Turkey. Ankara and the central Anatolian region

CENTRAL ANATOLIA The central Anatolian plateau forms the heartland of Turkey: ochre-hued, cleft by ravines and dominated by volcanic peaks. The boldly contoured steppe has a solitary majesty covered with whea t fields framed by ranks of poplars.

This plateau was also a cradle of human civ-

Du ring its turbulent history . Central

ilization. At Catalhoyuk. remains of settle-

Anatolia has endured invasion by great con-

ments as old as the eighth millenn ium B.C.

quero rs, such as Alexande r the Great and

have been unearthed . Here in the homeland

Tamerlane. In the course of ten millennia of

of many civilizations and the historic baule-

habitation , the denizens of the area have

ground between East and West, the Hanis,

reflected in their an the dramatic contours

Hittites, Phrygians, Galatians , Romans ,

of the surrou nding landscape, from the vig-

Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans all fought for their sovereignty and established their

orous paintings of Catalhoyuk and the conAnka ra (Angora ) cat

fident lines of Seljuk architecture, to, more

rule. In the l Ith century, migrating Tur ks

recently. the impressive modem form of

from the east made the plateau their own .

Ataturk's mausoleum.

ANKARA location for military transportation and

The city of Ankara lies in the center of Anatolia on the eastern edge of the great,

natural resources, to Tur kish territory.

high Anatolian Plateau, at an altitude of 850 meters. The province is a predomi-

The city was an important cultural, trading , and arts center in Roman times, and an

nantly fertile wheat steppeland, with forest-

important trading center on the caravan

ed areas in the northeast. It is bordered by the provinces of Cankm and Bolu to the

declined in importance by the nineteenth

north , Eskisehir to the west, Kenya and

century. It again became an important cen-

Aksaray to the south, and Kmkkale and Ktrsehir to the east.

from which to direct the War of Liberation.

route to the east in Ottoman times. It had

ter when Kemal Ataturk chose it as the base

The region's history goes back to the

By consequence of its role in the war and

Bronze Age Hatti civilization, which was succeeded in the 2nd millennium

its strategic position, it was declared the

B.c. by

capital of the new Republic of Turkey on

the Hittites, in the 10th century B.C.by the

October 13th, 1923.

Phrygians, then by the Lydians and Persians. After these came the Galatians, a

SITES TO SEE

Celtic race who were the first to make

Anu kabir (Atatiirk Mauso leum): Located

Ankara their capital in the 3rd century B.C.

on an imposing hill in the Anutepe quarter

It was then known as Ancyra, meaning

of the city stands the mausoleu m of Kemal

"anchor," one of the oldest words in the

Ataturk. founder of the Republic of Turkey.

language of the sea-loving Celts. The city

Completed in 1953, it is an impressive

subsequently fell to the Romans, and to the

fusion of ancient and modern architectural

Byzantines. Seljuk Sultan Alparsl an opened the door into Anatolia for theTurks

ideas and remains un surpa ssed as an accomplishment of modern Tur kish archi-

at the victory of Malazgirt in 1071. Then in 1073, he annexed Ankara, an importan t

Mustafa Kemal Atat ur k

tecture. There is a museum housing a supe-

rior wax statue of Ataturk ; writings, letters

across the street from Ulus Square, is in

and items belongin g to Ataturk . as well as

what was originally the first parliament

an exhibition of photographs recording

building of the Republic of Turkey. There

imponant moment s in his life and in the

the \Var of Liberation was planned and

establishment of the Republic. (Arutkabir is

dir ected as recorded in various pho -

open everyday. and the museum every day

tographs and items on exhibition. In anoth-

except Mondays. During the sum mer, there

er display are wax figures of former presi-

is a light and sound show in the evenings) .

dents of the Republic of Turkey. (Open every day, except Monday). The Museu m of th e Republi c, close to the

MUSEUMS

Liberation War Museum, is housed in what

The Museum of Ana tolian Civilizatio ns the citadel entrance. An old

was the second parliament build ing of the

bedesten (covered bazaar) has been beauti-

Republi c. Th e exhib ition here records

fully restored and now houses a marvelou s

important events in the early republi can

is close

to

unique collection of Paleolithic,

penod . (Open every day, except Monday).

Neolithic, Hatn, Hittite, Phrygian , Uranian ,

Ataturk's House is on the grounds of the

and

and Roman wor ks and showpiece Lydian treasur es. (O pen

every

da y,

excep t

Pai nli ng and Scul ptu re MU"Oeum

Presidential Palace in Cankaya and was Ataturk's house after the founding of the

Monday. During the summer, the museum

Rep ublic. The hou se is much as it was in

ope ns e\'ery day).

Ataturk's day, and exhibits phot ographs

Th e Ethnograph y Museum is oppo site the

that

Opera House on Talat ra sa Boulevard.

Sundays and on religious and national hol-

reco rd important events. (O pen

There is a fine collection of folkloric arti-

idays, 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm).

facts as well as artifacts from Seljuk and

The Nat u ral Histo ry Muse u m can be

Otto man mosques. (Open every day ,

foun d on the ground s o f the MTA

except Monday).

(Mineral Res ear ch and

Th e Paint ing and Sculpt ure Muse um is

Instit ut e) on the Esktsehir road in Ankara.

Exp loration

close to the Ethnograph y Museum and

The displays record the evolut ionary devel-

houses a rich collecuon of Turkish an from

opment of the world . (O pen every day

the late 19th century to the present day.

except religious holidays).

There are also galleries for guest exhibi-

PTT Mus eum collections were begun

tions. (Open every day, except Monday).

between 1880 and 1888 by then Postal

Th e Liberation \Var Museum , diagonally

Director lzzet Efendi, The Museum in

Ahmdag was opened in 198 2. and cont ains

and technology of edu cation in Turk ey. It is

a postal displ ay. a telegraph and telephone

located in Ankara Gazi University, in the

display, and a stamp display. (Open week-

Besevler district. (O pen weekda ys).

days).

The To y Museum in Cebeci hou ses toys of

The T RT Mus eum (Turki sh Radio &;[ Tele-

all kinds made of wood . metal. porcelain .

vision Broadcastin g) has exhibits from the

paper , etc. (O pen Wedn esdays and Fridays

beginning of radio in Turk ey, including an-

from 10 am to 5 pm ).

tique phonographs and radios. It is located

METU Mus eum on the campus of Middle

in the TRT Genera l Directo rate building in

East Techni cal University has archeological

the Oran district. (O pen Mon .,\Ved ., Fri.,

arti facts and eth nogra phic displays. (Open

II am . 3 pm).

weekdays , 9:30 am to 3:30 pm) .

Mehm et Akif Ersoy Mus eu m . on the Ha-

T.C. l iraa t Museu m at the Ulus bra nch of

ceuepe Universi ty Centra l Campus, com-

the bank dis plays a rich collection of coins

memorates the famous national poet who .

and money in a bu ilding of architectural

in this house. wrote the text of th e Turki sh nation al anthe m. as well as songs of inde-

~I ol hu goddn, from ( atalho)it k. " u<,(:um of Analolian Civi li:a lion~. Ankara

beauty. (O pen weekda ys from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm)

pendence , and man y poems. (Ope n weekda ys from to am • 12 pm and 2 pm . 4

HISTORICALMONUMENTS

pm ) .

