Overview Some of the earliest human settlements are located in Turkey. These major Neolithic sites trace back to the ninth millennium BCE, in particular, Gobekli Tepe, considered the world’s first large-scale place of worship, and Catalhoyuk, considered the world’s first city. The country’s historical treasures also include UNESCO World Heritage sites: Troy, the location of the legendary Trojan War, is in the northwest; Ephesus, with its stunning ancient Greek theater, is on

Overview Iran, ancient Persia, is a land of fine art and crafts, including world-renowned carpets and miniature paintings on paper. The name “Persia” derives from the region of Pars (Fars), where the ancient civilization originated. In 1935, Shah Reza Pahlavi requested that the country be referred to as Iran, which had long been the term used by those who live there. Iran has five millennia of fascinating cultural heritage and history as one of the dominant civilizations of t