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-
ilization. At Catalhoyuk. remains of settle-
ments as old as the eighth millenn ium B.C.
have been unearthed . Here in the homeland
of many civilizations and the historic baule-
ground between East and West, the Hanis,
Hittites, Phrygians, Galatians , Romans ,
Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans all fought
for their sovereignty and established their Anka ra (Angora ) cat
rule. In the l Ith century, migrating Tur ks
from the east made the plateau their own .
Du ring its turbulent history . Central
Anatolia has endured invasion by great con-
quero rs, such as Alexande r the Great and
Tamerlane. In the course of ten millennia of
habitation , the denizens of the area have
reflected in their an the dramatic contours
of the surrou nding landscape, from the vig-
orous paintings of Catalhoyuk and the con-
fident lines of Seljuk architecture, to, more
recently. the impressive modem form of
Ataturk's mausoleum.

The city of Ankara lies in the center of
Anatolia on the eastern edge of the great,
high Anatolian Plateau, at an altitude of
850 meters. The province is a predomi-
nantly fertile wheat steppeland, with forest-
ed areas in the northeast. It is bordered by
the provinces of Cankm and Bolu to the
north , Eskisehir to the west, Kenya and
Aksaray to the south, and Kmkkale and
Ktrsehir to the east.
The region's history goes back to the
Bronze Age Hatti civilization, which was
succeeded in the 2nd millennium B.c. by
the Hittites, in the 10th century B.C.by the
Phrygians, then by the Lydians and
Persians. After these came the Galatians, a
Celtic race who were the first to make
Ankara their capital in the 3rd century B.C.
It was then known as Ancyra, meaning
"anchor," one of the oldest words in the
language of the sea-loving Celts. The city
subsequently fell to the Romans, and to the
Byzantines. Seljuk Sultan Alparsl an
opened the door into Anatolia for theTurks
at the victory of Malazgirt in 1071. Then in
1073, he annexed Ankara, an importan t
ANKARA
location for military transportation and
natural resources, to Tur kish territory.
The city was an important cultural, trading ,
and arts center in Roman times, and an
important trading center on the caravan
route to the east in Ottoman times. It had
declined in importance by the nineteenth
century. It again became an important cen-
ter when Kemal Ataturk chose it as the base
from which to direct the War of Liberation.
By consequence of its role in the war and
its strategic position, it was declared the
capital of the new Republic of Turkey on
October 13th, 1923.
SITES TO SEE
Anu kabir (Atatiirk Mauso leum): Located
on an imposing hill in the Anutepe quarter
of the city stands the mausoleu m of Kemal
Ataturk. founder of the Republic of Turkey.
Completed in 1953, it is an impressive
fusion of ancient and modern architectural
ideas and remains un surpa ssed as an
accomplishment of modern Tur kish archi-
Mustafa Kemal Atat ur k tecture. There is a museum housing a supe-
rior wax statue of Ataturk ; writings, letters
and items belongin g to Ataturk . as well as
an exhibition of photographs recording
imponant moment s in his life and in the
establishment of the Republic. (Arutkabir is
open everyday. and the museum every day
except Mondays. During the sum mer, there
is a light and sound show in the evenings) .
MUSEUMS
The Museum of Ana tolian Civilizatio ns
is close to the citadel entrance. An old
bedesten (covered bazaar) has been beauti-
fully restored and now houses a marvelou s
and unique collection of Paleolithic,
Neolithic, Hatn, Hittite, Phrygian , Uranian ,
and Roman wor ks and showpiece Lydian
treasur es. (O pen every da y, excep t
Monday. During the summer, the museum
ope ns e\'ery day).
Th e Ethnograph y Museum is oppo site the
Opera House on Talat ra sa Boulevard.
There is a fine collection of folkloric arti-
facts as well as artifacts from Seljuk and
Otto man mosques. (Open every day ,
except Monday).
Th e Paint ing and Sculpt ure Muse um is
close to the Ethnograph y Museum and
houses a rich collecuon of Turkish an from
the late 19th century to the present day.
There are also galleries for guest exhibi-
tions. (Open every day, except Monday).
Th e Liberation \Var Museum , diagonally
across the street from Ulus Square, is in
what was originally the first parliament
building of the Republic of Turkey. There
the \Var of Liberation was planned and
dir ected as recorded in various pho -
tographs and items on exhibition. In anoth-
er display are wax figures of former presi-
dents of the Republic of Turkey. (Open
every day, except Monday).
The Museu m of th e Republi c, close to the
Liberation War Museum, is housed in what
was the second parliament build ing of the
Republi c. Th e exhib ition here records
important events in the early republi can
penod . (Open every day, except Monday).
Ataturk's House is on the grounds of the
Pai nli ng and Scul ptu re Presidential Palace in Cankaya and was
MU"Oeum
Ataturk's house after the founding of the
Rep ublic. The hou se is much as it was in
Ataturk's day, and exhibits phot ographs
that reco rd important events. (O pen
Sundays and on religious and national hol-
idays, 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm).
The Nat u ral Histo ry Muse u m can be
foun d on the ground s o f the MTA
(Mineral Res ear ch and Exp loration
Instit ut e) on the Esktsehir road in Ankara.
The displays record the evolut ionary devel-
opment of the world . (O pen every day
except religious holidays).
PTT Mus eum collections were begun
between 1880 and 1888 by then Postal
Director lzzet Efendi, The Museum in
Ahmdag was opened in 198 2. and cont ains
a postal displ ay. a telegraph and telephone
display, and a stamp display. (Open week-
days).
The T RT Mus eum (Turki sh Radio &;[ Tele-
vision Broadcastin g) has exhibits from the
beginning of radio in Turk ey, including an-
tique phonographs and radios. It is located
in the TRT Genera l Directo rate building in
the Oran district. (O pen Mon .,\Ved ., Fri.,
II am . 3 pm).
Mehm et Akif Ersoy Mus eu m . on the Ha-
ceuepe Universi ty Centra l Campus, com-
memorates the famous national poet who .
in this house. wrote the text of th e Turki sh
" u<,(:um of Analolian Civi li:a lion~.
nation al anthe m. as well as songs of inde-
pendence , and man y poems. (Ope n week-
da ys from to am • 12 pm and 2 pm . 4
pm ) .
