It is generally accepted that there is nothing much to do in the capital of Turkey. There are no beaches and all-inclusive resort hotels here, bustling life boils in Istanbul on the shores of the Bosphorus, and the cave cities of Cappadocia are more than 700 km and several transfers away. And yet, once you are in Ankara, you will be able to have an exciting and unforgettable time, because the Turkish capital is one of the oldest cities of the Asia Minor peninsula. Located at the crossroads of trade routes, it flourished already in the 7th century. to n. under the Greek name Angira . Then, in the life of the current Turkish capital, there were Byzantines and Seljuks, Crusaders and again Turks, each conqueror reshaped the city and the world in a new way, and therefore there is something to see for those vacationing in Turkey. Lovers of medieval buildings, fans of museum exhibitions, and those who like to wander the old streets with a camera in hand and capture life as it is, will undoubtedly like it in Ankara.
Sights of Ankara
Anitkabir
The founder of the Republic of Turkey and its first president is a respected personality in the country. His tomb in Ankara was built as a sign of the Turks’ deep respect for the man who gave them freedom and a better life.
The Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was laid in 1944. The work took almost nine years, and as a result, the project of local architects Emin Khalid Onat and Ahmed Orhan Arda was embodied in stone.
The building looks very grand. The total area of the complex, which includes the tomb itself, the museum at the mausoleum, the park and farm buildings, is 750 hectares. The architects envisioned four parts of the mausoleum complex: the Hall of Fame, the ceremonial square, the Peace Park and the Road of Lions.
Foreign tourists especially like the collection of cars driven by the first president of the Republic of Turkey. It is exhibited in the museum of the Anitkabir complex. The ceremony of changing the guard of honor also makes a great impression on visitors. Soldiers change 24/7 every hour.
Museum of Atatürk and the War of Independence
The museum on the territory of the Anitkabir mausoleum is dedicated to the war for independence and Kemal Atatürk’s personal contribution to the liberation of the people from foreign intervention. Military operations began in 1919, when the Greek army occupied Izmir, and continued until the signing of the peace treaty in 1923 in Lausanne. After the end of the war, Mustafa Kemal took the name “Atatürk” and became the first president of the new state.
The museum opened in 2002 and has become one of the popular items on the excursion program of Ankara’s guests. At the stands, you can look at the personal belongings of the first president, get acquainted with the course of the Dardanelles operation, depicted on dioramas, imagine the battle of Saqqara and the Great Offensive, and feel the atmosphere of the battles conveyed by sound and video effects.
The museum presents the personal library of Kamal Atatürk, which has more than three thousand volumes.
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
One of the richest in the world, this metropolitan museum attracts everyone who is interested in archeology, history and ancient civilizations to Turkey. It was founded in 1921. Under the patronage of Kemal Atatürk himself, the collection was rapidly replenished with new exhibits. The first president of Turkey studied the history of the Hittites who inhabited Asia Minor in the XIX-XII centuries. to n. e. The powerful Hittite state left many evidences of its existence and development, which is why the exposition of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is dedicated.
In addition to the treasures found in Asia Minor, the collection contains valuable archaeological exhibits from the Neolithic and Bronze Age kingdoms of Urartu and Assyria , the civilizations of Ancient Rome and Greece , the Ottoman Empire and Byzantium .
Atakule Tower
Despite the fact that the Atakule tower appeared in the capital of Turkey only at the end of the 20th century, it quickly became a city landmark, popular among tourists vacationing in Turkey . Hundreds of people climb the 125-meter Atakule every day to get a bird’s-eye view of Ankara.
The Ankara TV Tower, like the communication towers of other cities around the world, has several entertainment areas:
- From the open terrace, you can admire the views of the city and take a selfie at the height of a bird’s eye view.
- In the “Seville” restaurant, you will not only be able to order lunch in a traditional Spanish style, but also make a full turn around the axis of Atakule. The restaurant slowly rotates, and visitors enjoy not only the change of dishes, but also the changing views outside the window.
- There is no change of scenery in the “Kupol” restaurant, but it is at a level higher than “Seville”, and its windows offer a particularly breathtaking view of Ankara at night.
- In a cafe called UFO, the plates are quite ordinary, but do not fly at all. But the views from the windows can compete with the view through the porthole of the plane when landing.