Anka ra Citadel: The foundations of the ci-

The Te DD O pe n-air Locom otive Muse-

tadel were laid by the Galatians on a promi -

um . near the railway station by Celal Bayar

nent lava out crop . and completed by the

Blvd.. shows the history of steam locomotio n

Romans . The Byzantines and Seljuks made

through the loco motives on disp lay. (Open

restorations and additio ns. The area around

weekday s).

and inside the citadel , being the oldest part

Th e Cartogra phy Mus eum. located in the

of Ankara , conta ins man y fine examples of

Hartta Gene l Komutanlt gt build ing in the

traditional archite cture. There are also

Cebeci quart er , has old and new maps .

lovely green areas in which to relax. It is well

(O pen Tues. and Thurs. from 9 am - 12 pm

known tha t th e Ankara region was the

and 2 pm · 5 pm ).

cradle of wine in Haui and Hiuite times

The Met eo rology Mus eum on Sanatoryu m Ave. in Kalaba, shows the histo ry of meteorology in Turk ey. (Ope n weekda ys). Th e Ed uca tion Museum follows the history

Cu h ie figurr from AJacahO)"uk, M u~u m o f Ana to lia n Chi li%a l io n ~. Anka ra

around 2000 B.C.. Many restored traditional Turki sh hou ses in the area of the citadel have found new life as restau rants. serving local and internati on al dishes and wine.

Roma n T hea tre: The remains, including

struggle for independence on the pan of

pro-scene (stage), and scene (backstage), can

Ataturk and the Turkis h peo ple in the Wa r of

be seen outside the citadel. Roman statues

liberation.

that were found here are exhibited in the

Monument to a Secure , Confiden t Future:

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The

This monument, in Gaven Park, was erected

audience area is still under excavat ion.

in 1935 and bears Ataturk's advice to his

Te mple of Augustus: The temple is in the

people: "Be proud, hard workmg, and believe

Ulus qu arte r of the city. It was bu ilt by the

in yourself. "

Galatian King Pylamenes in 10 A.D. as a

Victory Monumen t: Erected in 1927 in

trib ute to Augus tus, and was reconstructed

Zafer Square in the Sthhiye quarter, it shows

by the Roman s on the ancient Ankara Acro-

Ataliirk Museum

Ataturk in uniform .

polis in the 2nd century. It is impo rtant

Hal Ii Mon um ent : Erected in the 1970's in

today for the "Monument Ancyranu m," the

Sthhiye Square , this impressive mo nument

sole surviving "Political Testament" Augustus,

detailing

his

of

symbolizes the Hatu gods and commemorates

Anatolia's earliest known civilization.

achievements,

inscribed on its walls in Latin and Greek. In the fifth century the temple was convened

MOSQUES

into a church by the Byzantines.

Hacr Bayram Mosque: This mosque, in

Roman Bath: The bath, situated on Cankm

UIlIS, next to the Temple of Augustus. was

Avenue in Ulus, has all the typical features: a

built in the early 15th century in Seljuk style

jrigidarium (cold room) , lepidarium (coo l room ) and caldarium (hot room). They were

-and was subsequently restored by Sinan in

bu ilt in the time of Emperor Caracalla Ord

tlie 16th century, with Kutahya tiles being Koca tep e Mosqu e

adde d in the 18th century . The mosq ue was

century A.D.) in honour of Asclepias, th e

bu ilt in hono r of Hact Bayram Veli. whose

god o f medicine. Today on ly the basement

tomb is next to the mosq ue.

and first floors remain.

Aslan han e Mosque: This Seljuk mosq ue,

Co lumn of J ulian : This colu mn, in Ulus,

near the citadel, was bu ilt in the 13th

was erected in 362 A.D., probably to

century. The mosq ue has a mihrap (praye r

commemorate a visit by the Roman Emperor

niche showing the direction to Mecca) of

Julian the Apostate . It stands fifteen meters

Seljuk

high and has a typical leaf decoration on the

colonnade of wooden columns. Next to the

1927 in Ulus Square, it is a symbo l of the

and

an

unusual

double

mosque is the tomb of Ahi Serafeddin.

capital. Monument of th e Republic: Erected in

tiles,

Gil vt n

Park

Ahi Elvan Mosque: Found in the Ulus

quarte r near the Citadel, this mosque was

d en, Segmenler, Ana yasa, Kugulu. Abdi

built and finished d uring the late 14th and

Ip ek ct. Ga ve n. Dem etev ler , Ce mre ,

early 15th centuries . The finely carved

Kale, Am i, Kur tu lus (for ice skating) and

walnut mimbe r (pulp it) is of particu lar

Altm Par k (Fairgrou nd) .

interest.

Ataturk Orma n ( iftligi (AtatOrk Farm

Alaaddin Mosqu e: This mosque is inside

an d Zoo) is now within the growing city

the Citadel walls. It has a carved walnut

and is a pleasant place to spend a day.

mimber, the inscription on which shows

There is also a replica of the house where

that the mosque was built in the 12th

Ataturk was born in Salonica, an excellent

century by the Seljuk ruler, Mesut.

restaurant, and some cafes. Visitors can

Yeni (Cenab Ahme t) Mosqu e: This is the

sample such famous products of the farm

largest Ottoma n mosque in Ankara and

as its excellent beer, old-fashioned ice

was built by the famous architect Sinan in

cream, yogurt, milk, and meat rolls.

the 16th century. The mimber (pulpit) and mihrap (prayer niche) are of white marble,

GOLF

and the mosque itself is of Ankara stone

Erkeks u <;: iftligi has a 9-hole golf course

(red porphyry), an examp le of very fine

set in a lovely, peacefu l countryside

workmanship. Yeni Cami is on Ulucanlar

environme nt located 40 km west of Ankara

Avenue.

via Sincan.

Kocatepe Mosq ue: This is a rece ntly cons tructe d mosqu e of great size in

ARTSANO CULTURE

classical Otto ma n

four

Ankara is a center for opera, ballet, jazz

minarets. Built between 1967 and 1987 in

and modem dance, as well as home of the

d esign

with

the Kocatepequarter, its size and prominent situation have made it a landmark.

p restigious Pres id en ti al Symphony Orch estra

PARKS

Presid ent ial

Sym pho ny

Orchestra . Ankara also has a large number of theatres staging

many

ambit ious

productions. In addition to public and

Ankara has many delightful parks and

p rivate galleries througho ut the city,

open spaces established in the early years

exhibitio ns are also held at the Atatu rk

o f the Republic

Cultu ra l Cen ter. The city also has many

in acco rda nce with

Ataturk's belief in the importance of trees

cinemas

and natural beauty. The most impo rtant of

and

these parks are: Gem;lik Park (which also has

n umber o f film festiva ls on various

an amusement park), the Botanical Gar-

showing

the

bes t

Tu rkish

foreign films, and there are a

themes throughout the year, in particular

top of Atakule (125 meters) ther e is a

the Int ern ati on al Film Days in March.

magn ificent view over the whole city.