The Te DD O pe n-air Locom otive Muse-
um . near the railway station by Celal Bayar
Blvd.. shows the history of steam locomotio n
through the loco motives on disp lay. (Open
weekday s).
Th e Cartogra phy Mus eum. located in the
Hartta Gene l Komutanlt gt build ing in the
Cebeci quart er , has old and new maps .
(O pen Tues. and Thurs. from 9 am - 12 pm
and 2 pm · 5 pm ).
The Met eo rology Mus eum on Sanator-
yu 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
~I ol hu goddn, from ( atalho)it k.
Ankara
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
and technology of edu cation in Turk ey. It is
located in Ankara Gazi University, in the
Besevler district. (O pen weekda ys).
The To y Museum in Cebeci hou ses toys of
all kinds made of wood . metal. porcelain .
paper , etc. (O pen Wedn esdays and Fridays
from 10 am to 5 pm ).
METU Mus eum on the campus of Middle
East Techni cal University has archeological
arti facts and eth nogra phic displays. (Open
weekdays , 9:30 am to 3:30 pm) .
T.C. l iraa t Museu m at the Ulus bra nch of
the bank dis plays a rich collection of coins
and money in a bu ilding of architectural
beauty. (O pen weekda ys from 8:30 am to
5:30 pm)
HISTORICALMONUMENTS
Anka ra Citadel: The foundations of the ci-
tadel were laid by the Galatians on a promi -
nent lava out crop . and completed by the
Romans . The Byzantines and Seljuks made
restorations and additio ns. The area around
and inside the citadel , being the oldest part
of Ankara , conta ins man y fine examples of
traditional archite cture. There are also
lovely green areas in which to relax. It is well
known tha t th e Ankara region was the
cradle of wine in Haui and Hiuite times
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
pro-scene (stage), and scene (backstage), can
be seen outside the citadel. Roman statues
that were found here are exhibited in the
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The
audience area is still under excavat ion.
Te mple of Augustus: The temple is in the
Ulus qu arte r of the city. It was bu ilt by the
Galatian King Pylamenes in 10 A.D. as a
trib ute to Augus tus, and was reconstructed
by the Roman s on the ancient Ankara Acro-
polis in the 2nd century. It is impo rtant
today for the "Monument Ancyranu m," the
sole surviving "Political Testament" of
Augustus, detailing his achievements,
inscribed on its walls in Latin and Greek. In
the fifth century the temple was convened
into a church by the Byzantines.
Roman Bath: The bath, situated on Cankm
Avenue in Ulus, has all the typical features: a
jrigidarium (cold room) , lepidarium (coo l
room ) and caldarium (hot room). They were
bu ilt in the time of Emperor Caracalla Ord
century A.D.) in honour of Asclepias, th e
god o f medicine. Today on ly the basement
and first floors remain.
Co lumn of J ulian : This colu mn, in Ulus,
was erected in 362 A.D., probably to
commemorate a visit by the Roman Emperor
Julian the Apostate . It stands fifteen meters
high and has a typical leaf decoration on the
capital.
Monument of th e Republic: Erected in
1927 in Ulus Square, it is a symbo l of the
struggle for independence on the pan of
Ataturk and the Turkis h peo ple in the Wa r of
liberation.
Monument to a Secure , Confiden t Future:
This monument, in Gaven Park, was erected
in 1935 and bears Ataturk's advice to his
people: "Be proud, hard workmg, and believe
in yourself. "
Victory Monumen t: Erected in 1927 in
Zafer Square in the Sthhiye quarter, it shows
Ataliirk Museum
Ataturk in uniform .
Hal Ii Mon um ent : Erected in the 1970's in
Sthhiye Square , this impressive mo nument
symbolizes the Hatu gods and commemorates
Anatolia's earliest known civilization.
MOSQUES
Hacr Bayram Mosque: This mosque, in
UIlIS, next to the Temple of Augustus. was
built in the early 15th century in Seljuk style
-and was subsequently restored by Sinan in
tlie 16th century, with Kutahya tiles being
Koca tep e Mosqu e adde d in the 18th century . The mosq ue was
bu ilt in hono r of Hact Bayram Veli. whose
tomb is next to the mosq ue.
Aslan han e Mosque: This Seljuk mosq ue,
near the citadel, was bu ilt in the 13th
century. The mosq ue has a mihrap (praye r
niche showing the direction to Mecca) of
Seljuk tiles, and an unusual double
colonnade of wooden columns. Next to the
mosque is the tomb of Ahi Serafeddin.
Gil vt n Park Ahi Elvan Mosque: Found in the Ulus
quarte r near the Citadel, this mosque was
built and finished d uring the late 14th and
early 15th centuries . The finely carved
walnut mimbe r (pulp it) is of particu lar
interest.
Alaaddin Mosqu e: This mosque is inside
the Citadel walls. It has a carved walnut
mimber, the inscription on which shows
that the mosque was built in the 12th
century by the Seljuk ruler, Mesut.
Yeni (Cenab Ahme t) Mosqu e: This is the
largest Ottoma n mosque in Ankara and
was built by the famous architect Sinan in
the 16th century. The mimber (pulpit) and
mihrap (prayer niche) are of white marble,
and the mosque itself is of Ankara stone
(red porphyry), an examp le of very fine
workmanship. Yeni Cami is on Ulucanlar
Avenue.
Kocatepe Mosq ue: This is a rece ntly
cons tructe d mosqu e of great size in
classical Otto ma n d esign with four
minarets. Built between 1967 and 1987 in
the Kocatepequarter, its size and prominent
situation have made it a landmark.
PARKS
Ankara has many delightful parks and
open spaces established in the early years
o f the Republic in acco rda nce with
Ataturk's belief in the importance of trees
and natural beauty. The most impo rtant of
these parks are: Gem;lik Park (which also has
an amusement park), the Botanical Gar-
d en, Segmenler, Ana yasa, Kugulu. Abdi
Ip ek ct. Ga ve n. Dem etev ler , Ce mre ,
Kale, Am i, Kur tu lus (for ice skating) and
Altm Par k (Fairgrou nd) .
