Ihlara Valley

An epic story of perseverance and ingenuity lies hidden beneath the rocky cliffs of Turkey's Ihlara Valley.

For Calgary's Peter Lapinski, a young Roman Catholic priest, the journey to this remote area was much more than a typical tourist pleasure trip. It was equal parts history lesson, adventure and pilgrimage.

The Melendiz River flows through the fertile Ihlara Valley in Turkey's south-central region of Cappadocia. Located away from major travel

routes and sheltered by a massive extinct volcano, it served as an oasis of faith and intellectual activity since ancient times. The valley is honeycombed with underground villages and more than 100 churches, decorated with Byzantine frescoes, carved into its cliffs by refugees fleeing persecution during the early years of Christianity.

Lapinski, associate pastor at Calgary's St. Patrick's Catholic Church and an avid photographer, recently made a solo trek to explore Turkey's Cappadocia region. His goals were to experience Turkish culture first-hand and visit the remains of the area's colourful history. By travelling alone, he also hoped to discover more about himself.

"I wanted a more open experience, without everything planned ahead of time," says Lapinski. "By travelling alone, you are able to blend in easier, and it almost forces you to interact more with local people. Plus you have freedom about where to go and where to stay, and lots of time to think."

Cappadocia is filled with many surprises, including a distinctive geological feature called "fairy chimneys."

These isolated towers, formed out of hardened volcanic ash eroded from centuries of wind and rain, can stand as high as 40 metres. Often capped by a cone-shaped spire of harder rock, their unusual appearance delights visitors and locals alike.

The otherworldly beauty of Cappadocia's landscape was only part of its draw for Lapinski. The entire region is a unique slice of history, art and culture.

Dr. Anne Moore, a professor in the University of Calgary's department of religious studies, has also visited the area.

"Cappadocia is a pivotal region in the history of Christianity," says Moore. "It was a famous monastic centre for about a thousand years. The Byzantine era is a period that we in the west are not very familiar with. Having the chance to actually see these icons and artwork is fascinating, and gives you a sense of the glory that was known as the Byzantine Empire."

Lapinski spent time exploring the Cappadocian cities of Aksaray and Kayseri, as well as the famous Goreme Open-Air Museum. A complex of medieval rock-hewn monasteries, Goreme is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a favourite stop for visitors. For Lapinski, however, his hike through the more secluded, quiet Ihlara Valley was the highlight of his trip.

The valley's hidden location made it an ideal site for the first Christians to establish a settlement. Fleeing persecution from advancing Roman soldiers, they dug into the cliffs of soft volcanic rock.

Later, Byzantine monks and other inhabitants seeking safety from invaders at various times between the sixth and 13th centuries enlarged the cave-like dwellings and worshipped in giant, hand-carved rock churches. Many of these are decorated with intricate religious artwork and are connected by a labyrinth of tunnels and corridors. Hiking through the valley is a feast for the senses.

"So many sights and sounds -- the caves and churches cut into the rock, the flowers, the birds, the wind, the water flowing through the valley," recalls Lapinski. "But the thing I remember most is the smells, which is a little surprising. Everything smelled so sweet and rich."

Even though the valley is only 16 kilometres long, Lapinski took his time, examining the churches and ancient frescoes, and spending a night in one of the caves.

"It was a really good sleep, so dark and silent, with no one else around," says Lapinski. "The sunset and sunrise were beautiful from my cave. I imagined being part of this community, these people who had lived there so long ago and who shared the same faith as me."

Besides the cave, Lapinski found a variety of inexpensive accommodations in Turkey, including hostels, pensions, overnight bus rides and a Franciscan monastery in Istanbul. Buses in Turkey, his choice of transportation, are clean, safe and cheap.

According to 2009 statistics, the country's population is 98 per cent Muslim, and Lapinski visited a number of mosques. Throughout his trip, he was impressed with the friendliness of the Turkish people.

"There were tea shops on every corner," says Lapinski. "I loved just sitting and watching the people, enjoying the food and music. Everywhere I went people were so helpful and kind. I met some wonderful people, and a few times I was even mistaken for a Turk."