Every year in April and May the city hosts

There is also a revolving restaurant where

the Sevda Cena p And Int ern ati on al Arts

the complete panorama can be enjoyed in a

and Music Festival with performan ces by

more leisurely fashion. The Galleria, in

the finest Turkish and foreign musician s.

Umukoy and

The Child ren's Festiv al on April 23 is also

modem shoppin g opportunities.

Bilke nt Ce nte r are oth er

quite an event, with groups of child ren from all over the world taking pan. There

ENVIRONS OFANKARA

is also an Intern at ion al Ca rtoo n Film

Twent y-five kilometers to the south of

Fes tival and the ASian-Euro pean Arts

Ankara on the Konya road is Golbasr la ke ,

Biennial scheduled sometime in the spring

a popula r place to vi sit for its attractive

or summer. Altm Park is home to the

scenery and its fine lake side restaurants.

Ankara Fairground s where lovely fairs are

ln cek. 15 km southwest of Ankara, is a

held year-round.

favorite rest area for Ankara residents, wi th its lovely fruit trees, green areas and picnic sites. Another favorite place for picnics is

SHOPPING

Karago l Lake, 68 km north of the cuy on

Visitors to the city usually like to visit the

the airport road , for which one should take

old shops in Crknkcrlar Yokusu near

the tum off for the town of Cubuk.

Ulus. The street of copper workers (Bakrrcrlar

Carsrs r)

is

The three dams around the city, Cubuk

particularly

(15

popular, and many interesting old and new items, not ju st of copper, can be found

are also restau rants , and at Baymdrr. good camping facilitie s. Oth er darn s in the

fruits, nu ts , and all manne r of produce ; the

Ankara

selection is huge and very fresh. Modem Krzrlay, on Tunali llilmi Avenue, includ modem mall of Karum , and in

the Atak ule To wer in Cankaya. From the

Highway ),

visit for swimm ing and picnicking. There

hill to the citadel gate, you find many interestin g shops selling spices , dried

ing the

th e Cankm

Kmkkale Highway) are pleasant places to

antiques and embroi dery . Walking up the

in

on

Highway) and Baymd tr (15 km on the

here , such as jewelry, carpels, costumes,

sho pping areas are mo stly found

km

Ku r tboga zr (50 km on the Istanbul

pro vince

Kesikkopru , Alak u lc

include

H trfanli.

Sanye r,

Asart ep e.

and

Camhdere. Walkers will delight in exploring the thre e main forests around Ankara . South of the city, on the Krrsehtr Highway (54 km ). is

the Beynam For est , while to the north, on the Istanbul Highway (82 km). is the Krztl cah am am Sognks u National Par k and farther along in the same direction (110 km) is the Ca rnko ru Fo rest. All are delightful retreats from the clamor of the city. and each provides many lovely places for picnics. Elm adag Mountain ( 1,855 meters), some 23 kilometers east of Anka ra, can be seen from most pan s of the ci ty. The first snow fall on the mountain heralds the start of winter and the beginn ing of skiing, and other winter sports to be enjoyed at the pleasant resort center there .

THER\tAl SPAS In the province of Ankara there are six thermal centers: Krztlca hama m Kaphca 80 km to the north, lIayman a Kaphc a 72 km to the south, and A ya ~

to

the nort hwest are

Kaphca (57 km). Dutl u Kaphca (85

km) Meltk sah in Cubuk 00 km), and Mahkoy in Polath (80 km). All offer co mfortable facilities in wh ich to soak away your cares.

The ther mal bath s have

beneficial propert ies and are, of course, altogether pleasurable .

Ala ku lc Mall

WEST OF ANKARA statues for the worship of Cybcle in their

At Gavurkalcs i, 60 km from Ankara on the Haymana Highway near Derekoy. the

niches.

remains of an ope n-air Hittite temple , a

cave-like open ings, pierce the sand colored

tomb and two reliefs of Hittite gods can be

SLOne. An underground passage leads from

Throughout the area rock tombs ,

seen.

the site to the valley below .

The mos t important Phryg ian sites in

Aslanras and Aslanka ya were both centers

Anatolia are to be found in the provinces of

of cult worsh ip in Phrygian times. The

Ankara, Eskisehir and Afyon. Yassihcyu k

mer, 34 km north of Afyon, has two monu-

for-

(Gord ion). 105 km southwest of Ankara on

menta l lion reliefs; the latter , 52 km from

the Eskisehir highway, was the capital of

Afyon , comprises a temple and a lion relief.

Phrygia and the place where Alexander the

Other Phrygian monum ents can be exp lored

Great cut the Gordion Knot to gain the key

at nea rby

to Asia. The tumulus of King Midas, who

Deveboynu

Doganl ikale. Kumb c t and

turned whatever he touched to gold, can be

Eskise hir was founded by the Phrygians in

visited here.

the first millenniu m B.C. on the banks of the

Nearby, the remains of the

ancient city Gordion. st ill under excavation,

Porsuk River. Signi ficant archite ctural

and a small museum are worth a quick tou r.

mo numents

Farther along the same Ankara-Eskisehir

Alaeddin Mosque and th e 16th -century

road is Balhhisa r (Pessinus) , an impo rtant

Kursunlu Complex.

Phrygian religious cult center.

museums

The most

include

are

the

13th-centur y

All four of the city

worth

visit ing :

the

important remains are those of a temp le to

Archeological

Cybcle. the mother goddess whose wors hip

artifacts and scu lpture s from the area; the

Museum

has

Ph rygian

was at the heart of the Phrygian culture. The

Meerschau m Pipe Museum displays pipes

small open air museum has some interesting

and other meerschaum works: the Yesil Efendi Ottoman House Museum, a fine

sculptu res and tombstones. At Midas Ci ty (Yazth Kaya), between Afyon and Eskisehir, two enormous facades cut into a rocky promont o ry once held cult

Sphinx gal e Ala ca hoy a k, Co ru m

example of l cth-cemury domestic architecture , houses a collection of local ethnographia as well as fire places whe re meer schaum

is cured; and the Ataturk Culture Museum

as ever.

has a photographic exhibition taken from

held in the town every May. In addi tion ,

Commemorative celebrat ions are

Ataturk's life, a number of personal effects

visitors to his grave can see a small museum

and a display of items made of meersc haum .

ded icated to his life and works.

The world's best meerschaum comes from mines in the area surrounding Eskisehir.

NORTH OF ANKARA

Pipes and othe r objects can be purc hased in

The third-ce ntury B.C. Galatian settlement

the city souvenir shops . Sakaryabasr, a

of

spring-fed lake surrounded by beautiful

present day Ca nkm . 135 km from Ankara.

Ga ngre a

is

the

foundation

of

park land , draws many visitors who want to

The earliest eviden ces of civilization are

enjoy the fresh air and eat fresh fish in one

dated at about 3000 B.C. There are impo r-

of the restaurant s there .

tant

Sivrihisa r's charm derives from its many

provin ce, as well as artifacts from various

typical Otto man hous es which imbue the

civilizations in the Cankm Museum. The

tu mu li (bu rial mound s) in thi s

town with an air of bygone elegance. The

ruins of an 11th-century fortress overlook

13th -centu ry Ulu Mosq ue, forme rly a

the city . In town , the Ulu Mosque (Sultan

caravanserai, and the Alemsah Mausoleum

Suleyman).

are very interesting and worth a visit.