Ataturk Orma n ( iftligi (AtatOrk Farm
an d Zoo) is now within the growing city
and is a pleasant place to spend a day.
There is also a replica of the house where
Ataturk was born in Salonica, an excellent
restaurant, and some cafes. Visitors can
sample such famous products of the farm
as its excellent beer, old-fashioned ice
cream, yogurt, milk, and meat rolls.
GOLF
Erkeks u <;: iftligi has a 9-hole golf course
set in a lovely, peacefu l countryside
environme nt located 40 km west of Ankara
via Sincan.
ARTSANO CULTURE
Ankara is a center for opera, ballet, jazz
and modem dance, as well as home of the
p restigious Presid ent ial Sym pho ny
Pres id en ti al Symphony Orchestra . Ankara also has a large number
Orch estra of theatres staging many ambit ious
productions. In addition to public and
p rivate galleries througho ut the city,
exhibitio ns are also held at the Atatu rk
Cultu ra l Cen ter. The city also has many
cinemas showing the bes t Tu rkish
and foreign films, and there are a
n umber o f film festiva ls on various
themes throughout the year, in particular
the Int ern ati on al Film Days in March.
Every year in April and May the city hosts
the Sevda Cena p And Int ern ati on al Arts
and Music Festival with performan ces by
the finest Turkish and foreign musician s.
The Child ren's Festiv al on April 23 is also
quite an event, with groups of child ren
from all over the world taking pan. There
is also an Intern at ion al Ca rtoo n Film
Fes tival and the ASian-Euro pean Arts
Biennial scheduled sometime in the spring
or summer. Altm Park is home to the
Ankara Fairground s where lovely fairs are
held year-round.
SHOPPING
Visitors to the city usually like to visit the
old shops in Crknkcrlar Yokusu near
Ulus. The street of copper workers
(Bakrrcrlar Carsrs r) is particularly
popular, and many interesting old and new
items, not ju st of copper, can be found
here , such as jewelry, carpels, costumes,
antiques and embroi dery . Walking up the
hill to the citadel gate, you find many
interestin g shops selling spices , dried
fruits, nu ts , and all manne r of produce ; the
selection is huge and very fresh. Modem
sho pping areas are mo stly found in
Krzrlay, on Tunali llilmi Avenue, includ -
ing the modem mall of Karum , and in
the Atak ule To wer in Cankaya. From the
top of Atakule (125 meters) ther e is a
magn ificent view over the whole city.
There is also a revolving restaurant where
the complete panorama can be enjoyed in a
more leisurely fashion. The Galleria, in
Umukoy and Bilke nt Ce nte r are oth er
modem shoppin g opportunities.
ENVIRONS OFANKARA
Twent y-five kilometers to the south of
Ankara on the Konya road is Golbasr la ke ,
a popula r place to vi sit for its attractive
scenery and its fine lake side restaurants.
ln cek. 15 km southwest of Ankara, is a
favorite rest area for Ankara residents, wi th
its lovely fruit trees, green areas and picnic
sites. Another favorite place for picnics is
Karago l Lake, 68 km north of the cuy on
the airport road , for which one should take
the tum off for the town of Cubuk.
The three dams around the city, Cubuk
(15 km on th e Cankm Highway ),
Ku r tboga zr (50 km on the Istanbul
Highway) and Baymd tr (15 km on the
Kmkkale Highway) are pleasant places to
visit for swimm ing and picnicking. There
are also restau rants , and at Baymdrr. good
camping facilitie s. Oth er darn s in the
Ankara pro vince include Sanye r,
Kesikkopru , H trfanli. Asart ep e. and
Alak u lc
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 to the nort hwest are
A ya ~ 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
At Gavurkalcs i, 60 km from Ankara on the
Haymana Highway near Derekoy. the
remains of an ope n-air Hittite temple , a
tomb and two reliefs of Hittite gods can be
seen.
The mos t important Phryg ian sites in
Anatolia are to be found in the provinces of
Ankara, Eskisehir and Afyon. Yassihcyu k
(Gord ion). 105 km southwest of Ankara on
the Eskisehir highway, was the capital of
Phrygia and the place where Alexander the
Great cut the Gordion Knot to gain the key
to Asia. The tumulus of King Midas, who
turned whatever he touched to gold, can be
visited here. Nearby, the remains of the
ancient city Gordion. st ill under excavation,
and a small museum are worth a quick tou r.
Farther along the same Ankara-Eskisehir
road is Balhhisa r (Pessinus) , an impo rtant
Phrygian religious cult center. The most
important remains are those of a temp le to
Cybcle. the mother goddess whose wors hip
was at the heart of the Phrygian culture. The
small open air museum has some interesting
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
statues for the worship of Cybcle in their
niches. Throughout the area rock tombs ,
cave-like open ings, pierce the sand colored
SLOne. An underground passage leads from
the site to the valley below .
Aslanras and Aslanka ya were both centers
of cult worsh ip in Phrygian times. The for-
mer, 34 km north of Afyon, has two monu-
menta l lion reliefs; the latter , 52 km from
Afyon , comprises a temple and a lion relief.
Other Phrygian monum ents can be exp lored
at nea rby Doganl ikale. Kumb c t and
Deveboynu
Eskise hir was founded by the Phrygians in
the first millenniu m B.C. on the banks of the
Porsuk River. Signi ficant archite ctural
mo numents include the 13th-centur y
Alaeddin Mosque and th e 16th -century
Kursunlu Complex. All four of the city
museums are worth visit ing : the
Archeological Museum has Ph rygian
artifacts and scu lpture s from the area; the
Meerschau m Pipe Museum displays pipes
and other meerschaum works: the Yesil
Efendi Ottoman House Museum, a fine
Sphinx gal e
example of l cth-cemury domestic architec-
Ala ca hoy a k, Co ru m ture , houses a collection of local ethnographia
as well as fire places whe re meer schaum
is cured; and the Ataturk Culture Museum
has a photographic exhibition taken from
Ataturk's life, a number of personal effects
and a display of items made of meersc haum .
The world's best meerschaum comes from
mines in the area surrounding Eskisehir.
Pipes and othe r objects can be purc hased in
the city souvenir shops . Sakaryabasr, a
spring-fed lake surrounded by beautiful
park land , draws many visitors who want to
enjoy the fresh air and eat fresh fish in one
of the restaurant s there .
