It is generally believed that there is nothing much to do in the capital of Turkey. There are no beaches and all-inclusive resort hotels here, the bustling life in Istanbul on the shores of the Bosphorus is more than 700 km and several transfers to the cave cities of Cappadocia. And yet, once in Ankara, you can spend your time fascinatingly and unforgettablely, because the Turkish capital is one of the oldest cities on the Asia Minor peninsula. Located at the crossroads of trade routes, it flourished as early as the 7th century BC 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 here for those who vacation in Turkey. In Ankara, lovers of medieval buildings, and admirers of museum exhibitions, and those who like to wander through the old streets with a camera in their hands and photograph life as it is will undoubtedly like it.
Sights of Ankara
Anitkabir
The founder of the Turkish Republic and its first president is a respected person 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 Ataturk was laid in 1944. The work took almost nine years, and as a result, the project of local architects Emin Halid Onat and Ahmed Orhan Arda was embodied in stone.
The structure looks very majestic. The total area of the complex, which includes the tomb itself, the museum at the mausoleum, the park and outbuildings, is 750 hectares. The architects have provided 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 that the first president of the Turkish Republic drove. 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. The soldiers change around the clock every hour.
Ataturk and War of Independence Museum
The museum on the territory of the Anitkabir Mausoleum is dedicated to the War of Independence and Kemal Ataturk’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 “Ataturk” and became the first president of the new state.
The museum opened in 2002 and has become one of the popular points of the excursion program for guests of Ankara. At the stands you can see the personal belongings of the first president, get acquainted with the course of the Dardanelles operation, depicted in dioramas, imagine the Battle of Sakarya and the Great Offensive and feel the atmosphere of the battles, conveyed by sound and video effects.
The museum presents the personal library of Kemal Ataturk, which has over three thousand volumes.
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
One of the richest in the world, this metropolitan museum attracts everyone interested in archeology, history and ancient civilizations to Turkey. It was founded in 1921. Under the patronage of Kemal Ataturk 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 19th-12th centuries BC. The powerful Hittite state left a lot of evidence of its existence and development, which is what the exhibition of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is dedicated to.
In addition to the treasures found in the lands of Asia Minor, the collection contains valuable archaeological exhibits from the Neolithic and Bronze Age of the kingdoms of Urart 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 Turkish capital only at the end of the 20th century, it quickly became a city landmark, popular among tourists holidays in Turkey. Hundreds of people climb the 125-meter Atakule every day to see Ankara from a bird’s eye view.
Ankara TV Tower, like communication towers in other cities around the world, has several entertainment venues:
- From the open terrace you can admire the views of the city and take a selfie at a bird’s eye view.
- At the Seville restaurant, you can not only order a traditional Spanish-style lunch, but also make a full turn around the Atakule axis. The restaurant rotates slowly, and visitors enjoy not only the change of dishes, but also the changing views outside the window.
- In the Kupol restaurant, there is no change of scenery, but it is one level higher than the Seville, and its windows offer a particularly breathtaking view of night Ankara.
- In the cafe called UFO, the plates are quite ordinary, and do not fly at all. But the views from the windows can compete with the view from the plane’s porthole when landing.
A lift takes visitors to the top of Atakule, covering 125 m in just 46 seconds.
Gordion
90 km from Ankara, you can see the ruins of the city of Gordion, the former ancient capital of Phrygia. It was located on the right bank of the Sangaria River, near the confluence of the Porsuk River.
Historians believe that the city was founded by Gordius, the former first Phrygian king in the 8th century BC. e. Excavations begun in the first half of the last century have revealed defensive walls made of mud brick and stone, which allowed repelling enemy attacks, residential buildings and a necropolis, the burial of which enriched the exposition of the local archaeological museum.
During the excavations, many tools, household items and weapons were discovered, dating back to approximately the 8th-5th centuries. BC.
The main treasure found in Gordion is mosaics made of unprocessed pebbles. Researchers consider the mosaic floors of the Phrygian capital to be one of the first examples of such technology found. The largest mosaic measures 10×11 m and dates back to the 8th-5th centuries. BC. e. When creating it, the master used river stones of different colors.
Ankara Castle
The fortress of the Turkish capital was founded by the Galatians on a natural foundation formed by lava deposits. The construction was completed by the Romans, and the Seljuks, who arrived in the 11th century, rebuilt the fortification to their own taste.
The castle consists of two defensive lines. The inner one surrounds an area of 350 sq. m. with powerful walls. 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 beautiful example of traditional Turkish fortification architecture.
Roman Baths in Ankara
The ruins of ancient Roman baths were discovered during archaeological excavations in the 1930s and 1940s. 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 even slightly within their possessions, archaeologists find baths.
The Ankara Baths were built by Emperor Caracalla in the 3rd century. You can see three sections of the former once luxurious bath complex – a caldarium with hot water, a tepidarium, where warm baths were located, and a 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 coins found with his image.
State Museum of Fine Arts and Sculpture
A rich collection of works of Turkish art is kept in the Ankara State Museum. In its halls you will find paintings and sculptures, ceramics and rare photographs that are of particular value for history and have been carefully collected since the beginning of the 20th century.
The exposition was opened in 1930 by Kemal Ataturk, who, being an educated man, 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 panels were used in the interior decoration.
The main treasures of the museum are paintings by Osman Hamdi-bay, Zonar, Emely Korutürk and “The Doors of Timur Tamerlane” by Vasily Vereshchagin.
Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara
The largest mosque in the Turkish capital was built quite recently, but represents considerable architectural value. Initially, the city authorities decided to build a mosque in modern building traditions, but then they still preferred the classical project of Vedata Dalokaya. The architect supervised the construction, which began in 1967 and lasted for two decades:
- The total area of the building is 4288 sq. m.
- The mosque is crowned with 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 88 m each. The towers are decorated with gilded crescents.
The interiors of the main mosque of Ankara are not inferior to the medieval ones of Istanbul. The interior is decorated with colored stained glass windows and mosaics made of gold plates, marble and hand-painted tiles.
Wonderland Ankara
When flying to Ankara with children, plan a visit to the Wonderland Ankara amusement park, which is very popular with residents and guests of the city.
The park, which opened in 2004, offers a classic set of entertainment and attractions where you can have a great time. You will find mini-golf and roller coasters, go-kart tracks and skateboard rails, basketball courts and tennis courts, the land of Gulliver and the Midgets and other fabulous locations in the Wonderland Ankara.
The amphitheater, which seats 5,000 spectators, often hosts performances by magicians, pop artists, and theater productions.