Turk ey's greatest architect , Sinan , recalls of Ottoman

In

1558 by

culture . Th e

Connoisseurs of car pets and kilims will

the

know that kilims from Stvnhis ar are partic-

Cavu ndur thermal spa has bathing and

ularly prized. Near Sivrihisar, in the village

drinking water beneficial for rheu matic and

Nas re ttin

inflammat ory

Hoca . the Nasrc u in Hoca

years

co mpleted

diseases. The water s

Museum has ethnographical displays as

now from the gro und at 54°C at a rate of 47

well as amu sing sto ries and pictures about

liters/second . Tas Mescit. or Cemaleddtn

the famous fabler.

Ferruh Darulhad isi. a medie val hospita l

On the hillside abo ve Seyy it Bat ta l Gaz i

bu ilt in 1242 , lies ju st out side the city.

stands the impo sing l Sth-cen tury mosque

North of Cankm is the beautiful Ilgaz

and lomb compl ex built in memory of the

Nati ona l Park and Ski Center. In the park,

"warrio r of Islam ," Seyyit Ban al.

Kadm Cay m is a

Yunus Emre Village (San key) is the bur ial

area with pools , green areas and cafes. Near

place of Yunus Em re, the great 13th

particu larly lovely rest

Eld ivan , 15 km southwest of Cankm , is

century poel. His poetry lives today , with

Nasrc tt in t toca ,

its message of love and hu manit y as relevant

Ak~hir

Bul bul pmarr, a picturesque rest area with lush greenery and picnic spots.

NORTHEAST AND EAST OF ANKARA Kmkkale is a rapidl y expand ing industrial

Pa rk , betw een Yozgat and the City of

cente r o n the major high way tha t leads east

Coru m. Impressive double walls running

out of Anka ra to the Black Sea. Passing by

past the Royal Gate, the Lion Gate and the

Kmkkale is the Krzrhrmak River , kno wn

Yer Kapi (an underground tunnel), ring the

in ancient times as Ha lys , wh ere you ca n

Hitt ite city of Hattusas. known toda y as

spe nd a pleasant aftern oon relaxing in on e

Bogazkale. The mo re than 70 templ es in

of the restaurants, set in the pastoral land -

the city mad e this the Hit tite religiou s

scape , or visit the restful C eI,,1 Bayar Par k.

center and gave it the name, "City o f

In Kmkkale . the Gun Museu m d isplays

Temples". The largest ruins arc those o f the

different types of gun s that are made in

great temple to the sto rm god Teshup. The

Kmkkale's gu n factorie s.

Acropolis co ntained government build ings,

After the highway divides, the eastern fork

th e Imperi al Palace and the archives of the

leads to Yor gat . 21 7 km from Ankara .

Hittite Empir e. In 1180 B.C. the Phryg ian s

Fou nd ed in the 18 th ce nt u ry b y th e

deva stated the city. After th or ough excava-

O tto mans , th is City has two important

tion s at the site, the City walls are now

buildings from this perio d - the Capanoglu

being exten sively restored. Ya ath ka ya , an ope n-a ir roc k pa ntheon

Mosque and the adjoini ng Sule yman Bey Mosqu e.

The 19th -century Nizarnogl u

Mansion , an at tractive example of d ome s-

Reli ef of ~od and king in lI a ll ll'ta'j, Coru m

d ating from the 13th cent ury B.C., cont ains fine reliefs o f all the Hittite gods and

tic Tur kish archi tectu re , no w hou ses

goddesse s.

et hnographical

Alac aboyuk . no rth of Bogazkal e on the

exhibits.

The

Yusuf

Karshoglu Mansion Archeological Museum

road to Coru m. was the ce nte r o f the nour-

has Hatti. Hittite , Ph rygian, Roman and

ishing Hatt ian culture 'during the Bronze

Byzant ine artifacts. Ca mh k Na tiona l Park

Age .

is a few kilom eters south of the city.

bronze obj ects in the Museum of Anatolian

All the major ea rly-Hittite sites lie in the

Civilization in Anka ra were foun d in the

provin ce of ( m u m in Bogazkal e Na tio na l

Royal Tom bs dat ing fro m t his pe riod. All

The magnifi cent Hatt ian go ld and

the stand ing

re main s at Alaca ho yok .

Set in a narrow gorge of th e Yes th rmak

how ever, such as the Sphinx Gate , date

(I ris ) Rive r , Amasya dates from the third

from the Hittite period. Impo rtant Hitt ite

ce ntury

settleme nts in th e pro vin ce of Co ru m

from th e craggy rock and co ntai n an

includ e Alisar and Masa th o yuk, as well as

Otto ma n Palace and a sec ret unde rgrou nd

B.c.

The ruins of the citade l rise

Sa pt nuva in the county of Ortakoy , which

passageway.

is

above the city, are impressive Rom an rock

situ ated in beautiful countrys ide alo ng

Hewn into the rock face

the Ce ke re k River. Sapin uva was the

tombs th at are illumin ated at night creating

seco nd most imponant Hittit e city in the

a spectacular image. The beau t)' of the nat ural surroundings and the sp lendid

kingdom. Betwee n the Abdullah and Kargr Plat eaus is the village of Hacthamza with interesting regional arc hitectu re.

Decora u ve ctiling in Mt rziron,

architectural legacy have combined to

Am .....)·a

endow the city with the accolade of one of

Co ru m , an important city on the road from

the most beautiful cities in Turkey. Among

centra l Anatolia to the Black Sea, produces

the sights of inte rest for visitors are the

the finest chickpeas in Tu rkey. Significant

13th -centu ry

histo rical bu ildings incl ude the 13th-

Mosqu e ,

cent ury Ulu Mosqu e and the 19th -century

Go km edrese Mosque, the l-i th-century

Seljuk

the

Bur mah

Torumtay

Minare

Tomb.

the

clock rower. The towe r, wh ich was bu ilt in

tlha nid Hospi tal with lovely reliefs around

the shape of a minaret, is 27.5 meters high ,

its portal , th e 15t h -cent ur y Beyazu I

5.3

mete rs in di am eter , and

Mosqu e co mplex and the un usual octago-

ha s an

eight-sided base and is ascended by mea ns

nal Kapr Age Medr ese.

of an

Tradi tio nal Turki sh wood en mansions, or

Bl-s tep circular staircase.

The small tow n of Merzifo n ,

ko nak s , on

49 km

mo num ent s, incl udi ng the 15th century Celebi Sultan Mehmet Med rese (theo logical college), th e 17th ce nt ury Kara Mustafa Pasa Mosq ue , and the 19th century clock tower. There are also sights wo n h seeing in Gnmushac rkoy. 22 km from Merzifon , including a 19th century bazaar , th e 15th century Haliliye Med rese , and l Sth and

19th century Yakup Pa$3, Darphane, and Maden mosques.

the no rth

ba n k of

th e

Yesthrrnak River in the Hatuniye q ua rter

north west of Amasya , has several Ot toman

(Yaltboyu), have been restor ed Ha eer anl ar Man ..lnn ,

Allla..ya

10

their

for mer splendor, and so me of these have been t urn ed int o gues t ho uses.