Sivrihisa r's charm derives from its many
typical Otto man hous es which imbue the
town with an air of bygone elegance. The
13th -centu ry Ulu Mosq ue, forme rly a
caravanserai, and the Alemsah Mausoleum
are very interesting and worth a visit.
Connoisseurs of car pets and kilims will
know that kilims from Stvnhis ar are partic-
ularly prized. Near Sivrihisar, in the village
Nas re ttin Hoca . the Nasrc u in Hoca
Museum has ethnographical displays as
well as amu sing sto ries and pictures about
the famous fabler.
On the hillside abo ve Seyy it Bat ta l Gaz i
stands the impo sing l Sth-cen tury mosque
and lomb compl ex built in memory of the
"warrio r of Islam ," Seyyit Ban al.
Yunus Emre Village (San key) is the bur ial
place of Yunus Em re, the great 13th
century poel. His poetry lives today , with
its message of love and hu manit y as relevant
as ever. Commemorative celebrat ions are
held in the town every May. In addi tion ,
visitors to his grave can see a small museum
ded icated to his life and works.
NORTH OF ANKARA
The third-ce ntury B.C. Galatian settlement
of Ga ngre a is the foundation of
present day Ca nkm . 135 km from Ankara.
The earliest eviden ces of civilization are
dated at about 3000 B.C. There are impo r-
tant tu mu li (bu rial mound s) in thi s
provin ce, as well as artifacts from various
civilizations in the Cankm Museum. The
ruins of an 11th-century fortress overlook
the city . In town , the Ulu Mosque (Sultan
Suleyman). co mpleted In 1558 by
Turk ey's greatest architect , Sinan , recalls
the years of Ottoman culture . Th e
Cavu ndur thermal spa has bathing and
drinking water beneficial for rheu matic and
inflammat ory diseases. The water s
now from the gro und at 54°C at a rate of 47
liters/second . Tas Mescit. or Cemaleddtn
Ferruh Darulhad isi. a medie val hospita l
bu ilt in 1242 , lies ju st out side the city.
North of Cankm is the beautiful Ilgaz
Nati ona l Park and Ski Center. In the park,
Kadm Cay m is a particu larly lovely rest
area with pools , green areas and cafes. Near
Eld ivan , 15 km southwest of Cankm , is
Nasrc tt in t toca , Bul bul pmarr, a picturesque rest area with
Ak~hir
lush greenery and picnic spots.
 NORTHEAST AND EAST OF ANKARA
Kmkkale is a rapidl y expand ing industrial
cente r o n the major high way tha t leads east
out of Anka ra to the Black Sea. Passing by
Kmkkale is the Krzrhrmak River , kno wn
in ancient times as Ha lys , wh ere you ca n
spe nd a pleasant aftern oon relaxing in on e
of the restaurants, set in the pastoral land -
scape , or visit the restful C eI,,1 Bayar Par k.
In Kmkkale . the Gun Museu m d isplays
different types of gun s that are made in
Kmkkale's gu n factorie s.
After the highway divides, the eastern fork
leads to Yor gat . 21 7 km from Ankara .
Fou nd ed in the 18 th ce nt u ry b y th e
O tto mans , th is City has two important
buildings from this perio d - the Capanoglu
Mosque and the adjoini ng Sule yman Bey
Mosqu e. The 19th -century Nizarnogl u
Mansion , an at tractive example of d ome s-
tic Tur kish archi tectu re , no w hou ses
et hnographical exhibits. The Yusuf
Karshoglu Mansion Archeological Museum
has Hatti. Hittite , Ph rygian, Roman and
Byzant ine artifacts. Ca mh k Na tiona l Park
is a few kilom eters south of the city.
All the major ea rly-Hittite sites lie in the
provin ce of ( m u m in Bogazkal e Na tio na l
Reli ef of ~od and king
in lI a ll ll'ta'j, Coru m
Pa rk , betw een Yozgat and the City of
Coru m. Impressive double walls running
past the Royal Gate, the Lion Gate and the
Yer Kapi (an underground tunnel), ring the
Hitt ite city of Hattusas. known toda y as
Bogazkale. The mo re than 70 templ es in
the city mad e this the Hit tite religiou s
center and gave it the name, "City o f
Temples". The largest ruins arc those o f the
great temple to the sto rm god Teshup. The
Acropolis co ntained government build ings,
th e Imperi al Palace and the archives of the
Hittite Empir e. In 1180 B.C. the Phryg ian s
deva stated the city. After th or ough excava-
tion s at the site, the City walls are now
being exten sively restored.
Ya ath ka ya , an ope n-a ir roc k pa ntheon
d ating from the 13th cent ury B.C., cont ains
fine reliefs o f all the Hittite gods and
goddesse s.
Alac aboyuk . no rth of Bogazkal e on the
road to Coru m. was the ce nte r o f the nour-
ishing Hatt ian culture 'during the Bronze
Age . The magnifi cent Hatt ian go ld and
bronze obj ects in the Museum of Anatolian
Civilization in Anka ra were foun d in the
Royal Tom bs dat ing fro m t his pe riod. All
the stand ing re main s at Alaca ho yok .
how ever, such as the Sphinx Gate , date
from the Hittite period. Impo rtant Hitt ite
settleme nts in th e pro vin ce of Co ru m
includ e Alisar and Masa th o yuk, as well as
Sa pt nuva in the county of Ortakoy , which
is situ ated in beautiful countrys ide alo ng
the Ce ke re k River. Sapin uva was the
seco nd most imponant Hittit e city in the
kingdom. Betwee n the Abdullah and Kargr
Plat eaus is the village of Hacthamza with
interesting regional arc hitectu re.
