LONDON

Renowned British historian and documentarian Bettany Hughes said that Türkiye inspired her to become a professional historian, and that her favorite ancient sites are Aphrodisias in Aydin, Sagalassos in Burdur and Gobeklitepe in Sanliurfa.

Hughes, who has explored the cultural and intellectual foundations of Western civilization in documentaries like The Genius of the Ancient World and Ancient Worlds, most recently examined Türkiye’s heritage in multiple episodes of her Treasures of the World series.

Sharing that there are many sites in Türkiye she is especially fond of, Hughes said: “Aphrodisias is beautiful. Saccolassos is incredible. Located up in the mountains, it is one of the highest Greco Roman sites anywhere in the world. But I think my heart belongs to those very early settlements and buildings such as Gobeklitepe and all the other sites around there, because that is the beginning of the story of civilization.”

“I first went to Türkiye when I was 18, and I remember just thinking, I understand the story of the world. I understood the big, deep history of this beautiful planet that we live on, because it felt like so much was happening there,” Hughes told Anadolu.

“I walked through a peach grove in Ephesus, and around me there were architectural remains, not just from hundreds of years ago, but from thousands of years ago. So, it was very inspiring. It's one of the reasons I became a professional historian, and I've been coming back ever since,” she added.

Hughes also noted that she has been bringing her family to Türkiye for over 40 years, and said: “There are more archaeological sites in Türkiye than in any other country in the world.”

-‘Visit inland areas, go beyond the beaches in Türkiye’

Hughes encouraged travelers to explore beyond the beaches and to discover the country’s inland regions and the east.

“I'm just back from the city of Mardin, and Midyat. I've been in Gobeklitepe. You know this incredible site, which is over 11,000 years old. So, I would advice that people take their time, explore the country, go to places that they might not have heard of, because there's bound to be warm hospitality to welcome people and also incredible history to nourish them.”

Also praising Turkish cuisine, she said “I love waking up in the morning and having fresh herbs for breakfast. I'm a huge fan of Turkish cheese, so I'll eat that for breakfast, lunch and for dinner.”

Adding that she appreciates the “beautiful roasted aubergines and then desserts sweetened with rose water,” Hughes concludes; “So, it's very definitely my happy place in culinary terms.”