Lapinski encourages others to have a flexible attitude when travelling.

"We all think that when everything is planned ahead of time, we will be more safe and feel more comfortable," says Lapinski, "but if we are open, if we slow down, if we make space and time for God in our lives, we will be happily surprised. And I think this is true every day of our lives."

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Ölüdeniz Beach- Fethiye

Ölüdeniz Beach is Mediterranean Turkey's most beautiful, also its most famous and popular.


Ölüdeniz (ur-LEW-deh-neez, "dead" or calm, sea"), only 8.5 km (5.3 miles) south of Fethiye over the mountains, is big enough to handle the crowds of swimmers and sunbathers, but not always the number of cars and buses that cram the narrow access road.

Paragliders leap from nearby mountaintops, soaring and floating above the beach and the sea, finally landing right on the beach. Tandem paragliding, where two people fly together in the same harness, is very popular.

The fertile alluvial plain behind the beach is now filled with small hotels, pensions and restaurants, and any further expansion has been relegated to the nearby hilltop towns of Ovacik and Hisarönü.

The beach takes its eerie name from the secluded lagoon at the beach's western end by the Hotel Meri. Protected by hills and entered by a narrow channel, the lagoon is calm during even the worst storms.

The Lycian Way, a 500-km (311-mile) rustic footpath, starts in Fethiye and wanders through the hills, descending to Ölüdeniz before ascending again above Kidrak and Faralya, passing the head of Butterfly Valley and the access road to the Tohum Eco-Center before wandering southeastward toward Patara and, ultimately, Antalya.

To get away from it all, consider the Villa Mandarin in Faralya, past Ölüdeniz along the coast.

If you plan only a short stay at Ölüdeniz beach before moving on, you might want to stay in Fethiye, where prices tend to be lower, and take one of the frequent minibuses to Ölüdeniz for the day. All intercity buses operate out of Fethiye's otogar (bus terminal).


For distances from Ölüdeniz to other places, see the distances on the Fethiye page, and add 8.5 km (5.3 miles).

Turkey's Xanadu Island is the latest 5-star all-inclusive luxury resort

A brand-new five-star all-inclusive Turkish resort called Xanadu Island might cause many people to be reminded of the opening lines of Coleridge's poem: 'In Xanadu did Kubla Khan/ A stately pleasure-dome decree...'

Or even Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich's The Legend of Xanadu, famous for its whip-crack sound: 'Our love was for a day, Then doomed to pass away, In Xanadu...'

The tune that kept going around my head, however, was Olivia Newton-John's 1980 ELO-penned hit (bizarrely, ELO's only UK No1): 'A place where nobody dared to go, the love that we came to know, They call it Xanadu...'

From the moment that I checked into the hotel, about 40 minutes' drive west of Bodrum, I had the song stuck in my head.
Xanadu Island

In the swim: Backing onto the Mediterranean, the sensational pool at the five-star Xanadu Island

Imagine my surprise, then, on day two of our stay, when on the stroke of noon, as a pre-lunch treat, a posse of Russian animateurs from the kids' club - all young men with ponytails (post-Soviet coiffeurs have moved on from the mullet, you may be delighted to hear) - leapt up and performed a carefully rehearsed dance routine to the pulsating rhythms of ONJ.

It was the sort of exquisitely daft moment you often get these days on cruise ships.

And this is what Xanadu reminded me of - in the nicest possible way: a land-based cruise ship. Everything you could possibly need for your holiday, in one generously proportioned space.

This Xanadu - near the coastal town of Turgutreis, from where you can now get a fast ferry service to the Greek island of Kos - is a sister hotel to the well-established and popular Xanadu near the city of Antalya.

And while rather than Kubla Khan it might have been commissioned by some very sober-looking Turkish businessmen - much in evidence on the Xanadu website (with very little about the new hotel) - the new property does have the feeling of a pleasure palace. Everything is on a huge scale, from the guest rooms (the bathrooms are vast) to the monster buffet, indoors and outdoors. In the big amphitheatre, for example, you can see a surprisingly grand production of Grease (and there's that ONJ connection, again).