Co ru m , an important city on the road from
centra l Anatolia to the Black Sea, produces
the finest chickpeas in Tu rkey. Significant
histo rical bu ildings incl ude the 13th-
cent ury Ulu Mosqu e and the 19th -century
clock rower. The towe r, wh ich was bu ilt in
Decora u ve ctiling in Mt rziron,
Am .....)·a
Set in a narrow gorge of th e Yes th rmak
(I ris ) Rive r , Amasya dates from the third
ce ntury B.c. The ruins of the citade l rise
from th e craggy rock and co ntai n an
Otto ma n Palace and a sec ret unde rgrou nd
passageway. Hewn into the rock face
above the city, are impressive Rom an rock
tombs th at are illumin ated at night creating
a spectacular image. The beau t)' of the
nat ural surroundings and the sp lendid
architectural legacy have combined to
endow the city with the accolade of one of
the most beautiful cities in Turkey. Among
the sights of inte rest for visitors are the
13th -centu ry Seljuk Bur mah Minare
Mosqu e , the Torumtay Tomb. the
Go km edrese Mosque, the l-i th-century
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 ha s an Mosqu e co mplex and the un usual octago-

eight-sided base and is ascended by mea ns nal Kapr Age Medr ese.

of an Bl-s tep circular staircase. Tradi tio nal Turki sh wood en mansions, or

The small tow n of Merzifo n , 49 km ko nak s , on 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 10 their
mo num ent s, incl udi ng the 15th century
Ha eer anl ar Man ..lnn , for mer splendor, and so me of these have
Celebi Sultan Mehmet Med rese (theo logical Allla..ya
been t urn ed int o gues t ho uses. The
college), th e 17th ce nt ury Kara Mustafa
restor ed 19th-century Hazeranlar Kc nagi.
Pasa Mosq ue , and the 19th century clock
one of the lo veliest, now ho uses an art
tower. There are also sights wo n h seeing
galle ry on th e first floor and the
in Gnmushac rkoy. 22 km from Merzifon ,
Ethnog raphy Museu m on the second. The
including a 19th century bazaar , th e 15th
Archeo logy Museum has an interesting
century Haliliye Med rese , and l Sth and
collec tion of regional artifacts includ ing
19th century Yakup Pa$3, Darphane, and
mum mies of the tlhanid Mongol rule rs
Maden mosques.
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. Set am id magnificent wood decoration and painted murals give
mountain scenery. Bora bay Mountain the konaks (mansions) of Tokat a
Lake is one such popu lar place for day particular elegance . The Icth-ceruury
To kal cera mics
trips. It is 63 km northeas t of Amasya at Madrm agm Celalin Konak and the
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
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
Il i"lori cal ho u..c!o cities of Komana. Zela (Zile). Neccaesarea
aesthetic lO the cityscape. Among the main
(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 13th- Pontus in the first century AD.

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. The town has a well-preserved
commercia l center. Tokat has retained citadel as well as early Tur kish monu ments,
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
walk do w-n Sulu Sokak in the cit}' center. a Amasya and west of Tokat that Julius
Tas ba n (Vop 'oda ha n) . Toka t
street lined with inns. mauso leums. bazaars Caesar , after a particularly speedy ba ttle .
 qua ffed a cup of Tokat's fine local wine,
and declared his famous "Veni, vidi , vici."
Beneath the citadel which guards the city
stands the restored Ulu Mosque of 1269.
Sivas , an impo rtant commercial center
durin g the Middle Ages, stood at the
junction of the caravan rou tes to Persia and
Baghdad. Between 1142 and 1171 it was
Gokmedrese , Sivas
the capital of the Danismend Emirs and a
vitally im portant ur ban center duri ng
Seljuk rule. The remaining architectural
monumen ts reflect this formerly promi-
nent position. The Ulu Mosque dates from
. the Danismen d Emirate. The Seljuk
buildi ngs include the 13th -centur y
lzzedd in Keykavus Sifahanesi, which was a
hospital and a medical schoo l, the
beautifully decorated G6k Medrese, the
twin minarets of the Cifte Minare Medrese
and the Buruciye Medrese all of which
reflect the aesthetic of the Seljuk period.
In 1919, the decision to liberate Turkey
from occupyi ng foreign powers was made
by the National Congress which was
convened in Sivas. Today, the Icth-cemu -
ry building where the congress was held
has been restored as the Ataturk and
Congress Museum, with a display from the
War of Liberation as well as an
eth nographic exhibit. In the Buruciye
Medrese, the Museum of Archeology and
Stonewor ks displays finds from local digs
as well as Islamic tombsto nes decorate d
Sivas Kanga l Dog
with reliefs. The lcrh-ceruury Akaylar
Mansion Museum is now an ethnographic
museum . In town, there are excellent Sivas
carpets for sale; the City has long had a
repu tatio n for fine weaving. And in
Sivria lan Village, the Astk Veysel Museum
commemorates the famous Tur kish poet
(1884-1973) who was born here and who
lived and died here.
Kanga l, 68 km sout h of Sivas, is the home
of Turkey's most famous breed of dog . the
kangal Cdog of the Galatians," which came
with them in the 3rd century B.C). Used as
sheep dogs, these golden-haired animals
have also proven themselves in police and
security work. Twelve kilomete rs
northeas t of Kangal is the famous Bah kh
Kaphca spa. At 36 degrees Celsius the
waters contain bicarbona te. calcium, and
magnesium, and spring from the earth
accompan ied by scores of tiny fish that are
said to aid in the cure of skin complaints.
In the province of Sivas are the famous spas
of Steak Cerm ik (warm spring) and Soguk
Ce rmik (cold spring).
Once a Byzantine outpos t, Divrigi became
the capital of the Turkish MengOcek Emirs
in the l Zth and l J rh cent uries. Although
very much off the beaten track, visitors
come lO Divrigi to see the Ulu Mosque and
Med rese of 122 9. Selju k stonework
reached its most exuberant exp ression in
the animal and flower carvings on the
portals. UNESCO has declared this site
one of the world's leading cultural heritages.
 SOUTHEAST OF ANKARA
Founded in ancient times, Ku-se h ir
became, in the Middle Ages, the center of
the Ahi Brother hood , a Moslem sect
whose moral and social tenets played an
important role in the spiritual and
political life of Anatolian towns. Among
Ktrsehir's many fine Seljuk buildings arc
the Cacabey Mosque of 1272 (a former
astrological observatory) . the Alaeddin
Mosque of 1230, and the Ahi Evran
Mosque , near the tomb of the foun der of
the Ahi sect. Out of town , on the road
toward Kayseri. is the attractive A$lk Pa$3
Mausoleum which was built during the
period of Mongol rule. in 1333. The
Kirsehir Archeology Museum houses
objects mostly from Kalehoyuk .
