The eastern Mediterranean is one of the most culturally intriguing areas of the world. Two thousand years ago, western Turkey was home to the Ionian Greeks, and some of the most impressive ruins of classical cities, such as Pergamum and Ephesus, are to be found there. Istanbul, formerly Greek Constantinople, embodies this historical complexity. The Turkish capital, Ankara, is a place of relatively little interest aside from the remarkable Anatolian Civilizations Museum, with its extraordinary collection of Hittite artifacts. Southeast of Ankara, Cappadocia presents an otherworldly landscape of colorful canyons and troglodyte towns.