Turkey is a perfect example of a country where Eastern and Western cultures blend, creating a heritage that catches the eye of visitors around the world. Beyond its rich history, it turns out that Turkey is intriguing with dark legends too. All the wars and bloodshed left such a significant trace on this land that now many people believe that certain spots are still haunted by supernatural forces.
Turkey’s chilling past still remains one of the reasons why so many tourists are attracted to this country, aiming to uncover its ghostly secrets. While there are plenty of haunted places in Turkish lands, in this article, we will cover 5 of the most fascinating ones.
1. Çırağan Palace
Çırağan Palace is one of the most glamorous and elegant landmarks in Turkey. It was constructed in the 19th century during the Ottoman Empire, following the orders of Sultan Abdülaziz. The whole building looks extremely rich and lavish, reflecting the life of higher-status people at the time. Unfortunately, the tragic fire in 1910 severely damaged the building. However, it was later fully reconstructed as a luxury hotel.
The legends say that after the fire, Sultan Abdülaziz passed away mysteriously in unknown circumstances. He has been noticed walking around the hotel halls. He’s mostly seen near windows, facing water. Some believe he’s grieving the luxury he lost in the fire. It’s hard to say whether his ghost remains in the building because he’s still mourning the loss or not, but one thing is for sure: seeing so much wealth destroyed would have felt just as devastating then as losing a fortune would feel today. Even though now you can easily win this kind of fortune by playing online games of chance at sites like Monopoly casino, back then things were a bit more complicated.
Apart from seeing Abdülaziz’s ghost, you might as well encounter other shadowy figures in the palace and hear distant, strange voices at night.
2. Perili Köşk
Perili Köşk is translated as the “haunted mansion.” It is a building with red bricks, which is located in Istanbul, near the Bosphorus. Due to financial issues, it was never completed, but locals often tell different stories, or even legends, about it.
Some people believe the building was never finished because it is cursed. Whatever was constructed looks very lonely and eerie. There are reports about seeing strange shadows from inside where no one is supposed to be, along with creaking sounds that sound very spooky.
3. Molla Zeyrek Mosque
Molla Zeyrek Mosque was originally built as the Byzantine Monastery of Pantokrator. Later, it was turned into a mosque after the Fall of Constantinople. As it seems, the centuries of religious history, burial sites, and secret rituals happening underground left a ghostly trace on this place.
There is a part of the building that’s underground and is probably the most mysterious part of the mosque. The locals say there are eerie whispers, echoes, and footstep sounds coming from there, though they don’t exactly have any concrete source. Some believe they come from the ancient secret chambers that are hidden underground.
4. Kayaköy
Kayaköy used to be a Greek-Orthodox settlement called Levissi. Unfortunately, it was emptied after the war between Greece and Turkey, when the population was exchanged. The place is currently abandoned, and thousands of buildings are left in ruins for nature to take over.
The visitors describe the environment as sad and overwhelming yet mystical. Some say they heard distant footsteps approaching and saw shadows moving from the windows of empty buildings, even though there’s no way someone is inside. The whole place is eerily still. According to some reports, even though nature has taken over and the constructions are covered in vines, you can’t hear any animal sounds or birds chirping. This adds up to the haunted reputation that Kayaköy is so scary that animals refuse to enter.
5. Basilica Cistern
Basilica Cistern is often called the underground “water palace.” It is one of the most famous underground buildings in Istanbul. It was created in the 6th century during the Byzantine Empire, when the ruler was the Emperor Justinian I. It was constructed to store water for the city. The environment inside almost feels otherworldly.
The haunted reputation of Basilica Cestern doesn’t exactly come from any legends but from the atmosphere itself. The visitors have reported hearing water drops as if they were actual footsteps and sensing movement of an unseen force in the shadows. Since on the columns there are carvings of Medusa’s heads, some people believe whatever is haunting this place could be caused by her.
Bottom Line
Now it’s obvious that behind the beautiful walls of Turkey, a lot of mystery is going on. With its rich history, this country draws in many tourists, especially those who want to create a paranormal adventure for themselves where they can uncover historical truths and face scary challenges. Either way, for an enriching ghostly trip in Turkey, you should definitely not miss out on visiting these 5 places.
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