A major archeological center at
Kalehoyuk. in Kaman coun ty, in the
province of Krrsehir is still being excavated.
Near Kalehoyuk in a center of what were
Ham and Hunte settlements , is located
one of the largest parks in Turkey, the
Mikaso nmiya Am Bahces t which
contains 16,500 trees of 33 differentspecies.
The road to Nevsehir and Cappadocia
passes through Hactbcktas, the town
where HaC! Bek tas Vcli settled and estab-
lished his Bektas Sufi order in the 14th
century. The whirling dervishes who
followed princip les of love and hu manism
were housed in the monastery which
includes a mausoleum and mosque . The
complex is now a museum open to the
public. Honey and rose-colored onyx,
plentiful in the region, were used by
disciples of this order and are known as
Hacrbektas stone. In town, there are many
Ca ca bey Mo..qu c, Klr~hir exquisite onyx souvenirs for sale. It is also
worth stopping to take in the interesting
Archeology and Ethnography Museum.
evsehir, a provincial capital, is the
gateway to Cap pado cia. In the town itself,
are the hilltop Seljuk castle, perched on
the highest point in the City, and the
Kursunlu Mosque, built for the Grand
Vizier Damar Ibrahim Pasha. The mosque
is part of a complex of bu ildings which
includes a medrese (theological college), a
hospice and a library . An ablution
fountain in the courtyard still bears its
original inscription. The Nevsehir
Museum disp lays local ani facts.
Violent eru ptions of the volcanoes Mt.
Ca ppad oct a Erciyes (3,9 16 meters) and Ml. Hasan
(3,2 68 meters) long ago covered the
plateau surround ing Nevsebir with tufa, a of wine to their customers and engaging in
sof stone comprised of lava, ash and mud . friendly conversation. If sightseeing and
The wind and rain have eroded this brtule shopping haven't exhausted you, the disco
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. l ocals call these fascinating October.
capped pinnacles "peri bacalan" or "fairy
chim neys." G6 re me Natio nal Pa rk, Leaving Orgap and heading south, you
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. the Kepez church, which dates from the
Dwellings have been hewn from the rocks l Oth century. Continue on to the typical
as far back as 4,000 B.C. During Byzantine village of Mustafapasa (Stnas os) . where
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
O rta h tsa r , Nevs ehi r
serves as an excellent base from which to 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 l Zth-century
wide selection available from the town's Krrksehitler church, adorne d with beautiful
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
pictu resque with its innu merable chape ls,
churches, halls, houses and tombs. The
frescoes, from the 8th to the 13th centuries,
trace the development of Byzantine painting.
Four kilometers north of Urgup is the
wonderful Devr en t Vall ey, whe re the
weathe r has eroded the stone into peaks ,
cones and obelisks called fairy chimneys.
Two kilometers west, in the Catalkaya
Valley , the fairy chimneys have a peculiar
mu sh room -like shape, wh ich ha s been
adop ted as a symbol of the town.
The Go reme O pen-Air Mus eum , a mon as-
tic complex of rock churc hes and chapels
covered with frescoes, is one o f the
best-known sites in central Turkey. Most of
the chapels date from the 10th to the 13th
centuries (the Byzantine and Seljuk periods)
and many of them are built on an inscribed
cross-plan with a central cupo la supported
by four colu mns. In the nort h an nexes o f
several churches are cut-rock tom bs. Among
the most famous of the Gn reme ch urches are
the Elmah Churc h, the smallest and most
recent of the group; the Yrlanh Churc h with
fascinating frescoes of the da mned entwi ned
in serpent coils; the Barbara Church; and the
(.ankh Church. A short way from the main
group, the Tokah Kilise, or Buckle Churc h,
has beautiful frescoes depicting scenes from
the New Testament.
The town of Gorerne is set right in the middle
of a valley o f cones and fairy chimneys.
Some of the ca fes, resta urants and
guest -houses are carved into the rock. For
shoppers, rugs and kilirns are plentiful.
Continui ng on the road out of Goreme. you
ente r one of the most beautiful valleys in the
area. Rock form ations rise up before you at
every tum and entice you to stop and
won der at their creation. For those who
climb the steps to the LOp of the Uchisar
fortress the wh ole region un folds below.
Rugs, kilims, and popula r souvenirs can
easily be pur chased from the sho ps wh ich
line Uchisar's narrow streets.
At Cavu sin, on the road lead ing nort h ou t of
Ccre me. you \\-111 fmd a mple-apse church
and the mo nastery of S1.John the Baptist. In
the town are chapels and churches, and
some of the rock houses are still inhabited.
From Cavust n to Zelve . fairy chimneys line
the road . Unfortunate ly, it is dan gerous tl;
visit the churc hes in the Zelve valley because
erosion has un dermin ed the floors.
The charming town of Avanos . on the banks
of the Krzihrm ak River, d isplays attractive
local archite ctu re and is known for its
Cappa doda handi crafts. Every Augus t the town hosts an
Art and Tou rism Festival where a creative
and friendly atmosphere pervades.
Pottery is the mos t pop ular hand icraft and it
is us ually poss ible to try your hand at
making a pol in one of the many studios. Rug
weavi ng and knotting is also making a
come-back. Leaving Avanos in a sout herly
direc tion you come to an interesting Seljuk
caravanserai, Sanhan .
On the Nevsehtr - Urgup road you can't
miss O rta hi sa r and its carved-rock
fon ress. The churches in the Balkan
Vall ey are some of the oldest in the
Goreme region . In the neighboring Hallac
Vall ey, th e Halla c Mona st ery displays
decoration s from the 10th and the 11th
centu ries. North of O n ahisar,
Kmlcukur Vall ey is breathtak ingly beauti-
ful, especially at sunse t. In the valley is the
9th-eentu ry Uzumlu church.
The und erground cities of Kaymakh , Man ,
Derinkuyu, Tatlarin , and Ozkonak were all
used by Christians of the seventh century,
who were fleeing from persecution. They
sheltered from the iconoclastic ' strife of
Byzantium as well as other invasions in these
safeand well-hidden complexes. These cities
were a complete and self-sufficient environ-
ment, including rooms for grain storage,
stables, sleeping chambers, kitchens and air
shafts. Today they are well-lit, and an
essentia l and fascinating part of
Cappadocian tour.