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1295685/Turkeys-Xanadu-Island-latest-5-star-inclusive-luxury-resort.html#ixzz0u9irMIPP
There's a great spa which has a traditional Turkish bath where I rashly agreed to being covered with a muddy gel and pummelled by a worryingly severe man. The session involved frequent dowsings of hot water. As he finished the massage and I rose from the table, he looked me in the eye and said 'Sorry' before pouring a bowl of ice-cold water over my head. It literally took my breath away - all I could do was smile.

There were fewer surprises in store on the fantastic beach with lots of quiet coves. And if you need a change, a short bus ride takes you to Bodrum, which is as about as good and interesting as any Mediterranean resort can get.

Featured in the exclusive collection of five-star hotels to be found in Thomas Cook's Ultimate Style programme, Xanadu is a smart late-booking choice: non-euro Turkey stands out this year as stunningly good-value.

If you travel on October 16, Xanadu Island will cost you just £789pp for seven nights including flights for two adults sharing a junior suite.
Travel facts

For more information, see www.thomascookstyle.com, call 0844 412 5970 or visit your nearest Thomas Cook or Going Places travel agent.

To learn more about Turkey, see the Turkey Mediterranean Coast pocket guide published by Thomas Cook Publishing, £4.99 from www.thomascookpublishing.com or call 01733 416477.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1295685/Turkeys-Xanadu-Island-latest-5-star-inclusive-luxury-resort.html#ixzz0u9ix0uI8

Turkey's Best Beaches

Here are Turkey's top 10 beaches, with nearest big town (in parentheses). Some even rate the coveted Blue Flag for cleanliness.

Important note: most Turkish beaches do not have lifeguards, but some do occasionally have dangerous riptide and undertow conditions. Swim at your own risk, don't swim alone, and make some plan for what to do if disaster strikes.

1. Patara (Fethiye): 50 meters/yards wide and 20 km (12.5 miles) long, this beach 75 km (47 miles) south of Fethiye is Turkey's finest. Accommodations—and shade—are limited, though. (Big photo)

2. Ölüdeniz (Fethiye): Very fine, with good hotels, restaurants and bars, but because it's Turkey's most famous, it can get crowded. (Big photos)

3. Olimpos (Antalya): The opposite of the others: small, secluded, atmospheric, backed by a forest filled with Roman ruins. 79 km (49 miles) southwest of Antalya (map).

4. Side (Antalya): The once-idyllic village 65 km (40 miles) east of Antalya is now crowded and noisy, but the beaches are still fine and unspoiled. Roman ruins abound (map).

5. Alanya: The town (115 km/72 miles east of Antalya) is busy and crowded, but the beaches are so long (22 km/14 miles to the east) that there's plenty of sand for everyone. Great Seljuk castle, too (map).

6. Iztuzu (Dalyan): Good beach, with or w/o logger-head turtles. The town, 8 km (5 miles) NW of Dalaman Airport, the river, cliff tombs and Caunos ruins are a nice bonus.

7. Bodrum Peninsula: Beaches in the towns are not great, but good smaller ones abound: Ortakent Yalisi (coarse sand & pebble), Turgutreis (surfy), and gem-like Gümüslük (map).

8. Kemer (Antalya): Very mod-resorty, but near a lot of interesting day-trip possibilities (map).

9. Pamucak (Ephesus): Big, broad, dark sand, only 7 km (4 miles) west of Ephesus, relatively clean with a few cig butts and bottlecaps (map). (Big photo)

10. Çalış (Fethiye): Long beach near the city cradling yacht-happy Fethiye Bay, good but somehow un-charming, and famous Ölüdeniz is just 10 km (6 miles) away over the hills.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Kızkalesi (Silifke): Known only to Turks and savvy foreigners, the beach is sort of small but the castle out at sea makes up for it.

Sinop: Nice beaches, never crowded, because the Black Sea water is usually pretty chilly.

Kuşadası (Ephesus): Nice enough beaches, but small and very crowded (map).

Antalya: Big, l-o-n-g pebble/coarse sand beach using the Blue Flag System to certify cleanliness (map).

