|
|
| Central
Anatolia |
|
| This
central region of the country hosts a number of interesting sites.
Currently the center of modern Turkey's political life, it has been
the center of a number of important culture and civilizations in
the past.
The cities located
in this region are Ankara, Çankırı, Eskişehir, Kayseri, Kırşehir,
Konya, Nevşehir, Niğde, Sivas, Yozgat, Aksaray, Karaman and Kırıkkale.
The capital city of Ankara is located squarely in the middle of
Central Anatolia. The most visually impressive structure in the
city is the Anitkabir mausoleum built for Ataturk. |
 |
Ataturk
founded the modern Republic of Turkey by winning the War for
Independence and then made Ankara its capital. Ankara is a
city planned and developed for the modern world. The Museum
of Anatolian Civilizations located in Ankara is among the
best museums in the country. In the museum are exhibits from
Anatolian civilizations starting from 50,000 BC and moving
forward according to eras until the 2nd century AD. In the
area surrounding Ankara can be found important settlements
of early Anatolian civilizations. The Hittites migrated to
the Anatolian plateau from the Caucus Mountains and set up
the first kingdom in history to encompass the whole of Anatolia
from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and from the Aegean
Sea stretching east. The capital of the Hittite Empire Hattushash
(now Bogazkale) and the second largest city Shapinuva are
both located northeast of Ankara in the province of Çorum.
|
|
| Hattushash
with its massive walls was a city of temples. Reliefs of all of
the gods and goddesses of the Hittites can be seen in the open air
temple in Yazilikaya near the Hattushash. Yazılıkaya was an important
pantheon of the Hittites. Alacahoyuk is another important Hittite
settlement found near Hattushash. Alacahöyük is known for the sphinxes
which can be seen at the city gates. |
| Sometime
in the 1200's BC, the Phrygians came to the Anatolian Plateau
from Europe. The Phrygian capital, Gordion, was established
near Polatli west of Ankara. Alexander the Great is supposed
to have become the ruler of Asia by virtue of 'undoing' Gordion's
knot with his sword. The tomb of the Phrygian king Midas,
who according to legend turned everything he touched into
gold, is located near Gordion. Near Eskişehir and Afyon there
are a number of Phrygian cities and worship centers. |
 |
|
Now let's head down to vast fertile Konya Plain on the northern
slopes of the Taurus Mountains. Catalhöyük, one of the worlds
oldest cities is located here. This city, located southeast
of Konya, belongs to the Neolithic Era and was an important
cultural center with many temples decorated with frescoes
by city artisans. |
|
|
Konya and the surrounding regions would later be ruled during
the Chalcolithic, Bronze, Hittite, Phrygian, Persian, Hellenistic,
Roman and Byzantine eras. It became the capital city of the
Selçuk in the 12th century AD and consequently experienced
the most important "Renaissance" period of its long
history. In the 13th century, Konya was completely redecorated
with Selçuk architecture. |
 |
|
|
The great Turkish philosopher Mevlana, who built his philosophy
on human love and believed that mystical unity with God could be
reached by means of the 'Sema', a whirling dance to music performed
by the dervishes, lived in Konya and developed a following here.
Every year in the month of December, there is a 'Mevlana Week' in
Konya, which includes performances of the 'Sema'. Mevlana is buried
with his father Bahaeddin Veled in the Green Tomb (Yesil Turbe),
which has become the city symbol. The Dervish Lodge and Mevlana
Museum adjacent to the tomb are open to the public. |
| To
the southwest of Konya is Beysehir Lake, a still undiscovered paradise
full of natural beauty. To the southwest of the lake, Kubad Abad,
the summer home of the Selçuk rulers, and the castle found on Kızkalesi
Island are both sites worth visiting. The Esrefoğlu Mosque and Tomb,
located in Beysehir, have an important place among the timber architectural
structures of the Selçuk period. |
| As
you leave Konya and head towards Aksehir you will probably
notice that there is a smile playing at the corners of your
mouth. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that you are approaching
the home of Nasreddin Hoca, the famous folk philosopher and
master comedian (13th c.), whose brilliant wit, quick retorts
and stories with ever so subtle moral points have attracted
audiences far beyond the borders of Turkey. This much-loved
folk figure died in 1284 and his tomb in Aksehir is the city's
most symbolic structure. |
|
| As
you travel through the region of Eskişehir, your lips will
undoubtedly be reciting lines from the poetry of Yunus Emre.
