Ankara is not a resort town. It is located in the center of Turkey, 4.5 hours drive from Istanbul to the south-east.
But this is, by the way, the second largest city in the country. Here lives, for a minute, more than 4 million people! But until the 20th century Ankara was a small town where 16 thousand people lived. In 1923, Ankara became the capital of Turkey. In general, the story is very long and interesting, and how many interesting here, you just do not imagine yourself!
The oldest sights lead their history from Roman times! So what sights are in Ankara:
Kocatepe Camii (Kocatepe Camii)
Ankara's largest mosque was built in 1987 on a hill. The mosque is located on the square of almost 4300 sq.m., in the height of a mosque of almost 50 meters. The dome is also a huge, more than 25 meters in diameter. Next to the main dome - four high mineral agents of 88 meters - these buildings, decorated with gold crescents, are visible from afar. Inside the mosque is rich: stained glass, gold jewelry, crystal chandeliers, marble, colored tiles. Inside, the model of the Mescid-I Nebevi mosque, which the mosques gave the King of Saudi Arabia at the end of the last century. The complex also includes a conference center and library.
Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi)
The museum was founded in 1921 in the 15th century buildings, which were once a steep market and a caravan shed. The museum holds exhibits that tell you about the history and culture of all the peoples who have ever lived in Anatolia (the middle of the territory of modern Turkey) from the most pressing times. Here you can admire the ancient Greek and the ancient Roman artifacts, the objects of the neolithic era, the bronze era and others. Some of the finds here under 8000 years! Here figurines, furniture items, metal vases, decorations and much more. In the 90s, the museum was named the best European museum of the year. We must go!
State Museum of Fine Arts and Sculpture (Ankara Resim Ve Heykel Muzesi)
The museum represents works of Turkish artists from the 19th century to the present day, as well as the museum is the basis for exhibitions of other museums. In addition, the museum exhibits objects that tell you about the ethnographic and historical features of this region. Collections here are presented by works by painting, sculptures, ceramics, graphs and photos.
Hisar Fortress (Hisar)
The powerful fortress is on top of the hill - it is difficult not to notice! The fortress "hug" double walls with a thickness of 8 meters and 12 meters high. The external ring of the walls, it is intended to be built in the ninth century, internal - in the sixth. The fortress itself was created from the stone, which was removed from the ruins of ancient ancient facilities on this territory.
Towers inside have a height of 14-16 meters. And within the fortress there are several houses of the 17th century, more precisely, the fact that the 19th century mosque remains and the streets of the ancient city. To go into the fortress, you need to find the gate at the clock tower. Pay attention to the highest point of construction - white fortress. She, by the way, is very decent preserved to the present day. Today there are shops and souvenir shops in the fortress, restaurants. Most buildings inside the Citadel are protected by the UNESCO Organization.
And do not forget the camera when you go there - views from the hill are awesome stunning!
Aslanhane Camii Mosque
This antique mosque is also called the "lion's house", due to the fact that the statues of Lviv are located on the wall next to the mosque. This mosque is located next to the Hisar fortress. It was erected in the 18th century on the ruins of the ancient Roman cathedral, and, in fact, from the stones from this temple and other old temples. The mosque gates are decorated with white marble. The fact that the fortress was built by Selzhuki, proves the classic Mihrab (niche in the mosque wall), covered with fine color enamel. Also impressive Minbar (the tribune that sermons read) from walnut wood.
Interestingly in the design of the mosque is that her arch relies on 24 columns that are very pretty decorated wood thread. And in general, there are really many wooden jewelry in this mosque, so it is sometimes even called "Forest Mosque". Once minarets were covered with a tiled blue color, today she almost fell off. But you can imagine how this facility looked at something!
Jenaba Ahmet Pasha Mosque (Hirami Ahmet Pasha Mosque)
Look for this mosque on Uluchanar Street. It was built in 1566 in honor of Anatolian Balgearby (City Ruler) Ahmed Pasha. Inside you can see his tomb of the octagonal form. One of the oldest mosques of the city. The most interesting part, in addition to the tombs, a prayer niche of white marble, which, by the way, is very large, the size of 14x14 meters. Mosque with three domes, with one minaret on the right and luxurious three arches. Inside, you can count 32 small windows in three rows, and under the ceiling hangs a huge crystal chandelier.
Genchlik Park (Genchlik Park)
This park is located near the Ulus district. The place is also called the "Park of Youth", because local youth loves to shake there. This park, by the way, is one of the oldest in the city and occupies a territory under thirty hectares. In the center of the park there is a lake, as well as here you will find different areas of recreation and benches with sweets. There is a moon park, fountains and cafes in the park. In this park, the city "Festival Ramadan", book fairs, concerts, souvenir fairs are held.
Roman bathrooms (Roma Hamamlari)
A completely stunning place is located in the ulus area, which I mentioned above. The complex of the Roman bath appeared here in the 3rd century. It consisted of four parts: a cold hall with a room for dressing and a swimming pool, a hot room for washing, steam rooms and a lounge. Of course, today you can see exclusively ruins, a couple of brick columns and the remainder of the walls. But it looks all extremely impressive.
Haji Bayram Mosque (Haci Bayram Camii)
The mosque erected on the foundation of the ancient Byzantine Church is named after the founder of Dervish Order by Byira. A small dark color mosque looks strictly. Once her entrance covered the doors that were replaced by copies, and the originals were transported to the Ethnographic Museum of Ankara - they were painfully beautiful!