The

restor ed 19th-century Hazeranlar Kc nagi. one of the lo veliest, now ho uses an art galle ry

on

th e

first

floor

and

the

Ethnog raphy Museu m on the second. The Archeo logy Museum has an interesting collec tion of regional artifacts includ ing mum mies of the tlhanid Mongol rule rs of Am a sya.

Cafes,

restaurants, tea

gardens and parks line the riverside and

and baths. provides an excellent overview

provide tranquil spots from which to enjoy

of the city's architec ture . In the Gazi Emir

the city's romantic atmosphere. From the

(Yazrnacilar) Ham you can find many

top of Cakallar Hill you have a beautiful

specimens of block-primed cloth. a 300-

view of the city.

year-old tradition for which Tokat is

Excellent places for relaxing are located

famous. A tradition of carved and painted

near Amasya.

wood decoration and painted murals give

Set am id magnificent

mountain scenery. Bora bay Mountain Lake is one such popu lar place for day

the To kal cera mics

konaks

(mansions)

particular elegance . The

of Tokat

a

Icth-ceruury

trips. It is 63 km northeas t of Amasya at

Madrm agm

an elevation of 1,050 meters . Seven Swans

Lanfoglu Konak have been restored to their

Bird Heaven is a refuge for migratory birds

former sp lendor to give a vivid pictur e of

32 km from Amasya.

And Terztkoy

Konak

and

the

the good life in rural Turkey 100 years ago.

Thermal Spring . with hotel and motel

The Balhca Cave in Tokar. containing

facilities. is 36 km away.

many fossils, is also a must to see. It is 680

The whole province of Amasya is filled with

m long ....-ith five underground levels and

orcha rds which produce some of the

eight large rooms. The air in this cave filled

world's most delicious app les.

with stalactites and stalagmites is beneficial

Toka t, also on the Yesih rmak River. has

for sufferers of asthma.

many Seljuk and Otto man monuments

In 47 BC, the Romans conquere d the four .

whic h lend a picturesque yet so lemn aesthetic lO the cityscape. Among the main

Il i"lori cal ho u..c!o

cities of Komana. Zela (Zile). Neccaesarea (Niksar), and Sebasta polis (Suiusa ray)

historical buildin gs are the ruins of a

which were includ ed in the province of

28 lower castle. the 11th-century Garipler Mosque and a Seljuk bridge. The

Celalin

Pontus in the first century AD.

13th-

centu ry Per vane Bey Daru ssifast (G6k

Niks a r, 69 kilometers northeast of Tokar.

Medrese). one of Tokat's finest building s, is

was once the capital of the Damsmend

now the Archeology Museum . A regional

Emirs.

commercia l center. Tokat has retained

citadel as well as early Tur kish monu ments,

The town has a well-preserved

many of its old comme rcial warehouses.

including the (6regi BOyOk Mosque, which

including the Tushan. Suluhan . Yagcroglu

boasts a very fi.ne 12th-cent ury carved

Ham and Gazi Emir (Yazmactlar) Ham. A

stone portal. lt was in l ile, south of Amasya and west of Tokat that Julius

walk do w-n Sulu Sokak in the cit}' center. a street lined with inns. mauso leums. bazaars

Tas ba n (Vop 'oda ha n) . Toka t

Caesar , after a particularly speedy ba ttle .

qua ffed a cup of Tokat's fine local wine,

Mansion Museum is now an ethnographic

and declared his famous "Veni, vidi , vici."

museum . In town, there are excellent Sivas

Beneath the citadel which guards the city

carpets for sale; the City has long had a

stands the restored Ulu Mosque of 1269.

repu tatio n for fine weaving. And in

Sivas , an impo rtant commercial center

Sivria lan Village, the Astk Veysel Museum

durin g the Middle Ages, stood at the

commemorates the famous Tur kish poet

junction of the caravan rou tes to Persia and

(1884-1973) who was born here and who

Baghdad. Between 1142 and 1171 it was

Gokmedrese , Sivas

lived and died here.

the capital of the Danismend Emirs and a

Kanga l, 68 km sout h of Sivas, is the home

vitally im portant ur ban center duri ng

of Turkey's most famous breed of dog . the

Seljuk rule. The remaining architectural

kangal Cdog of the Galatians," which came

formerly promi-

with them in the 3rd century B.C). Used as

nent position. The Ulu Mosque dates from

sheep dogs, these golden-haired animals

monumen ts reflect this

. the Danismen d Emirate. buildi ngs

include

the

have also proven themselves in police and

The Seljuk

security

13th -centur y

work.

Twelve

kilomete rs

lzzedd in Keykavus Sifahanesi, which was a

northeas t of Kangal is the famous Bah kh

hospital and a medical

Kaphca spa.

schoo l, the

At 36 degrees Celsius the

waters contain bicarbona te. calcium, and

beautifully decorated G6k Medrese, the twin minarets of the Cifte Minare Medrese

magnesium, and spring from the earth

and the Buruciye Medrese all of which

accompan ied by scores of tiny fish that are

reflect the aesthetic of the Seljuk period.

said to aid in the cure of skin complaints.

In 1919, the decision to liberate Turkey

In the province of Sivas are the famous spas

from occupyi ng foreign powers was made

of Steak Cerm ik (warm spring) and Soguk

by the National Congress which was

Ce rmik (cold spring).

convened in Sivas. Today, the Icth-cemu -

Once a Byzantine outpos t, Divrigi became

ry building where the congress was held

the capital of the Turkish MengOcek Emirs

has been restored as the Ataturk and

in the l Zth and l J rh cent uries. Although

Congress Museum, with a display from the

very much off the beaten track, visitors

War

come

of

Liberation

eth nographic exhibit.

as

well

as

an

In the Buruciye

lO

Divrigi to see the Ulu Mosque and

Med rese of 122 9.

Selju k stonework

Medrese, the Museum of Archeology and

reached its most exuberant exp ression in

Stonewor ks displays finds from local digs

the animal and flower

as well as Islamic tombsto nes decorate d

portals. UNESCO has declared this site

with reliefs.

The lcrh-ceruury Akaylar

Sivas Kanga l Dog

carvings on the

one of the world's leading cultural heritages.