Samandağı (Antakya): W-a-y down near Syria (26 km/16 miles) southwest of Antakya, but has a trash problem.

Anamur (Alanya): Good beach that only Turks seem to know about. Interesting Byzantine ghost town nearby.

BEACH SAFETY:

Note that few Turkish beaches have lifeguards! Be careful of the surf, and prepared to save yourself.

Safranbolu Travel

Safranbolu is located in the Karabük Province in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. It is located approximately 200 kilometers north of Ankara and about a hundred kilometers south of the Black Sea coast. It is about 9 kilometers north of the city of Karabük.

Safranbolu was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1994 due to its well-preserved Ottoman era houses and architecture.


History

Safranbolu’s history dates back around 3,000 years and has been host to many civilizations including the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. There are many tumulis and ancient graves in the Safranbolu area which provide proof of settlement during the early Bronze Age.

When the Roman Empire split in 395AD, the city became part of the Byzantine Empire. Although Turks took power in 1196, control of Safranbolu switched between the Empires for many years and contrary views remain regarding when the Ottomans took definitive power of the city.

There were a series of civil wars beginning in 1402 and it was only when Sultan Mehmet united the Ottomans that the city was definitively rested in Ottoman hands. The administrative structure of Safranbolu changed many times throughout its history. The town’s first mayor was Haci Muhammed Aga, who took power in 1870.

Safranbolu’s importance is often linked to its strategic position on the Silk Road and it was an important caravan trading post, especially well known for its top quality saffron, for which the city is named for.
Navigation

Located at the west of Black Sea Region in Turkey, Safranbolu has the coordinates as 41 degree 16 minute northern latitude, 32 degree 41 minute eastern longitude. It's a borough of Karabük Province and 10km from Karabük on the southwest, 70 km from Amasra on the north, 225 km from Ankara on the south and 390 km from Istanbul on the west.
Weather

Safranbolu's climate takes on characteristics of the Black Sea and Central Anatolian regions of Turkey. The city enjoys hot summers, cold winters and mild spring and autumn seasons.

Jan 18, 2010 http://www.dmi.gov.tr/en-US/forecast-cities.aspx?m=karabuk
Turkish State Meteorological Service
Getting there
By plane

There are no airports close to Safranbolu.
By train

There is a Karaelmas Ekspresi ('Black Diamond Express') train which runs from Ankara to Zonguldak. Those bound for Safranbolu should exit the train at the 'Karabuk' stop and take a taxi or bus to Safranbolu from there. Up to date timetable information, prices and bookings can be done through the Turkish State Railways website: [1]
By car

Those coming to Safranbolu by car along the Ankara-Istanbul Highway should take the 'Gerede' exit and continue north. There are signs directing travellers to Karabuk and Safranbolu.
By bus

The easiest way to reach Safranbolu by bus is to take one of the many direct services to nearby Karabuk, from where frequent minibuses make the 8km journey to Kirankoy. There are some direct buses which run from Ankara to Kirankoy (4 hours). From Istanbul-Karabuk it take 6 - 7 hours.
By boat

As Safranbolu is located inland, it is not possible to reach by boat.
Getting around
By car
By public transport

The easiest way to get around Safranbolu is by dolmus (shared taxi). There are regular dolmus services which run between the new town and old town of Safranbolu, a distance of about 2km. There are also local buses which run from the main square in Carsi (the old town) to the roundabout in Kirankoy and finish in Bağlar at the Köyiçi stop.
By foot

Safranbolu is easily accessible by walking, and is a good way to take in the history and architecture of Carsi (the old town) and its historic houses.
By bike
See

Most visitors come to Safranbolu to see its impressive houses. There are over 1,000 preserved Ottoman buildings which date to the 18th and 19th centuries. Almost all of the structures have been preserved, giving a rare glimpse into life during Ottoman times.

The town functions as a virtual open air museum. There are a number of public buildings worth visiting including the Cinci Hodja Hamam (Turkish bath), the Tennaries Clock Tower, an old hospital and city hall, mosques, the Incekaya Aqueduct and many private homes which are open to the public. The houses, many of which have between 6 and 9 rooms over 3-4 stories, reflect the large number of family members which once inhabited them. Intricate carvings can be found on some interior walls and ceilings of the houses.

