Konya, one of the world's oldest cities (dating from 7000 BC), is the spiritual center of Turkey--this is where the Whirling Dervishes sect began (a weeklong Dervish festival, which includes dancing, is held in December). Plan a day there. This city of 691,000 features numerous attractions: the tiled Theological School of Karatay, the Ince Minaret, Aladdin Mosque, Mausoleum of Mevlana (founder of the Dervishes) and a museum displaying beautiful ancient rugs and copies of the Koran. Some 30 mi/48 km south of Konya is Catalhoyuk, site of another very old settlement. There is little to see there today, so go only if you want to enjoy the "mood" of the place. To see some of the 9,000-year-old artifacts from Catalhoyuk, you need to visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. 150 mi/241 km south of Ankara.