SOUTHEAST OF ANKARA Founded in ancient

times,

lished his Bektas Sufi order in the 14th

Ku-se h ir

became, in the Middle Ages, the center of

century.

the Ahi Brother hood , a Moslem sect

followed princip les of love and hu manism

The whirling dervishes who

whose moral and social tenets played an

were housed in the monastery which

important role in the spiritual and

includes a mausoleum and mosque . The

political life of Anatolian towns. Among

complex is now a museum open to the

Ktrsehir's many fine Seljuk buildings arc

public.

the Cacabey Mosque of 1272 (a former

plentiful in the region, were used by

astrological observatory) . the Alaeddin

disciples of this order and are known as Hacrbektas stone. In town, there are many

Mosque of 1230, and the Ahi Evran Mosque , near the tomb of the foun der of

Honey and rose-colored onyx,

Ca ca bey Mo..qu c,

Klr~hir

exquisite onyx souvenirs for sale. It is also

the Ahi sect. Out of town , on the road

worth stopping to take in the interesting

toward Kayseri. is the attractive A$lk Pa$3

Archeology and Ethnography Museum. evsehir, a provincial capital, is the

Mausoleum which was built during the period of Mongol rule. in 1333. Kirsehir Archeology

gateway to Cap pado cia. In the town itself,

The

are the hilltop Seljuk castle, perched on

Museum houses

the highest point in the City, and the

objects mostly from Kalehoyuk . at

Kursunlu Mosque, built for the Grand

Kalehoyuk. in Kaman coun ty, in the

Vizier Damar Ibrahim Pasha. The mosque

province of Krrsehir is still being excavated.

is part of a complex of bu ildings which

A major

archeological

center

Near Kalehoyuk in a center of what were

includes a medrese (theological college), a

Ham and Hunte settlements , is located

hospice and a library .

one of the largest parks in Turkey, the

fountain in the courtyard still bears its

Mikaso nmiya Am

original

Bahces t

which

Nevsehir

Violent eru ptions of the volcanoes Mt.

The road to Nevsehir and Cappadocia where HaC! Bek tas Vcli settled and estab-

The

Museum disp lays local ani facts.

contains 16,500 trees of 33 differentspecies. passes through Hactbcktas, the town

inscription.

An ablution

Ca ppad oct a

Erciyes (3,9 16 meters) and Ml. Hasan (3,2 68 meters) long ago covered the

of wine to their customers and engaging in

plateau surround ing Nevsebir with tufa, a sof stone comprised of lava, ash and mud .

friendly conversation.

The wind and rain have eroded this brtule

shopping haven't exhausted you, the disco

If sightseeing and

rock and created a spectacular surrealistic

welcomes you to yet another kind of

landscape of rock cones, capped pinnacles

entertainment. At the center of a successful

and fretted ravines, in colors that range

wine-produc ing region , Urgup hosts an

from warm reds and golds to cool greens

an nua l International \Vine Festival in

and greys.

October.

l ocals call these fascinating

capped pinnacles "peri bacalan" or "fairy chim neys."

Leaving Orgap and heading south, you

G6 re me Natio nal Pa rk,

known in Roman times as Cappadocia. is

reach the lovely isolated Pancarhk Valley

one of those rare regions in the world

where you can stop to see the l Zth-centu-

where the wor ks of man blend unobtru-

I)'

church with its splendid frescoes, and

.sively into the natural sur round ings. Dwellings have been hewn from the rocks

the Kepez church, which dates from the

as far back as 4,000 B.C. During Byzantine

village of Mustafapasa (Stnas os) . where

l Oth century. Continue on to the typical

times, cha pels and monasteries were

traditional stone houses with carved and

hollowed out of the rock, their ochre-toned

decorated facades evoke a former age.

frescoes reflectin g the

hues of the

Travel on in a southerly direction , just past

surrounding landscape. Even today cave

the village of Cemil. where a footpath on

dwellings in rock cones and village houses

the west side of the road leads to Keshk

of volcanic tufa merge harmoniously into

Valley where you will find a monastery

the landscape.

complex and the Kara and Meyvah Kiltseler (churches), both decorated with frescoes.

Urgup. a lively tourist center at the fOOLof

Back on the main road you find the village

a rock ridge riddled with old dwellings,

of Tas km pasa where the 14th-century

serves as an excellent base from which to

O rta h tsa r , Nevs ehi r

Karamanid

Mosque

and

Mausoleum

tour the sights of Cappadocia. In Urgup

Complex, and the remains of a rnedrese

itself you can still see how people once

pona l on the edge of town make for a

lived in homes cut into the rock. If you

pleasant diversion . The next village is

wi sh to buy carpets and kilims, there is a

Sahine fend i where the

wide selection available from the town's

Krrksehitler church, adorne d with beautiful

l Zth-century

many carpet dealers, who are as colorful as

frescoes, stands at the end of a footpath

their carpets, offering tea, coffee or a glass

500 meters east of the village.

Sogan h va lley. 50 km south o f Urgup. is

of a valley o f cones and fairy chimneys.

pictu resque with its innu merable chape ls,

Some

churches, halls, houses and tombs.

guest -houses are carved into the rock. For

The

frescoes, from the 8th to the 13th centuries,

of

the

ca fes,

resta urants

and

shoppers, rugs and kilirns are plentiful.

trace the development of Byzantine painting.

Continui ng on the road out of Goreme. you

Four kilometers north of Urgup is the

ente r one of the most beautiful valleys in the

wonderful Devr en t Vall ey, whe re the

area. Rock form ations rise up before you at

weathe r has eroded the stone into peaks ,

every tum and entice you to stop and

cones and obelisks called fairy chimneys.

won der at their creation. For those who

Two kilometers west, in the Catalkaya

climb the steps to the LOp of the Uchisar

Valley , the fairy chimneys have a peculiar

fortress the wh ole region un folds below.

mu sh room -like shape, wh ich ha s been

Rugs, kilims, and popula r souvenirs can

adop ted as a symbol of the town.

easily be pur chased from the sho ps wh ich

The Go reme O pen-Air Mus eum , a mon as-

line Uchisar's narrow streets.

tic complex of rock churc hes and chapels

At Cavu sin, on the road lead ing nort h ou t of

o f the

Ccre me. you \\-111 fmd a mple-apse church

best-known sites in central Turkey. Most of

and the mo nastery of S1.John the Baptist. In

covered with

frescoes,

is one

the chapels date from the 10th to the 13th

the town are chapels and churches, and

centuries (the Byzantine and Seljuk periods)

some of the rock houses are still inhabited.

and many of them are built on an inscribed

From Cavust n to Zelve . fairy chimneys line

cross-plan with a central cupo la supported

the road . Unfortunate ly, it is dan gerous tl;

by four colu mns.

visit the churc hes in the Zelve valley because

In the nort h an nexes o f

several churches are cut-rock tom bs. Among

erosion has un dermin ed the floors.

the most famous of the Gn reme ch urches are

The charming town of Avanos . on the banks

the Elmah Churc h, the smallest and most

of the Krzihrm ak River, d isplays attractive

recent of the group; the Yrlanh Churc h with fascinating frescoes of the da mned entwi ned

local archite ctu re and is known for its Cappa doda

handi crafts. Every Augus t the town hosts an

in serpent coils; the Barbara Church; and the

Art and Tou rism Festival where a creative

(.ankh Church. A short way from the main

and friendly atmosphere pervades.

group, the Tokah Kilise, or Buckle Churc h,

Pottery is the mos t pop ular hand icraft and it

has beautiful frescoes depicting scenes from

is us ually poss ible to try your hand at

the New Testament.

making a pol in one of the many studios. Rug

The town of Gorerne is set right in the middle

weavi ng and knotting is also making a

come-back. Leaving Avanos in a sout herly

chapels.

direc tion you come to an interesting Seljuk

West of Cappadocia, over the mountains, lies

caravanserai, Sanhan .