Other popular attractions include the Köprülü Mehmet Paşa Camii (Mosque) which dates to 1661; the historic 17th century Cinci Hamam which is still in operation; the Cinci Hanı caravanserai which was constructed in 1645 and is now a hotel; and Hıdırlık Parkı (Hidirlik Park).
Do

Take a wander through the old town, admiring the UNESCO World Heritage preserved buildings.


Events and Festivals

Safranbolu welcomes filmmakers who are interested in documentarism to INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN SAFFRON DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL once a year in September.
Eat

Safranbolu has a large selection of cafes and restaurants. Some of the more popular of these include:

Cevrikkopru- this restaurant has 3 branches in Safranbolu and offers a variety of grills and traditional Turkish meals.

Merkez Lokantasi- located opposite the Köprülü Mehmet Paşa Mosque, this eatery is popular with both locals and travellers.
Drink

Asmaalti Cafe & Bar serves up food and live music.

Sleep

There are a fair variety of accommodation options in Safranbolu, the most popular of which are the many hotels, pensions and guesthouses located inside the restored Ottoman houses. Most hotels are in the mid-range category but there are also some budget and high-end options available.
Budget

Bastocu Hotel & Pension- This small historic pension has shared dormitories and private rooms as well as a garden.

Safranbolu Camlica Konagi- this 3-storey family-run mansion has capacity for 35 guests in 10 bedrooms.
Mid-Range

Cesmeli Konak- This hotel was built in the 19th century and maintains traditional Turkish decor and decoration.

Efe Guesthouse- this Ottoman-era guesthouse is over 180 years old and has a roof terrace which enjoys views over the city.
Upscale

Gulevi Hotel- set inside two renovated Ottoman houses, this historic hotel has all modern amenities.

Cinci Han Hotel- situated inside a 17th century building, Cinci Han Hotel has a variety of suites to choose from, as well as a restaurant, cafe, bar and conference facilities.
Learn

Karabuk Universitesi Safranbolu Meslek Yuksekokulu [2] is a vocational school as a part of Karabuk university. The mission of the Safranbolu Vocational School is to reach, produce, apply and promote knowledge, and to educate individuals with that knowledge for the social, cultural, scientific and technological development of the society.
Keep connected
Internet
Phone

Phone code for Safranbolu is +90 (370)


Post office PTT is located at Yeni Mahallesi, Sadri Artunç Caddesi, No:82 in the town and the phone number is +90-370-712 6733.
Safety

EMNİYET MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ - Police Department's phone number is (+90) 370 712 12 22

JANDARMA KOMUTANLIĞI - District Gendarmerie Command's phone number is (+90) 370 712 12 20
Stay Healthy

Safranbolu Devlet Hastanesi (State Hospital) [3] is located at İnönü Mahallesi, Sağlık Sokak in Safranbolu and the phone number is (+90) 370 712 11 87.

AVANOS TRAVEL

Avanos is the pottery centre of Cappadocia. The city is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak, meaning the Red River. The river gets its name from the clay that it deposits - the caly that is used for the pottery Avanos is famous for.

The main street of town has numerous shops and workshops selling plain and decorated pots and plates and you can watch the potters at work using kick wheels, the design of which has remained unchanged for generations. Many of the workshops will encourage you to have a go yourself. Groups of tourists are shipped in the whole time and there are always a few people willing to give it a go - always good for a few laughs.

Avanos is a possible base for exploring Cappadocia with accommodation and services available at reasonable rates. Sights in town include the Caravanserai, a restored Han (travellers 'service station'), and the Ozkanak Underground city, a smaller version of those at Derinkuyu and Kaymakli.

ANTALYA - KEMER TRAVEL

Overview
Like many resort towns, Kemer was purpose-built and thus has little local flavour, with all of its amenities aimed at tourists on holiday. Kemer's setting, however, is incredibly beautiful, and it supposedly had its origins as a Lycian settlement.