West of Avanos, Gulsehtr has Hittite rock
inscriptions, and nearby, at Gokce te pe .
there is a bas-relief of Zeus. South on the
Nevsehtr road is the 13th-eemu ry church
St. John , and farther along is Aciksa ray.
where the carved rocks hide churches and
chapels.
West of Cappadocia, over the mountains, lies
Kayseri , known as Caesa rea in Roman
times. The city spreads out at the fOOL of the
extinct volcano, Mt. Erciyes (3,9 16 meters).
In the winter months the ski center has
excellent runs for downhill skiers, and
several pleasant hotels that cater particularly
to them. Close to the Byzantine fortress, the
I3th-cemury Huand Hatun Mosque and
the Medrese, with the Mah peri Hatun
Mausoleum . comprise the Huand Hatun
Complex, the first Seljuk complex in
Anatolia. The Medrese is now an
Ethnography Museum. South of the
complex, stands the beautifully decorated
Doner Kamber of 1276, a Seljuk mausoleum
of classic Simplicity. A major Seljuk city,
Kayseri was an important center of learning
and consequently, there are many medreses
among the remaining historical buildings.
Ka ra n h k Ch u rc h , Coreme
Those interested in the Seljuk architecture
Na tfona l I' a rk
should see the Cifte (Gryastye and Sffahtye)
Medrese, the first Seljuk school of anatomy,
which is now the Gevher Nestbe Medical
a History Museum . Nearby is the lovely
Sahabiye Medrese. Near the city's bedesten
(covered bazaar) is the restored l Zth-century
Ulu Mosque. The Haci Kihc Mosque, north
of the Ctfte Medrese, dates from 1249. In the
0 :' Cumhuriyet quarter, the lc th-ceruury Resit
A~ Mansion houses the Ataturk Museum
which displays Ataturk's personal belongings.
 Across from the Atatur k Museu m, the
historical Gupgupoglu Mansion is now an
Ethnography Museum.
South of Kayseri, in Develi. stand three more
important Seljuk buildings: the Ulu Mosque,
the Seyid-i Senf Tomb and the Develi Tomb.
The nearby Sultan Mars hes are the habitat
of many bird species, of interest both to
ornithologists and nature lovers.
North of Kayseri, Kultep e. known in ancient
times as Kanes h or Karum , was one of the
" earliest Hittite com mercial cities. Dating
from 2000 B.C., Kuhepe was also one of the
world's first cities of free trade. Today,
however, only the fou nd ation s remain .
Many of the finds can be examined in the
Kayseri Archeological Museum .
On the same road is Sultanha n , a
caravansera i built by the Seljuk Sultan
Alaeddin Keykubat in the early 13th century
and a favorite stop for tou rists.
Kapuzbasr waterfall is 76 km south of
Kayseri. In this beautiful natural site, seven
different springs on the mountain face fall
from heights ranging between 30 and 70
meters.
Kayseri is one of the most importan t carpet
and kilim production centers in Anatolia.
Bunyan is the most famous carpet produc-
tion center and Yah yah is the most famous
kilim productio n center. Rugs woven in
finely knotted n o~l patterns continue a
centuries-old tradition. Local prod uctions
Akmedrese, NiAde
can be purchased in any of the Kaysericarpet
shops.
Nigde . Nahita of Hittite times, lies in a
valley flanked by volcanic peaks command-
ing the ancient trade route from Anatolia to
the Mediterranean. Ntgde's castle owes its
present form to the Seljuks, and the elegant
Alaeddi n Mosque dates from the same
period . From the 14th cent ury era of
Mongol rule are the Sungur Bey Mosque and
the Hudavend Haw n Mausoleum , an
exce llent exam ple of the Anatolia n
tower-tomb. The l Sth-centu ry Ak Medrese
now houses the Archeology Museum.
Ten kilometers out of to wn is Eskign mus , a
Byzantin e monastery and church wit h
massive columns and frescoes. These
frescoes, dating from the l Othand the l It h
centuries, are among the best-preserved in
the region .
Bor, south of Nigde, was once a Hittite .
settlement. The town's historical buildings
include the Seljuk Alaedd in Mosque and the
Ottoman bedesten. Farther on, in the same
direction, Kemer his ar is the site of the
importa nt Roman City of Tyan a A few
mo re kilometers brin gs you to some Hittite
ruin s and a Roman aqued uct. The beautiful
Alada glar (Ala Mountains ) Na tional Park,
perfect for moun tain climbing, trekk ing and
relaxation, is 50 km sout heast of Nigde.
One of the highest peaks is Demi rka zrk
(3756 01). The best place to start your
excursion in the park is Cukur bag .
 Ala mounta in ..,
Most of the historical buildi ngs in Aksaray ,
such as the Ulu Mosque, date from the 14th
century. The Kizrl Minaret is noted for its
attractive decorative brickwork.
Two of the most famous caravanserais from
the Scljuk period are in the area: 40 km west
of the city is the well preserved Sultanha n
Caravanserai built by the Seljuk Sultan
Alaeddin Keykubat, and 15 km towards
Nevsehir is the A ~zlkarahan Caravanserai.
The Melen di z River, at Ihlara Valley , has
eroded the banks into an impressive canyon.
Byzantine rock chapels covered with frescoes
pierce the canyon walls. Some of the best
kncwn are the Agacalu (Daniel) Church, the
Ytlanh (Apocalypse) Church and the
N i~d e
Sumbu llu (Hyacinth) Church.
Guzelyurt is anot her valley with dwellings
dating from prehistoric times. You can see
the beautiful silhouette of Me Hasa n rising
like a crown above the town. The valley's
unde rground cities, buildings carved into the
rock , interesting architecture , churc hes,
chapels and mosques embody all of the
cha racteristics of Cappadocia and give
visitors a sense of historical cont inuity .
Guzelyurt is a popu lar tourist destination
with hospitable residents, extensive accom-
modations and numerous restaurants
ensuring a pleasant stay. The rest area of
Evr en by the Hirfan h Dam lake offers fish
restaurants, a beach and swimming.