This eminent pioneer of Turkish poetry used the language,
idioms and concepts of the ordinary man in such an unpretentious
fashion to convey such meaningful ideas regarding divine justice,
love and friendship that to not visiting his grave, located
in the village bearing his name (Yunus Emre Köyü), would be
a huge loss. |
 |
|
|
| Ankara |
|
|
| |
| This
structure, which was complete in 1953 is a synthesis of antique
and modern architectural themes and proves the elegance and strength
of Turkish architecture. |
| The
oldest parts of the city surround the Castle. The Alaaddin Mosque
found inside its walls is still one of the best examples of Selçuk
art and wood craftsmanship, in spite of the fact that it was restored
by the Ottomans. The area has experienced a rejuvenation with the
restoration of many interesting old Turkish houses and the opening
a several art galleries and fine restaurants which feature examples
of traditional Turkish cuisine. Near the gate of the castle is the
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which is a beautifully restored
portion of the old bazaar. It contains priceless artifacts belonging
to the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras as well as the Hatti, Hittite,
Phrygian, Urartu and Roman civilizations.Ankara has a vibrant cultural
and artistic life with many select ballet, theater, opera and folk
dances performances. The city's Philharmonic Orchestra, which always
plays to a packed house is especially famous. |
|
| Anıtkabir |
|
|
| Located
in an imposing position in the anittepe quarter of the city the
mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic. Completed
in an imposing position in the Anittepe quarter of the city stands
the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic.
Completed in 1953, it is an impressive fusion of ancient and modern
architectural ideas and remains unsurpassed as an accomplishment
of modern Turkish architecture. The main entrance is aşong the lion
road lined with 24 hittite carved stone lions and a series of statues,
which symbolize The Turkish Nation. |
 |
|
|
Anatolian Civilizations Museum |
| The
museum of Anatolian Civilization is one of the most beautiful
and richest museum in the world with regard to it's exhibits.
The museum is housed in a charming building, a restored covered
market dating from 15th century. The exhibits are arranged
chronologically; paleolithic, neolithic, early bronze, assyrian
colonies, hittite, phrygian, urartian and later periods until
today. The highlight is an exhibit of finds from the catalhoyuk
site, often described as the earliest kknown human community
in the world. |
 |
|
|
|
Konya |
|
 |
Konya
is one of the first centers of population in the history of
humankind. and it owns the traces of many ancient civilizations.
Because of these characteristics, Konya has the specialty
of a "museum - city". Konya is also famous for the
Islamic Elders lived here, besides its innumerable historical,
cultural and natural values. During the old times, Konya took
place on the most important and main roads. It used to be
one of the most important trade and billeting centers of the
Silk Road. |
 |
|
|
|
Cappadocian |
|
 |
Cappadocian region is the place where nature and history come together
most beautifully within the world. While geographic events are forming
Peribacaları (fairy chimneys), during the historical period, humans
had carried the signs of thousand years old civilizations with carving
houses and churches within these earth pillars and decorating them
with frisks. During the Roman Emperor, Augustus period, territories
of Cappadocian Region as a wide region lying till to the Toros Mountains
at south, Aksaray at west, Malatya at east and Eastern Black Sea
shores at north within the 17 volume book named 'Geographika' of
Strabon, one of the Antic Period writers. |
| Today's
Cappadocian Region is the area covered by Nevşehir, Aksaray,
Niğde, Kayseri, and Kırşehir cities. More limited area, rocky
Cappadocian Region is composed of Üçhisar, Göreme, Avanos,
Ürgüp, Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Ihlara and environment. Traditional
Cappadocian houses and dovecotes carved into stones are showing
the uniqueness of the region. These houses are constructed
on the feet of the mountain via rocks or cut stones. Rock,
which is the only construction material of the region, as
it is very soft after quarry due to the structure of the region,
can be easily processed but after contact with air it hardens
and turns into a very strong construction material. Due to
being plentiful and easy to process of the used material,
regional unique masonry is developed and turned into an architectural
tradition. |
 |
|
|
Materials of neither courtyard nor house doors is wood. Upper parts
of the doors built with arches are decorated with stylized ivy or
rosette motifs. Dovecotes within the region are small structures
constructed within 18th century and end of 19th century. Some of
the dovecotes, which are important for showing Islamic picture art
are constructed as monastery or church. Surfaces of dovecotes are
decorated with rich inscriptions and adornments by regional artists.