The small seaside town of Kemer is situated in a forested valley surrounded by the western Taurus Mountains, close to the larger, livelier resort of Antalya. It boasts a lovely marina with a promenade down to the beach, and tastefully designed hotels and houses spread along the shore, and there are many bays and coves to explore. An interesting place to visit is the Yoruk (Nomad) Park where visitors can see traditional craftsmen at work under leafy trees.

There is not much to do in the town itself, and day trips to neighbouring Beldibi or Antalya are recommended, as are trips to the ancient sites of Phaselis and Olympos, as well as the fascinating, permanent natural vents, known as the Fires of Chimaera, that release burning methane and whose flames were used by sailors to navigate at night.

Many hotels in Kemer offer their own entertainment and activities for guests, and several have private beach access. Kemer therefore suits those looking for little else but an extremly relaxing holiday.

KUŞADASI - KUSADASI

Kuşadası is a major Aegean resort town and cruise ship port. Being so close to the renowned ruins of Ephesus (map), it gets more than its share of Turkish and foreign visitors.
Once a sleepy farming village, Kuşadası (koo-SHAH-dah-suh) was transformed by the Turkish tourism boom of the 1980s. It's now a busy resort with a beach along the waterfront boulevard in town and several other beaches north and south of the town. They tend to be crowded in the summer.
Scores of hotels provide for the sun-seekers.


The prime beach—rather narrow, and backed by city—is Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Plajı). Some visitors make the 15-minute, 8-km drive to nearby Pamucak Beach, which is wide, long and uncrowded, nearer to Ephesus, but with fewer services.

You can use it as a base for visiting sights in the region such as Ephesus; Priene, Miletus and Didyma; Euromos; Pamukkale and Aphrodisias. Guided tours are available to all these places, or you can see them by yourself. More...

When a cruise ship is in port, Kusadasi's transient population soars and the market teems with hagglers. If you're arriving on a cruise ship and would like a good, reasonably-priced shore excursion like those mentioned above, contact Anker Travel, a trusted local tour operator, travel agency and TurkeyTravelPlanner.com partner.

Click here for full information on ferries to Greece and the Greek Islands.

In the evening, Kuşadası's nightlife scene is lively, from the British- and Irish-themed bars to the cool jazz haunts.

Here's how to travel to and from Kuşadası.

Here's a tip: pronounce the town's name "koo-SHAH-dah-suh" if you want to sound like you know what you're doing. That's the correct Turkish pronunciation. (The clueless pronounce it "KOOS-uh-DASS-see.") It means "Bird Island:" kus = bird, ada(si) = island.

POPULAR TURKEY TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

Ankara City Information (The Capital of Turkey)

The Ankara region's past reaches all the way back to prehistoric times. While there are several versions as to the origin of the name Ankara, it seems as though its historically recorded name has hardly changed ever since antiquity untill our time: Ankyra (Ancyra), Angora, Enggürü and now Ankara.

After having remained within the borders of successively the Hittites, Phrygians, Kimmerians, Persians, Lydians, Macedonians, Galatians, Romans and Seljuks, the town was included in the Ottoman realm in 1354, by the son of Orhan Gazi [Gazi=Veteran Fighter of the Faith, Orhan Gazi was the Ottoman sovereign, �1362], Süleyman Pasha [Pasha=Commander]. In 1902, the Province of Ankara included 5 sanjaks and 21 kazas [sanjak and kaza are subdivisions of an Ottoman province], but in 1924 the sanjaks were abolished according to the Bill on the Principles of Organization and thus the sanjaks of Kayseri, Yozgat, Kirsehir, and Çorum were elevated to province status and thus separated from the Province of Ankara.

Our province, where the planning for the Liberation War and preparations for the founding of the Republic took place, holds a special significance in our recent history. After he had chosen Ankara as headquarters to conduct the proceedings of the Representative Body, Mustafa Kemal was greeted with much enthusiasm upon arriving here on Dec. 27th, 1919. It was here that, from that day on, Mustafa Kemal started to form the foundations of the Turkish Republic. The town of Ankara, declared Capital on Oct. 13th, 1923, was from then on the scene of a rapid social, economical, political, military and cultural development.

