ROOMS, ROMAN BATHS, THE HARBOR UNDER THE WATER.

PETER: HALF OF THE ANCIENT CITY OF KEKOVA SANK BELOW THE WATER, AND REMAINS THERE TWO MILLENIA LATER.

IT'S ALL BEEN PRESERVED.

IT'S ALL PRESERVED.

PETER: THE CITY OF KEKOVA FINALLY DIED OUT AROUND THE 1200S.

IBRAHIM: AND STILL THERE ARE SOME REMAINS AFTER MORE THAN 800 YEARS.

AND THE AMAZING COMBINATION HERE: THE NATURE, THE HISTORY ALL TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT PERIODS.

AND STILL ACCESSIBLE?

STILL ACCESSIBLE.

PETEER: PECIAL PERMISSION IS REQUIRED TO BOAT OR DIVE IN THIS AREA, BUT YOU CAN GET IT.

AND THAT ENSURES THAT A GEM THAT HAS BEEN HIDDEN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS IS PRESERVED FOR A THOUSAND MORE.

JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE YOU GO IN TURKEY, YOU'RE IMMERSED IN AN ALMOST SURREAL BLEND OF HISTORY AND THE FUTURE.

[MUSIC] AND SO IT SEEMED A PERFECT PLACE TO END MY TRIP AT THE THEATRE AT HIERAPOLIS.

BUILT BACK IN THE SECOND CENTURY, IT'S OFFICIALLY A RUIN, BUT TO ME, IT'S VERY MUCH ALIVE, AND IT SPEAKS TO ME.

YOU GAZE OUT AND SUDDENLY FIND YOURSELF SITTING IN QUIET WONDER.

WHAT MUST IT HAVE BEEN LIKE WITH THIS ARENA FILLED WITH ACTORS, PERFORMERS, AND MUSICIANS?

WHAT BROUGHT EVERYBODY TOGETHER?

WHAT WAS THEIR SHARED EXPERIENCE?

WHAT LEGACY DID THEY LEAVE, BEYOND JUST THE FADING BRICKS AND SUPPORT COLUMNS TO CONFIRM THEIR SPECIAL MOMENTS?

IN JUST SEVEN DAYS I'D CRISS-CROSSED ISTANBUL.

I WALKED AMONG THE ANCIENTS AT LAODICEA AND SURVIVED THE SLOPES OF MT.

ERCIYES, EXPERIENCED THE MAGIC OF CAPPADOCIA FROM ABOVE AND BELOW.

I WAS WITNESS TO WHAT THE EARTH GAVE UP IN ANTAKYA... ...AND AT EVERY TURN, I WAS SURROUNDED BY GREAT STORIES AND EVEN BETTER STORYTELLERS.

MEN: AH, LA LA.

PETER: AND.....

EVEN WHEN I LOST....I WON.

AND THEN SITTING IN THIS THEATER, I REALIZE I'D JUST WON AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S STILL BEING USED TODAY BY THE ARTISTS WHO LIVE HERE.

THESE MUSICIANS, SOMEWHAT YOUNGER, BUT THE SOUND JUST AS BEAUTIFUL.

AS THE SUN BEGINS ITS LONG DESCENT, I FIND MYSELF, ONCE AGAIN, ON THE EDGE OF HISTORY AND THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM.

AND THE REALIZATION THAT TO SEE THE REAL HIDDEN TURKEY, YOU NEED TO EMBRACE THE PAST TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE.

YES....THIS IS WHAT I CAME FOR... AND THIS IS WHAT I FOUND.

THIS IS HIDDEN TURKEY.

ANNOUNCER: HIDDEN TURKEY IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO.

ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY: VIRTUOSO.

THE WORLD IS WAITING AND SO IS VIRTUOSO'S GLOBAL NETWORK OF TRAVEL ADVISORS COLLABORATING AND LEADING THE CONVERSATION TO PURSUE YOUR TRAVEL DREAMS AND EXPERIENCES.

VIRTUOSO IS PROUD TO SUPPORT HIDDEN TURKEY.

[MUSIC]