Turkey has hosted many civilizations throughout the course of history and has traces of many religions from all around the world. Muslims, Jews and Christians are all kindly welcomed to live on Turkey's lands, even though the country is predominantly Muslim-populated. Because of the great sense of hospitality Islam instills, people on this soil learned how to live together for many years, and accept differences showing great respect for others.From the east to west, wherever you go in Turkey, you will witness the incredible cultural harmony that makes you feel both comfortable and hopeful at the same time. Even though some people around the world are oppressed and feel excluded due to their religion, in Turkey it is different, as you will see in the reflection of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi's generous philosophy: "Come, come whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again, come, come." So, if you haven't had a chance to see both the cultural harmony that Anatolia embraces, and the sacred places that invite one to find peace and discover spirituality, here are some sacred destinations around Turkey that are calling you to "come."Mevlana Museum (Green Dome) in central Anatolian province of KonyaStarting with Rumi's philosophy of "come," the Mevlana Museum located in the central Anatolian city of Konya is a must-visit venue for a better understanding of why millions of people visit the city each year to discover the core meaning of modesty. The museum is also called the "Green Dome" or "Green Mausoleum" and is where the Mawlavi whirling dervishes resided, and is also where Rumi's tomb is located today. Many books have been written about the stories of Rumi and Shams of Tabrizi and how they embraced each other with the love of God and eternal friendship. Allowing one to understand and feel the reason behind the Islamic faith, the museum still has a huge impact on visitor's hearts today. Today's Mevlana Museum was once a huge rose garden that was given by Seljuk Sultan Ala'addin Kayqubat to Rumi's father. Today, both his father and Rumi rest in their tombs in the museum. Legends say that Rumi's father knew how precious his son was and he did not want to be buried next to him before his death, considering it a disgrace. But, when Rumi died and was buried next to his father, the tomb of Rumi's father became upright instantly due to his respect. Today, the tomb is still in an upright position. There are many things to see in the Mevlana Museum, as well as many peaceful emotions to feel. When you enter the dervish lodge, called Tekke, there is a semahane where the dervishes whirled, a library, living and teaching quarters, and a şadırvan, a type of fountain built for ritual ablution and purification. Even though this spiritual place is one of the few destinations around the city that you will feel the incredible energy that surrounds you immediately, we should all understand that it is not because of the museum itself, but because of Rumi's doctrine: "Do not seek our tombs on this earth, our tombs are in the hearts of the enlightened."Basilica of St. John in the western province of İzmirBuilt by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, the Basilica of St. John is where St. John, who is portrayed as an apostle, evangelist and prophet, lies today. This great church is located near Ephesus, which is also a significant destination for Christians. It is believed that when St. John died, his grave was marked with a memorial and the area surrounding his grave was turned into a church by Emperor Justinian. He wanted to build an incredible grave and church for the sake of St. John, and thousands of Christians performed pilgrimage here in the Middle Ages.Due to the Arab raids and the decreasing number of pilgrimages to Ephesus, the Basilica was turned into a museum in the 1330s, and completely destroyed in the beginning of the 1400s. The legend behind St. John's Basilica tells us that St. John is believed to be the author of the Gospel of John. According to the story, John wrote the Gospel in Ephesus and died there, while in other beliefs, it is said that he is not dead, but sleeping. Even though it is partially ruined today, the church is the biggest, after the Temple of Artemis. The entrance of the basilica goes through the southern part of the building, and brick foundations as well as marble walls have been partly reconstructed. The more excavations are performed in this area, the more remnants are found. According to figures, each year nearly a million tourists visit Ephesus to see the church, which makes it the second most-visited destination for tourists after the Antique city of Ephesus. On the first Sunday of May, many Christians gather in the church to celebrate the Feast of St. John. So, if you would like to experience the atmosphere along with many others, you should plan your next visit while considering this date. Blue Mosque in Istanbul's Historic PeninsulaSultanahmet, also known as the Blue Mosque, even though it is not as blue as you might expect, amazes its visitors not only with its magnificent architecture, but also the with its surrounding area on the historical peninsula where many civilizations have left