CULTURE:
Ankara, which has been the cradle of the Anatolian Civilizations for ages, has been in a rapid social development and renewal especially in the aspect of cultural activities, after becoming the Capital City. In our province, which has been the resort of many civilizations from the Ancient Anatolian culture up to day, we see the deep effects of the developments in the traditions, conventions and culture more clearly in the rural areas.

The trend, which started with imitating the old Ottoman architecture especially in the Dikmen, Çankaya and Gazi Osman Paşa quarters of the province, transformed into modern architecture and pioneered the form and style of today� contemporary Turkish architecture. Besides, the old mansions and houses in the Ankara Castle today still live almost without any changes.

In our province there are about 30 official and private museums, 1 National Library with its renewed facilities, 43 public, 1 mobile and 1 children� library. Moreover, many official and private organizations that address to national and international congress tourism keep alive the cultural activities. In our province there are 343 associations and foundations performing cultural and art activities. There are 418 printing houses, 32 cinemas, 8 state theaters and 21 private theaters in our province.

Our province has made successful works in the field of museums after becoming the Capital City. Anatolian Civilizations (Archaeology) and Ethnography Museums were established in the first years of our Republic and their works of art are rapidly becoming rich.

Anitkabir Ankara Atakule Ankara Ankara Hotels

WHERE TO VISIT?



- Anitkabir (Ataturk Mausoleum)
Located in an imposing position in the Anittepe quarter of the city stands the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic. Completed in 1953, it is an impressive fusion of ancient and modern architectural ideas and remains unsurpassed as an accomplishment of modern Turkish architecture. There is a museum housing writings, letters and items belonging to Ataturk as well as an exhibition of photographs recording important moments in his life and the establishment of the republic. (Anitkabir and the museum is open everyday, except Mondays. During the summer, there is a light and sound show in the evenings).

- The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Close to the citadel gate an old bedesten has been beautifully restored and now houses a marvelous and unique collection including Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian and Roman works. (Open everyday, except Monday. During the summer, the museum opens everyday).

- The Ethnographical Museum
Opposite the Opera House on Talat Pasa Boulevard is the Ethnographical Museum. There is a fine collection of folkloric artifacts as well as fine items from Seljuk and Ottoman mosques. (Open everyday, except Monday).

- The Ankara Citadel
The foundations of the citadel were laid by the Galatians on a prominent lava outcrop, and completed by the Romans; the Byzantines and Seljuks made restorations and additions. The area around and inside the citadel is the oldest part of Ankara and many fine examples of traditional architecture can be seen within the citadel walls. There are also lovely green areas in which to relax.

- The Temple of Augustus
The temple can be found in the Ulus quarter of the city. It was built in the 2nd century BC and only later dedicated to the Emperor Augustus. It is important today for the 'Monument Ancyranum', the testament of Augustus that is inscribed on its walls in Latin and Greek. In the fifth century the temple was converted to a church.

- The Roman Bath
The bath, situated on Cankiri Avenue in Ulus, has the typical features of Roman baths: a frigidarium (cold section), tepidarium (cool section) and caldarium (hot section). They were built in the time of the Emperor Caracalla (3rd century AD) in honor of the god of medicine, Asclepios. Today only the basement and first floors remain.

- The Column of Julian
This column, in Ulus, was erected in 362 AD 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.

- Haci Bayram Mosque
This mosque, in Ulus, next to the Temple of Augustus, was built in the early 15th century and subsequently restored by Sinan in the l6th century with Kutahya tiles being added in the 18th century. The mosque was built in honor of Haci Bayram Veli whose tomb is next to the mosque.

AMASRA

Amasra is a small Black Sea port town in the Bartyn Province, Turkey. The town is today much appreciated for its beaches and natural setting, which has made tourism the most important activity for its inhabitants.
Amasra has two islands: the bigger one is called Buyuk ada (Great Island) while the smaller one is called Tavsan adasy (Rabbit Island).

Aspendos

Aspendos, a theater with a 10,000- person capacity located in between the peaks of the Toros Mountains, is a a oemust seea sight and has attracted droves of admirers over the years.