4 Ancient Cities to Explore in Canakkale

Located on the slopes of the Ida Mountains (Kaz Dağları) and along the Dardanelles Strait, Canakkale has long been a crossroads of civilizations due to its strategic geopolitical and natural significance. Over the centuries, the region has been home to a variety of cultures, including the Lydians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Today, you can still see the remnants of these ancient civilizations in the form of artifacts, ruins, and historical sites. Here, we focus on four key ancient cities in the Canakkale province that are easily accessible from Istanbul.

1. Troy
Most people have heard of Troy, whether through Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, or the 2004 Hollywood film Troy, starring Brad Pitt as Achilles. Dating back to around 3000 BC, the ancient city of Troy is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its rich history and legendary status, Troy is considered one of Turkey’s most important cultural treasures.

During your visit to the archaeological site, you’ll encounter the remnants of baths, a theater, odeons, and bouleuterions (council chambers), all of which have been carefully excavated and preserved. The nearby Troy Museum houses a wealth of artifacts from the ancient city, as well as important finds from other parts of Canakkale.

Troy was continuously inhabited for over 4,000 years, with at least nine different settlements built on the same site, making it a complex and fascinating archaeological puzzle. Its strategic location along key trade routes made it a powerful and wealthy city, especially during the Bronze Age. This prominence likely contributed to Troy’s fame in the Iliad, where it is depicted as the stage for the legendary Trojan War and the famous Trojan Horse.

For many years, historians doubted the historicity of the Trojan War, viewing it as a myth. However, in the 1870s, German businessman and amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, along with Frank Calvert, began excavating at Hisarlik (the site of ancient Troy) and uncovered the lost city.

Schliemann’s discovery was one of the most important archaeological breakthroughs of the 19th century, though his haste to uncover the city’s treasures led to the destruction of much of the site’s archaeology, and he was later accused of smuggling the artifacts out of the Ottoman Empire. Today, visitors can explore the nine layers of ancient settlements at Troy, and ongoing excavations continue to reveal more about this fascinating ancient city.

2. Assos

The ancient city of Assos, which is on the UNESCO Tentative List of World Cultural Heritage, is located about an hour from Troy in the Ayvacık district of Canakkale. According to ancient sources, Assos was founded in the 7th century BC by settlers from the island of Lesbos. However, archaeological research shows that the city’s history actually dates back to the Bronze Age. The ancient city was built on a hill that faces the sea and was constructed in terraces, many of which are still visible today.

Assos is situated on an extinct volcanic hill, 236 meters above sea level, surrounded by andesite rocks. The buildings and city walls were constructed using andesite stone, which, although difficult to work with, is highly durable. This tough material was so notorious that the ancient inhabitants referred to it as the “man-eater.” In antiquity, sarcophagi made from Assos stone were exported to major cities across the ancient world.

At the top of the hill, visitors can explore the ruins of the Temple of Athena, which was dedicated to the goddess Athena. The temple, the ancient theater, along with the nearby necropolis, are among the most significant archaeological remains in Assos. Some of the artifacts from the Temple of Athena are on display at the Archaeological Museums of Istanbul, Canakkale, the Louvre, and in Boston. The necropolis is home to numerous monumental and family tombs, offering insight into the city’s rich history.

Excavations at Assos began in 1881, led by an American archaeological team, and continue to this day. One of the highlights of visiting Assos is the breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea at sunset from the Temple of Athena, a sight that is sure to leave visitors in awe.

3. Apollon Smintheus

The settlement of Apollon Smintheus began in the Neolithic period and continued through the Hellenistic and Roman periods without interruption. The ruins at Apollon Smintheus include traces from the Neolithic era as well as artifacts from later periods. The site is the second most important sanctuary in Troas, after the Temple of Athena. The temple here, built in the mid-2nd century BC, is designed in the pseudodipteral style and is decorated with relief friezes depicting scenes from the Trojan War. These friezes are based on Homer’s Iliad, which tells the story of the Trojan War, and you can see this narrative represented in the temple’s artwork.

When you visit the site, you can view the friezes in a small museum and learn about the temple’s unique architectural features, including the restored parts of the structure. The main attraction is the Temple of Apollo, known as the Lord of Mice, although only parts of the temple remain today. The southwestern corner has been restored, with stairs and fragments of columns re-erected. In addition to the temple, you can explore long sections of Roman-era roads and plumbing. Several Roman buildings are also visible, including a well-preserved bathhouse. Between the bathhouse and the temple, you can see the remains of Roman cisterns.

4. Alexandria Troas

Alexandria Troas, one of the largest ancient cities of Asia Minor, is located in the Ezine district of Canakkale. Founded in 310 BC by Antigonos Monophtalmos, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, the city was later renamed in honor of Alexander following his death. Alexandria Troas maintained its importance throughout the Roman period, with significant construction projects continuing under Emperor Hadrian, including the building of aqueducts and baths, which were costly and impressive for their time.

The city also holds a significant place in the history of Christianity. By the mid-1st century AD, a small Christian community had already established itself in Alexandria, as mentioned in the New Testament, particularly in the Letters of St. Paul and the Acts of the Apostles. Because of its strategic location as a major port, Alexandria Troas was the departure point for St. Paul on his second missionary journey to Europe (50-52 AD). He also visited the city during his third missionary journey (53-58 AD), where, according to the New Testament, he miraculously revived a young man named Eutychus.

The Alexandria Troas Archaeological Site is notable for its well-planned layout, which includes a gymnasium, a temple, a stadium, a fountain, paved streets, a theater, and a port. Among the most impressive structures is the Herodes Atticus Gymnasium, one of the largest in Anatolia. At the highest point of the site, visitors can explore the remains of a Hellenistic-era theater. From here, the audience could not only enjoy performances but also take in spectacular views of the city, the distant ruins of Neandria, and the surrounding Aegean Sea, including the islands of Bozcaada and Lesbos.

Photos of Assos ancient city:

 

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