their marks. The mosque was constructed during the rule of Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I, exactly opposite the Hagia Sophia. According to claims, Ahmed I ordered the construction of the mosque to show the glory of Islam in the face of Christianity and asked the mosque's architect, Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, to build a glorious mosque, larger than the Hagia Sophia. But Ağa constructed the Blue Mosque only one-hand span taller than the Hagia Sophia, so as to not be disrespectful and demonstrate the Islamic value of modesty. Today, the Blue Mosque and its surrounding area are among the most visited places in Istanbul, as many tourists visit to feel the energy that dominates the atmosphere. The mosque is open 24 hours to visitors, but there are some dress codes that you should respect while visiting, just like other mosques. Women are required to wear headscarves when inside, and if you do not have a headscarf, you can borrow one free of charge from the booth next to the tourist entrance. You are required to take your shoes off while entering the mosque, and always stay quiet to respect those who are praying inside. The historic peninsula is one of the most-visited places in Istanbul as scores of tourists come here to see both remnants from the Byzantine, and Ottoman Empire. Hagia Sophia, Süleymaniye Mosque, as well as many other mosques constructed for Ottoman Sultans, can all be found while you are touring around this special place embraced with history on every side.Church of Mary in western province of İzmirAlong with many other sites of religious significance for Christianity, the Church of Mary is also located in the western province of İzmir's Ephesus district. It is also called the Council Church, since it is believed that the Council of Ephesus gathered there. It has great historical importance for Christian followers and is also called the double church, since its aisles are both dedicated to Virgin Mary and St. John. The church is a rectangular basilica with 250 meters long columns. Today the church is mostly in ruins, but there are still some parts that have been preserved. When you enter the church, you will first see the walls decorated with crosses and metal rosettes. It also has a baptismal pool that is still very well preserved today. What makes this place so special is not its glory or magnificence, but the history that lies beneath it. There are sealed graves both in and outside of the church. This is why it is believed that the church was still used by the local Christians until the 14th century. History tells us that ecumenical councils were held in Ephesus around the year 431 to discuss whether the Virgin Mary was called Theotokos (bearer of God), and later many church leaders decided to call her by that title.Sardis Synagogue in western province of ManisaSardis Synagogue in western Turkey is one of the few synagogues discovered outside of Palestine and has critical importance in terms of its history and the historical development of Judaism. It is believed that the synagogue was constructed in the 3rd century AD during the Roman Empire. The excavation there showed that it might be the most impressive synagogue in the western diaspora discovered from antiquity, with over 80 Greek and seven Hebrew inscriptions. There are many mosaic floors, walls and columns you can see during your visit to this splendid synagogue. The Sardis Synagogue has an entrance with marble, which is on the main street, and it is believed that Jewish merchants and artisans once had shops in this area. With the discovery of the synagogue, many assumptions about Judaism in the later Roman Empire changed, since it provides evidence on how Jewish communities in Asia Minor integrated into general Roman imperial civic life, and their importance within society. Sardis was an administrative center of the Roman province Lydia and it is believed that the Jewish community found existence there when King Antiochus III encouraged the Jewish communities from different countries to move to Sardis.House of the Virgin in western province of İzmirEven though it is often mistaken with the Church of Mary, the House of the Virgin is a completely different religious destination, which is visited by thousands of Christian pilgrims each year. It is believed in Christianity that Apostle John brought Mary to this house in Ephesus after the Resurrection of Christ, and she continued her life there. It is also said that the house was built around the sixth or seventh century, although some experts say that it dates back to the 1st and 4th centuries. A German nun discovered the house in 1812. She awoke in a trance one night and described the exact same House of the Virgin, even though she never traveled away from her home. The house is not only sacred for the Christian community, but also the Muslim community, as many people from these two religions visit to experience the peaceful atmosphere. Each year on Aug. 15, which is the date of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim people gather in the shrine. So if you want to experience this atmosphere while learning more about interreligious respect, you must visit the House of the Virgin.