|
|
| Ürgüp |
|
 |
Ürgüp,
which is 20 km east of Nevşehir, is one of the most important
centers of Cappadocia Region. It had numerous names in the
course of historical period like in Göreme. It is known as
Osiana (Assiana), Hagios Prokopios during Byzantium Period;
Başhisar during Seljukian Period; Burgut castle during Ottoman
Era; and as Ürgüp beginning from the first years of Republic.
|
|
|
| Pottery |
|
| The
first people to sit down at a potters wheel in Avanos were undoubtedly
the Hittites. This art has been passed on from tribe-to-tribe, father-to-son
up until the present time. The rich clay silts in the old river
beds of the Kızılırmak brought down from the mountains of Avanos
are meticulously sifted and thoroughly kneaded to form an excellent
mud, which is then given the desired shape by the skilled hands
of potter on a foot-driven potter's wheel. The pots made in the
little shops called 'İşlik', are first put out in the sun to dry
and then carefully fired in ovens fueled with straw and wood shavings
first at temperatures which start around 800 degrees and eventually
reach 1200 degrees.Food dishes, water jugs, storage containers for
winter food stuffs and other earthenware vessels are all the work
of local potters. Avanos is today known as the shopping and handicraft
center of Cappadocia. |
|
| Kaymaklı |
|
| The
underground cities of kaymakli and derinkuyu were used by the early
chirstians who needed a shelter to escape the iconoclastic strife
of Byzantium. A complete environment, these cities included rooms
for grain storage, stables, airshafts and kitchens, sleeping chambers
to accommodate 15.000 people. The cities were subdiveded into separate
sections for better defense purposes. Each section could be isolated
from each other by closing the millstone shaped round rock gates. |
|
 |
|
| Zelve |
|
 |
Zelve,
which once housed one of the largest communities in cappadocia,
is an amazing cave town, honeycombed with dwellings, religious
and secular chambers. The church with the grapes is one of
the most interesting churches in the area. The frescoes, painted
on the walls, showing bunches of grapes were ritualistic symbols
of some earlier religions, populer in the region and also
representing christ according to the christian belief. |
|
|
| UçHisar |
|
 |
Uchisar
is famous for the citadel where you can see the beautiful
panaromic view of the nearby gorges and valleys.
|
|
|
| Avanos |
|
 |
Located
18 km north of Nevşehir, the name of the city in ancient times
was 'Venessa'. The ceramic trade in this province with its
countless pottery factories goes all the way back to the Hittites.
The ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak (Red
River) comes to life in the hands of the skilled potters of
Avanos.
|
|
|
| Göreme |
|
 |
Göreme,
which hide among fairy chimneys, is the heart of Cappadocia.
First period settlement within the region reaches to Roman
period from Christianity. Ortahane, Durmus Kadir, Yusuf Koc
and Bezirhane churches in Göreme, houses and shafts engraved
from rocks till to Uzundere, Bağıldere and Zemi Valley carries
the mystical side of history today. |
|
 |
|
