Saturday, 4 July 2009
Central Anatolia Region of Turkey has several touristic attractions people can visit in summer.
Some of touristic and historic sites in Central Anatolia are as follows:
-BEYPAZARI-
People show great interest in Beypazari, situated near the capital Ankara, due to its historical mansions. Heart of the action is Alaattin Sokak, the cobbled main street, where locals gather behind makeshift stalls to sell dried fruit and nuts, and all manner of carrot-flavored items.
Beypazari is famous with its pastries including dry buttery biscuit called "Beypazarı kurusu", and a renowned 80-layer "baklava".
-KIZILCAHAMAM-
Kızılcahamam, a town and district of Ankara, is known for its healing hot springs and mineral waters. Nearby Soguksu National Park contains a scout camp and walks, and areas for picnics in the forest. There are hotels and guest houses including spa hotels.
-LAKE TUZ-
Lake Tuz (Salt), located at 150 km southeast of Ankara, meets a major part of salt need of Turkey. Lake Tuz is a worth-seeing place due to its fascinating sunset.
-NALLIHAN BIRD PARADISE-
Nallihan Bird Paradise, in Davutoglan village of Nallihan town of Ankara, is a protected area. More than 168 bird species live in Nallihan Bird Paradise.
-CORUM-
People, who want to see traces of Hittite civilization, should visit Corum province, located inland in the central Black Sea Region of Turkey. Hattusa, which was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age, is in Bogazkale town of Corum. Excavations were launched in the region nearly 100 years ago. People can see historical artifacts of Hattusa in Bogazkale Museum and Corum Museum.
Alacahoyuk where religious rituals of Hittites were held was also the art center of Hittite Empire. A dam, dating back to 1240 BC, was unearthed in Alacahoyuk in 2003.
Corum is also known for its leblebi, a kind of snack made from roasted chickpeas. It is sometimes roasted with salt, hot spices or dried cloves. There is also a candy coated variety.
-TOKAT-
Tokat is an important province for its thermal springs, mosques, madrasahs, bridges and tombs.
The most important landmark here is the Ottoman Citadel of 28 towers, founded on a rocky hill overlooking the town. The Garipler Mosque dating to the 12th century and the Ali Pasa Mosque of 16th century are other sights worth visiting.
One of Tokat's finest buildings is the Gok Medrese which was constructed in 1270. It was founded as a school of theology, and is now converted into a museum, housing archaeological finds from the area.
-SIVAS-
Tourists should first visit Divrigi Great Mosque, an ornately decorated mosque and medical complex built in 1299 in Divrigi in Sivas province, which served as a capital city to Seljuk Turks in 1200s. The mosque is included in the UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Sivas is also famous for its thermal springs which have a respectable percentage in the city's income. People believe that the water of these thermal springs can cure many illnesses. The most famous thermal areas are, Sicak Cermik, Soguk Cermik, and Kangal Hot Spring with Fish (Balikli Kaplica)where the fish present in the water simply suck out the diseased areas in a curettage-like fashion. Many, doctors and clinics throughout Turkey recommend their patients to try the Kangal thermal waters as a curative.
Sivas is also home to famous Kangal dog that is originally used as livestock guardian dog.
-KAYSERI-
Kayseri is one of the important provinces of Central Anatolia Region. The 1500-year-old castle, built initially by the Romans, is still standing in good shape at the central square of the city. The Seljuk rule left large number of historical landmarks; historical buildings such as the Hunad Hatun complex, Kilij Arslan Mosque, The Grand Mosque and Gevher Nesibe asylum.
Kayseri is renowned for its culinary specialties such as manti (a dish similar to ravioli), pastirma (pastrami) and sucuk (soujouk). The province is also famous for its carpet sellers, and a range of carpets and rugs can be purchased reasonably ranging from new to 50 or more years old.
-NIGDE-
People can visit several historical landmarks, stay in thermal hotels, ski or have trekking trips in Nigde province. Alaaddin Mosque in Nigde Castle and Gumusler Monastery are among historical attractions in the province.
-KONYA-
Konya is one of the first settlements in human history. Its trove of historical treasures makes the city seem like a giant museum. The Mevlana (Jalaladdin Rumi) Museum plays a great role in attracting a large number of Turkish and foreign visitors. The main building of the museum holds the mausoleum containing the tombs of the Mevlana, his father and other notables. It is visited by nearly 2 million people every year.
Apart from the Mevlana Museum, other famous museums of Konya are the Ince Minare Madrasah, where stone and wooden works are exhibited; the Sircali Madrasah, where tombstones are exhibited; the Karatay Museum, where china items are exhibited and the Ethnography Museum.
-CAPPADOCIA-
Cappadocia which is unique in the world and is a miraculous nature wonder with its famous "fairy chimneys," is the common name of the field covered by the provinces of Aksaray, Nevsehir, Nigde, Kayseri and Kirsehir in the Central Anatolian region.
The Cappadocia region is largely underlain by sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams, and ignimbrite deposits erupted from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago.
Cappadocia contains several underground cities, largely used by early Christians as hiding places before Christianity became an accepted religion.
-AKSARAY-
Aksaray province, which is considered an entrance of Cappadocia, attracts attention of tourists with Ihlara Valley, underground cities, churches and mosques.
-NEVSEHIR-
The Goreme Open Air Museum in Nevsehir province is the most visited site of the monastic communities in Cappadocia and is one of the most famous sites in central Turkey. It is a complex comprising more than 30 rock-carved churches and chapels containing some superb frescoes, dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries.
Avanos is a town and district of Nevsehir. Avanos overlooks to the Kızılırmak (Red River) which is longest river of Turkey. The most famous historical feature of Avanos is the production of pottery. Pottery factories date right back to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has always been used.
Zelve Open Air Museum; was founded on the steep northern slopes of Aktepe. Consisting of three separate valleys, the ruins of Zelve is the area that contains most of the "fairy chimneys."
Another highlight of Cappadocia region is Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tours.
-ESKISEHIR-
Eskisehir is one of the oldest settlements (3500 BC) in Anatolia. The city is of interest with its museums; the Archaeological Museum which houses the Phrygian objects and sculptures; the Ottoman House Museum which is a very fine example of the 19th century domestic architecture and has the local ethnographical items.
Eskisehir is renowned for its meerschaum stone. The best meerschaum stone works can be seen at the Meerschaum Museum.
Goceli tarhana (soup with dried yogurt), harsil, cig borek (raw pastry), katlama boregi (folded pastry) are among the local traditional cuisine of Eskisehir.
