Life Turkey

Turkey's capital, Ankara, despite its
long history, is a thoroughly modern, well-planned city. The city is
distinguished by its wide avenues, green parks, elegant shops,
embassies and government buildings, and a large number of first class
restaurants and hotels.

The city has been continuously
inhabited since the Bronze Age. The very fine Museum of Anatolian
Civilizations details the ebb and flow of cultures that have passed
through the area, from the Hittites, the Phrygians, Lydians and
Persians to the Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuk Turks and
Ottomans. A small provincial town until Kemal Ataturk named it the
capital of the new Republic on October 13, 1923, Ankara developed very
quickly. It is the only city in Turkey with an urban development plan
dating back to the 1930s. Ataturk's Mausoleum dominates the modern part
of Ankara. The imposing limestone structure, completed in 1953,
represents a fusion of ancient and modern architectural concepts.


In addition to the numerous mosques, museums and recreational areas,
visitors enjoy touring the Citadel and browsing through the old shops
in Cikricilar Yokusu near the Ulus area. On the street of Bakircilar
Carsisi, you can find many interesting old and new items: copper
objects, jewelry, carpets, costumes, antiquities and embroidery. In
Cankaya, the Atakule Tower, 125 meters tall, offers a magnificent view
of the city.
Long ago, in the 3rd century BC, the Galatians were the first to make
"Ancyra" of those times, their capital. Much later on, in 1923, M.
Kemal Ataturk chose the same district to be the capital of newly
founded Turkey, and "Ankara" thereafter remained the strategic heart of
the country.

Today's modern city, situated at the core of Anatolia, hides an ancient
site behind, dating back to prehistorical times. The remains from
Urartian, Phrygian, and Hittite periods have beautified the area here,
now fascinating the visitors by enlivening the respective periods.
For the ones who would like to go to the very beginning, the Museum of
Anatolian Civilizations, which is the third most important
archeological museum after Paris-Louvre and London-British museums, is
a perfect place to observe its wide collections of Paleolithic,
Neolithic, Hatti and Hittite works of art. The pieces exhibited here
are unique in the world and it is exciting to see the lifestyle of the
earliest humans with those beautiful objects.
Viewing the subsequent Phrygian period is possible by taking excursions
to nearby locations, such as Gordion (Yassihoyuk), the capital of the
kingdom, not far from Polatli. Excavations have brought to light the
advanced artistic works of this civilization which dates back to the
10th century BC, and which had an important influence on artistic works
of the successive ages.
Next came the Lydian invasion which was followed by the Persian
settlement continuing until the death of Alexander the Great, who had
stayed in Ankara after he gained the rule of Asia.
After Galatians, Romans and Byzantines conquered the land, they erected
plenty of monuments some of which are still remaining. This includes
the most prominent Roman ruins, the Temple of Augustus from the 2nd
century AD, built in the Corinthian style and dedicated to the Emperor.
It is a remarkable and important sight with the "Political Testament of
Augustus" on its walls, inscribed in Greek and Latin. In the 5th
century, this temple was converted into a church by the Byzantines. The
original high walls are still standing.

The ruins of a Roman theater and the Roman baths of the 3rd century AD,
are other interesting figures together with the Column of Julian, a
memorial from the 4th century
Captured by the Arabs, Seljuks and Ottomans in succession, Ankara has
many artistic examples of those periods inside its borders, such as the
Alaeddin, Arslanhane, Kursunlu, Ahi Ervan and Haci Bayram mosques,
built during the 12th and 15th centuries. Kocatepe Mosque is the most
recently built mosque and has a capacity to hold 20,000 worshippers
The walls of Ankara Castle which once enclosed the fortified city
proper are now lost in the centre of the sprawling metropolis. Although
they encircle the city's highest hill they are not visible from every
point but wait to be discovered by the discerning eye.

Almost all of the historical remains in the city are situated around
the old citadel, "Hisar", where, according to legend an anchor was
found while it was being constructed, from which the city took its name
"Ancyra". Inside its walls it contains examples of old Turkish houses
alongside the ancient ruins. There is also a covered bazaar, called
"bedesten", close to the gate "Hisar Kapisi".
The principal monument and dominating sight in Ankara is Anitkabir, the
Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish
Republic. The building composed of limestone stands in majesty, with
its beautiful architectural style and is reached by a ceremonial road
adorned with fine statues and reliefs. Nearby is a museum, housing some
of the personal belongings of Ataturk. Ataturk's house located at
Cankaya, has been converted into a museum.
Ankara today is a center of history and culture. The Ethnographical
Museum and the Sculpture and Painting Museum are noteworthy for their
wide collections of artifacts from the area. The performances of the
well-known philharmonic orchestra and frequent artistic events include
ballet, theater, opera and folk-dancing. In addition are two yearly
international festivals: "The Arts and Music Festival" and the
"Children's Festival", both held every April. Also present around the
city are some sites of natural importance, such as the lakes of
Golbasi, Cubuk Dam, Kurtbogazi Dam, Karagol for resting, and Mount
Elmadag for winter sports. In addition, Kizilcahamam is a thermal and
hot springs center for places such as Ayas, Haymana and Beypazari. The
city has good excursion opportunities to the historical and natural
sites of Cappadocia, Gordion, Hattusas, and Alacahoyuk.
Atakule, and Karum Center are excellent shopping centers. This city of
such diverse features also possesses a wide variety of specialties.
Ankara is known for its wool, goat, cat, pear and honey, and the land
itself is special and should not be missed..>