Visitors are taken to the top of Atakule by an elevator that covers 125 m in just 46 seconds.
Gordion
90 km from Ankara, you can see the ruins of the city of Gordion, the former capital of Phrygia. It was located on the right bank of the Sangaria River, near its confluence with the Porsuk River.
Historians believe that the city was founded by Gordius, the former first Phrygian king in the 8th century. to n. Excavations started in the first half of the last century made it possible to discover defensive walls made of raw bricks and stone and made it possible to repel enemy attacks, residential buildings and a necropolis, the burials of which enriched the exposition of the local archaeological museum.
During the excavations, many tools, household items, and weapons, dating back to approximately the VIII-V centuries, were discovered. to a new era.
The main treasure found in Gordion is the mosaics made of rough pebbles. Researchers consider the mosaic floors of the Phrygian capital to be among the first examples of such technology found. The largest mosaic measures 10×11 m and dates back to the VIII-V centuries. to n. e. When creating it, the master used river stones of different colors.
Ankara Castle
The fortress of the Turkish capital was laid by the Galatians on a natural foundation formed by lava deposits. The construction was completed by the Romans, and the Seljuks, who came in the 11th century, rebuilt the fortification to their own taste.
The castle consists of two defensive lines. The inner one surrounds an area equal to 350 square meters with powerful walls. m. At a distance of 40 m from the first ring, a second line of walls with towers was built.
The oldest part of Ankara, the fortress is a fine example of traditional Turkish fortification architecture.
Roman baths in Ankara
The ruins of the ancient Roman baths were discovered during archaeological excavations in the 30s and 40s of the last century. They are located on a plateau in the center of the old district of Ankara called Ulus.
In ancient times, Ankara stood at the crossroads of trade, military and political routes and was part of the Roman Empire. The ancient Romans were known for their love of bath complexes, and in any city that was at least a little in their possession, archaeologists find thermal baths.
The baths of Ankara were built by Emperor Caracalla in the 3rd century . You can see the three departments of the former once luxurious bath complex – the caldarium with hot water, the tepidarium, where the warm baths were located, and the frigidarium – a place for cold baths. The excavation area is about 9.5 hectares. The theory that the baths appeared during the reign of Caracalla is confirmed by the found coins with his image.
State Museum of Fine Arts and Sculpture
A rich collection of works of Turkish art is kept in the State Museum of Ankara. In its halls you will find paintings and sculptures, ceramic products and rare photographs, which represent a special value for history and have been carefully collected since the beginning of the 20th century.
The exposition was opened in 1930 by Kamal Atatürk, who, being an educated person, paid great attention to the preservation of historical traditions and the education of his fellow citizens.
The mansion, where the exhibits are located, is decorated in the Turkish national style. Rosewood plates are used in interior decoration.
The main treasures of the museum are paintings by Osman Hamdibay, Zonar, Emelie Korutürk, and “Doors of Timur Tamerlan” by Vasyl Vereshchagin.
Kocaitepe Mosque in Ankara
The largest mosque of the Turkish capital was built quite recently, but it represents a considerable architectural value. At first, the city authorities decided to build a mosque in modern building traditions, but then they still preferred the classical project of Vedat Dalokai. The architect oversaw the construction, which began in 1967 and lasted for two decades:
- The total area of the building is 4288 square meters. m.
- The mosque is crowned by a large dome, the diameter of which is 25.5 m, and the height exceeds 48 m.
- Four minarets at the corners of the building rise to 88 m each. The towers are decorated with gilded crescents.
The interiors of the main mosque in Ankara are not inferior to Istanbul’s medieval ones. The interior is decorated with colored stained-glass windows and mosaics made of gold plates, marble and hand-painted tiles.
Wonderland Ankara
When you fly to Ankara with children, plan a visit to the Wonderland Ankara amusement park, which is extremely popular with residents and guests of the city.
The park, which opened in 2004, offers a classic set of amusements and attractions where you can have a great time. In the “Wonderland” of Ankara, you will find mini golf and roller coasters, tracks for go-karts and rails for skateboarders, basketball courts and tennis courts, the land of Gulliver and the Lilliputians and other fabulous locations.
The amphitheater, which holds 5,000 spectators, often hosts performances by magicians, pop artists and theater productions.