 SOUTH OF ANKARA
Konya , one of Tur key's oldest continuously
inhabited cities was known as Iconiu m in
Roman times. The capital of the Seljuk
Turks from the 12th to the 13th centuries,
it ranks as one of the great cultura l centers
of Turkey. During that period of cultural,
political and religious growt h, the mystic
Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi founded a Sufi
Order known in the West as the Wh irling
Dervishes. The striking green- tiled
mausoleum of Mevlana is Konya's most
famous building. Attached to the
mausoleum , the former dervish seminary
serves now as a museum housing manu-
scripts of Mevlana's works and various
artifacts related to the mysticism of the sect.
Every year, in the first half of December ,
this still-active religious order holds a
ceremony comrnemoraung the Whirling
Dervishes. The cont rolled , trance-like
turn ing or serna of the white-robed men
creates a fascinating performan ce for the
viewer.
Alaeddin Mosque was built on the site of
the ancient Konya citadel in 1220 , during
the reign of the great Selj uk sultan
Alaeddin Keykubat and commands the
Konya skyline. To one side of the mosque
are the remains of the Seljuk Imperial
Palace. The Karatay Med rese, now a
museum , displays bold and striking Seljuk
ceramics. On the other side of the mosque ,
the Ince Minareli Medrese of 1258 is
remarkable for its marvelous baro que
Seljuk portal. Other Seljuk works include
the Strcah Medr ese and the Sahip Ata
Com plex. Visitors find Kon ya's
Archeological Museum of exce ptional
interest. The collection of the Koyun oglu
Museum is a varied one, from natural
history to old kilims. Within the museum
com plex, the resto red Izzeu in Koyunoglu
house illustrates the way of life of a
prosperous Konya family in the last century . .
Sille, 10 km nonh of Konya, has the
Byzantine Aya Eleni church and several
rock chapels with frescoes. Akse hi r, to the
northwest, is known throug hout Turkey as
the birthplace of the 13th- century
hum orist Nasrettin Hoca, whose
mauso leum stand s in the town . The 13th-
century Ulu Mosque and the Altmkale
Mescidi are other monument s worth
seeing. The Sahip Ata Mauso leum has been
conven ed into the town's museum.
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.
Several interesting Seljuk buildings are
scattered around lovely Beysehir. on the
shores of Lake Bcyseh fr, Turkey's third
largest lake. In the southwestern region of
the lake is the pristine wilderness of Lake
Beysehir National Park. Among the
monuments are the Esrefoglu Mosque and
Medrese, and the Kubad -Abad Summe r
Palace across the lake. Another medieval
palace stands on Krakalest Is land ,
oppos ite the Kubad -Abad Palace. Hacr
Akif Island also offers relaxation and
recreanon to visitors.
Catalh oyuk. 45 km south of Konya. is a
fascinating Neolithic site dating from the
eighth millennium B.C., which makes it
one of the world IS oldest towns.
Archeologists have determ ined that holes
in the roofs of the mud houses were the
entrance doors. The Museum of Anatolian
Civilizations in Ankara houses the famous
temp le (recons tructed) , along with
mother-goddess figures and Neolithic
frescoes from the original site.
Surrounding Karap rnat . 96 km east of
Kenya. are numero us crater lakes; the most
famous is the lovely Meke Crater Lake, 7
km southeast of Karapmar. On the north
side of the road to Eregh . 8 km from
Karapmar, lies ACl Crater Lake. In the
center of the lake is an island which is a
natural wonder. Surrou nding Eregli. one of
the largest counties in the province of
Konya, are yellow cherry trees. The Ereglt
Archeological Museum displays many
Hittite, Rom an , Byzant ine and Seljuk
artifacts.
At lvrt a, a Hittite site 168 km east of Konya
and 18 km south of Eregli. you can see one
of Turkey's finest neo-Hitrite reliefsof a king
and god of bountiful crops.
Karaman was once the capital of the
Karamanid Emirate, the firstTur kish state to
use Turkish instead of Persian as its official
language. Fittingly, Yunus Emre. the first
great poet to write in Turkish, lived here in
the 13th century. The surrounding fortresses
date from Seljuk times, although the town's
most significant buildings, the Araboglu,
Yunus Emre and Aktekke Mosques and the
Hatuniye Medrese, were all built during the
Karamanid reign.
The Region of 100 1 Chu rche s, the '
Karaman region, 150 kilometers from
Konya is a largely undiscovered. mystical
land of gently rolling hills and valleys,
towering mountains, with monasteries,
churches and chapel complexes. It is a
paradise for photographers, walkers, nature-
lovers and explorers. The Hittites settled in
this region where many of their remains,
including inscriptions have been discovered.
One of the highest mountains in this region,
Mt . Kara dag (2288 meters), is locally called
Mah alac: its ancie nt name was Angel
 Rcli crs in Ivri z, Kon ya
Michael. On top of the mountain, Hittites
constructed a temple; the altar of which still
remains. There are also the -hh-cem ury
remains of a monastery. churc h and a chape l
complex; called the Angel Michael Complex.
There is also a beautiful view here.
Visitors can still see the remains of churches
and chapels at Maden sehi r, 45 km from
Karaman. on the no rthern slope of Mt.
Karadag.
Derbe , 30 km north of Kamman, was an
important early Christian site; one of the
many where S1.Paul preached the gospel.
Near Taskal e , 48 km east of Kamman, on
the rocky northe rn slope of Yestld er e
Valley , are the remains of the fascinating
historical city of Manaza n . Built du ring
Byzantine times, the entire city of narrow
lanes, houses, squares, storage facilities,
chapels and cemeteries (occupying an area
approximately th ree kilometers long and five
stories high) was carved into the rocky
hillside of the valley. Today, parts of the City
are still used for storing wheal.
South of Karaman up a steep narrow road are
the remains of a beaut iful Byzan tine
monastery, Alahan . Much is still standing,
and there is some fine stone caning to
admire. This magnificent location offers a
breatht aking view.
TOURIST IN I.'ORM AT IUN orncrs NF.V~F.IIIR - (Prov inc ial Directorate) Ata tiirk Bulvan No:1 4.
Dcvtct Hastancsi Onii
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