Kayseri , known as Caesa rea in Roman

On the Nevsehtr - Urgup road you can't

times. The city spreads out at the fOOL of the

miss O rta hi sa r and

extinct volcano, Mt. Erciyes (3,9 16 meters).

its carved-rock

fon ress. The churches in the Balkan

In the winter months the ski center has

Vall ey are some of the oldest in the

excellent runs for downhill skiers, and

Goreme region . In the neighboring Hallac

several pleasant hotels that cater particularly

Vall ey, th e Halla c Mona st ery displays

to them. Close to the Byzantine fortress, the

decoration s from the 10th and the 11th

I3th-cemury Huand Hatun Mosque and

centu ries.

Medrese,

North

of

O n ahisar,

the

with

the

Mah peri

Hatun

Kmlcukur Vall ey is breathtak ingly beauti-

Mausoleum . comprise the Huand Hatun

ful, especially at sunse t. In the valley is the

Complex, the first Seljuk complex in

9th-eentu ry Uzumlu church.

Anatolia.

The und erground cities of Kaymakh , Man ,

Ethnography

Derinkuyu, Tatlarin , and Ozkonak were all

complex, stands the beautifully decorated

The

Medrese Museum.

is South

now

an

of the

used by Christians of the seventh century,

Doner Kamber of 1276, a Seljuk mausoleum

who were fleeing from persecution. They

of classic Simplicity. A major Seljuk city,

sheltered from the iconoclastic ' strife of

Kayseri was an important center of learning

Byzantium as well as other invasions in these

and consequently, there are many medreses

safeand well-hidden complexes. These cities were a complete and self-sufficient environment, including rooms for grain storage,

among the remaining historical buildings. Ka ra n h k Ch u rc h , Coreme Na tfona l I' a rk

Those interested in the Seljuk architecture should see the Cifte (Gryastye and Sffahtye)

stables, sleeping chambers, kitchens and air

Medrese, the first Seljuk school of anatomy,

shafts.

which is now the Gevher Nestbe Medical

essentia l

Today they are well-lit, and an and

fascinating

part

of

a

History Museum . Nearby is the lovely

Cappadocian tour.

Sahabiye Medrese. Near the city's bedesten

West of Avanos, Gulsehtr has Hittite rock

(covered bazaar) is the restored l Zth-century

inscriptions, and nearby, at Gokce te pe .

Ulu Mosque. The Haci Kihc Mosque, north

there is a bas-relief of Zeus. South on the

of the Ctfte Medrese, dates from 1249. In the

Nevsehtr road is the 13th-eemu ry church

0 :'

Cumhuriyet quarter, the lc th-ceruury Resit

St. John , and farther along is Aciksa ray.

A~

where the carved rocks hide churches and

which displays Ataturk's personal belongings.

Mansion houses the Ataturk Museum

Across from the Atatur k Museu m, the

shops.

historical Gupgupoglu Mansion is now an

Nigde . Nahita of Hittite times, lies in a

Ethnography Museum.

valley flanked by volcanic peaks command-

South of Kayseri, in Develi. stand three more

ing the ancient trade route from Anatolia to

important Seljuk buildings: the Ulu Mosque,

the Mediterranean. Ntgde's castle owes its

the Seyid-i Senf Tomb and the Develi Tomb.

present form to the Seljuks, and the elegant

The nearby Sultan Mars hes are the habitat

Alaeddi n Mosque dates from the same

of many bird species, of interest both to

period .

ornithologists and nature lovers.

Mongol rule are the Sungur Bey Mosque and

From the 14th cent ury era of

North of Kayseri, Kultep e. known in ancient

the Hudavend Haw n Mausoleum , an

times as Kanes h or Karum , was one of the

exce llent

" earliest Hittite com mercial cities. Dating from 2000 B.C., Kuhepe was also one of the

the

Anatolia n

Ten kilometers out of to wn is Eskign mus , a

however, only the fou nd ation s remain .

Byzantin e monastery and church wit h

Many of the finds can be examined in the

massive columns and frescoes.

Kayseri Archeological Museum . road

of

now houses the Archeology Museum.

world's first cities of free trade. Today,

On the same

exam ple

tower-tomb. The l Sth-centu ry Ak Medrese

These

frescoes, dating from the l Othand the l It h

is Sultanha n , a

centuries, are among the best-preserved in

caravansera i built by the Seljuk Sultan

the region .

Alaeddin Keykubat in the early 13th century

Bor, south of Nigde, was once a Hittite .

and a favorite stop for tou rists.

settlement. The town's historical buildings

Kapuzbasr waterfall is 76 km south of

include the Seljuk Alaedd in Mosque and the

Kayseri. In this beautiful natural site, seven

Ottoman bedesten. Farther on, in the same

different springs on the mountain face fall

direction, Kemer his ar is the site of the

from heights ranging between 30 and 70 meters.

importa nt Roman City of Tyan a

Kayseri is one of the most importan t carpet

mo re kilometers brin gs you to some Hittite

A few

and kilim production centers in Anatolia.

ruin s and a Roman aqued uct. The beautiful

Bunyan is the most famous carpet produc-

Alada glar (Ala Mountains ) Na tional Park,

tion center and Yah yah is the most famous

perfect for moun tain climbing, trekk ing and

kilim productio n center.

relaxation, is 50 km sout heast of Nigde.

Rugs woven in

patterns continue a

One of the highest peaks is Demi rka zrk

centuries-old tradition. Local prod uctions

(3756 01). The best place to start your

finely knotted

n o~l

can be purchased in any of the Kaysericarpet

Akmedrese, NiAde

excursion in the park is Cukur bag .

Most of the historical buildi ngs in Aksaray ,

Ala mounta in ..,

N i~d e

Sumbu llu (Hyacinth) Church.

such as the Ulu Mosque, date from the 14th

Guzelyurt is anot her valley with dwellings

century. The Kizrl Minaret is noted for its

dating from prehistoric times. You can see

attractive decorative brickwork.

the beautiful silhouette of Me Hasa n rising

Two of the most famous caravanserais from

like a crown above the town. The valley's

the Scljuk period are in the area: 40 km west

unde rground cities, buildings carved into the

of the city is the well preserved Sultanha n

rock , interesting architecture , churc hes,

Caravanserai built by the Seljuk Sultan

chapels and mosques

Alaeddin Keykubat, and 15 km towards

cha racteristics of Cappadocia and give

embody all of the

Nevsehir is the A ~zlkarahan Caravanserai.

visitors a sense of historical cont inuity .

The Melen di z River, at Ihlara Valley , has

Guzelyurt is a popu lar tourist destination

eroded the banks into an impressive canyon.

with hospitable residents, extensive accom-

Byzantine rock chapels covered with frescoes

modations

pierce the canyon walls. Some of the best

ensuring a pleasant stay. The rest area of

kncwn are the Agacalu (Daniel) Church, the

Evr en by the Hirfan h Dam lake offers fish

Ytlanh (Apocalypse) Church and

restaurants, a beach and swimming.

the

and

numerous

restaurants

SOUTH OF ANKARA Konya , one of Tur key's oldest continuously

Palace. The Karatay Med rese, now a

inhabited cities was known as Iconiu m in

museum , displays bold and striking Seljuk

Roman times.

ceramics. On the other side of the mosque ,

The capital of the Seljuk

Turks from the 12th to the 13th centuries,

the Ince

it ranks as one of the great cultura l centers

remarkable for its marvelous baro que

of Turkey. During that period of cultural,

Seljuk portal. Other Seljuk works include

Minareli Medrese of 1258 is

political and religious growt h, the mystic

the Strcah Medr ese and the Sahip Ata

Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi founded a Sufi

Com plex.

Order known in the West as the Wh irling

Archeological Museum of exce ptional

Dervishes.

The striking green- tiled Attached

to

Kon ya's

Museum is a varied one, from natural

the

history to old kilims. Within the museum

mausoleum , the former dervish seminary

com plex, the resto red Izzeu in Koyunoglu

serves now as a museum housing manu-

house illustrates the way of life of a

scripts of Mevlana's works and various

prosperous Konya family in the last century . .

artifacts related to the mysticism of the sect.

Sille, 10 km nonh of Konya, has the

Every year, in the first half of December ,

Byzantine Aya Eleni church and several

this still-active religious order holds a

rock chapels with frescoes. Akse hi r, to the

ceremony comrnemoraung the Whirling Dervishes.

find

interest. The collection of the Koyun oglu

mausoleum of Mevlana is Konya's most famous building.

Visitors

northwest, is known throug hout Turkey as

The cont rolled , trance-like

birthplace

of

the

13th- century

turn ing or serna of the white-robed men

the

creates a fascinating performan ce for the

hum orist

viewer.

mauso leum stand s in the town . The 13th-

Alaeddin Mosque was built on the site of

century Ulu Mosque and the Altmkale

Nasrettin

Hoca,

whose

the ancient Konya citadel in 1220 , during

Mescidi are other monument s worth

the reign of the great Selj uk sultan

seeing. The Sahip Ata Mauso leum has been conven ed into the town's museum.

Alaeddin Keykubat and commands the Konya skyline. To one side of the mosque are the remains of the Seljuk Imperial

Mevla na Mu..eum, Kon ya

On the way south to Beysehi r stop at Efla tun Pilla r next to the lake

to

see this

unusual Hittite monu mental fou ntain.

the largest counties in the province of

Several interesting Seljuk buildings are

Konya, are yellow cherry trees. The Ereglt

scattered around lovely Beysehir. on the

Archeological Museum displays

shores of Lake Bcyseh fr, Turkey's third

Hittite, Rom an , Byzant ine and Seljuk

largest lake. In the southwestern region of

artifacts.

many

the lake is the pristine wilderness of Lake

At lvrt a, a Hittite site 168 km east of Konya

Beysehir National Park.

and 18 km south of Eregli. you can see one

Among the

monuments are the Esrefoglu Mosque and

of Turkey's finest neo-Hitrite reliefsof a king

Medrese, and the Kubad -Abad Summe r

and god of bountiful crops.

Palace across the lake. Another medieval

Karaman was once the capital of the

palace stands

Karamanid Emirate, the firstTur kish state to

on

Krakalest

Is land ,

oppos ite the Kubad -Abad Palace. Hacr

use Turkish instead of Persian as its official

Akif Island also offers relaxation and

language. Fittingly, Yunus Emre. the first

recreanon to visitors.

great poet to write in Turkish, lived here in

Catalh oyuk. 45 km south of Konya. is a

the 13th century. The surrounding fortresses

fascinating Neolithic site dating from the

date from Seljuk times, although the town's

eighth millennium B.C., which makes it

Yunus Emre and Aktekke Mosques and the

Archeologists have determ ined that holes

Hatuniye Medrese, were all built during the

of

the

world IS

oldest

most significant buildings, the Araboglu,

towns.

one

in the roofs of the mud houses were the

Karamanid reign.

entrance doors. The Museum of Anatolian

The Region of 100 1 Chu rche s, the '

Civilizations in Ankara houses the famous

Karaman region, 150 kilometers from

temp le

(recons tructed) ,

along

with

Konya is a largely undiscovered. mystical

mother-goddess figures and Neolithic

land of gently rolling hills and valleys,

frescoes from the original site.

towering mountains, with monasteries,

Surrounding Karap rnat . 96 km east of

churches and chapel complexes.

Kenya. are numero us crater lakes; the most

paradise for photographers, walkers, nature-

famous is the lovely Meke Crater Lake, 7

lovers and explorers. The Hittites settled in

It is a

km southeast of Karapmar. On the north

this region where many of their remains,

side of the road to Eregh . 8 km from

including inscriptions have been discovered.

Karapmar, lies ACl Crater Lake. In the

One of the highest mountains in this region,

center of the lake is an island which is a

Mt . Kara dag (2288 meters), is locally called

natural wonder. Surrou nding Eregli. one of

Mah alac: its ancie nt name was Angel

Michael. On top of the mountain, Hittites

Rcli crs in Ivri z, Kon ya

Valley , are the remains of the fascinating

constructed a temple; the altar of which still

historical city of Manaza n . Built du ring

remains.

Byzantine times, the entire city of narrow

There are also the -hh-cem ury

remains of a monastery. churc h and a chape l

lanes, houses, squares, storage facilities,

complex; called the Angel Michael Complex.

chapels and cemeteries (occupying an area

There is also a beautiful view here.

approximately th ree kilometers long and five

Visitors can still see the remains of churches

stories high) was carved into the rocky

and chapels at Maden sehi r, 45 km from

hillside of the valley. Today, parts of the City

Karaman. on the no rthern slope of Mt.

are still used for storing wheal.

Karadag. Derbe , 30 km north of Kamman, was an

South of Karaman up a steep narrow road are

important early Christian site; one of the

monastery, Alahan . Much is still standing,

many where S1.Paul preached the gospel.

and there is some fine stone caning to

Near Taskal e , 48 km east of Kamman, on

admire. This magnificent location offers a

the rocky northe rn slope of Yestld er e

breatht aking view.

the remains

of a beaut iful Byzan tine

TOURIST IN I.'ORM AT IUN

orncrs

NF.V~F.IIIR

- (Prov inc ial Directorate) Ata tiirk Bulvan No:1 4.

Dcvtct Hastancsi Onii AK SARAY

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T O KAT

- Valilik Binasr, Kat.J

URG UP

- Park [ci

YO ZG AT

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l:;ANK I RI

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l:;O RU:\1

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REPUBLI C OF TURK EY M INISTRY OF TOURISM Gene ra l Direc tor at e o f Info nn atio nO Fro nt Cover : Cappadocia, N EVS EH IR Phot os : Ministry o f Tourism and Ap a Arc hives, Biinyad Din e, Nccmi Erol, Tancri Scrpcnguzcl. Muharrem Simsck. Murat Tan. Ibrahim Zama n, Yavuz Mcyvc ci , Sabit Kalfagil, Mchm cr Tcktas. Mura t Ocal, Fatih Mudcrrisogl u. Zeyncl Ycsilay, Il asan Basri Ozsu , Scms i Guncr • . Erdal Yazrcr, Murat Sola koglu, Ara GUlcr, Faruk Akbas, Yusuf Tuvi, Ncc menin Ktlllahcr. lzzet Keribar, Ahmet Kuz ik, Musta fa Ttlrkyrlmaz

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• TermeCad.• Utucan 1 Ap.No: 1

KO;"llYA

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