The Largest Cities in Turkey
Ankara founded in the 7th century BC The modern capital of Turkey – Ankara with a population of 3.6 million is freely located in the center of the Anatolian plateau. From the time of its appearance on the map until 1930, the city of Ankara, known as Angora, in 1928 began to be equipped with European-style buildings, which soon formed the New City on the site of the serene steppe. Leaving the main occupation associated with breeding the famous Angora goats, from the long and fluffy wool of which excellent knitting threads were made, the locals were actively involved in the construction of the future capital of the state. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the government, which moved by order of Ataturk from Istanbul to Ankara, determined the city to be the main political center of the country. In ancient times, Ankara, which was a significant city of the Roman Empire in the northern part of the city, in its old quarter, has such witnesses of antiquity as: the Byzantine citadel of Hisar with a double ring of walls, the ruins of the temple of Augustus and Roma, the temple of Arslankhane (13th century), the Aladdin mosque (12th century) and Hadji Bayram (15th century), Roman baths. In addition, it is in Old Ankara that the majority of inexpensive hotels and restaurants are concentrated, always full of foreign guests. The main building of New Ankara is the political epicenter of Turkey – the Presidential Mansion, the interior of which has not undergone any changes since the time of Ataturk. After the death of the first Turkish democrat, the laconic mausoleum of Ataturk was built in Ankara, the architecture of which reflects the features of several Anatolian empires.
Hilt. Counting down the millennia of its existence, once the most beautiful and majestic city of the Mediterranean – Ephesus today has become a luxurious open-air museum with the best preserved monuments compared to other ancient Turkish cities. At the beginning of its history, Ephesus, which was called Ionia, experienced the influence of Greek and Roman culture in its lifetime, has always been proud of its rich architectural decoration. Now in ruins, the famous Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, ranked among the seven wonders of the world by ancient architects, the impressive Temple of Hadrian, the marble-paved Arcadian Way, along with the gigantic Harbor Gumnasium, many Roman fountains, libraries attract a lot of attention from tourists. Planning a tour of Ephesus, in which, according to legend, the Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life, and the apostles Paul and John took up the pen, one should take into account the peculiarities of the local climate. The heat that flares up by noon in most cases is not conducive to a measured walking tour of Ephesus, in which one should consider the mythical Grotto of Seven Sleepers, in which seven persecuted youths hid for two centuries.
Cappadocia – one of the most unusual and mysterious places in Turkey. The beauty of unusual landscapes and the unique history of monasteries and cities carved into the rocks make Cappadocia a truly unforgettable place. Cappadocia is a semi-desert region in the central part of Turkey, known for its fairy chimneys – high cone-shaped rock formations, which are especially numerous in Pasabag (Valley of the Monks) and the Göreme Valley. The region is also famous for its Bronze Age dwellings, which were hollowed out in the valleys by troglodytes (cavemen) and then used as shelters by the early Christians. The Ihlara Canyon, 100 meters deep, is home to many rock-cut churches. Despite the fact that the administrative center of the district is the city of Nevsehir, the main stopover place for tourists to access the main attractions is the town – GOREME By the way, there are other ancient cities in Cappadocia that deserve attention: Uchisar, Urgup, Ortahisar and Avanos. All of them are located within a radius of 5-10 km from Goreme.
Underground cities and shrines of Cappadocia. Nevsehir is one of the few cities in Cappadocia where people, like 500 years ago, live in tuff caves, having converted them into modern dwellings. Urgup is remarkable for its unique cave houses, as well as the temple and the house where St. John the Russian prayed and lived. Goreme. The main local attraction is the open-air museum, which includes about 30 cave churches. Derinkuyu is an ancient underground city near Nevsehir, built in the 8th-7th centuries. BC e., which was used by the early Christians in order to hide from the Arabs who oppressed them. Kaymakli is another underground city connected to Derinkuyu by a 9 km tunnel. At the moment, archaeologists have excavated 8 floors, but only the top 4 are open to the public. Ihlara Gorge is a deep and long canyon of volcanic origin (almost 14 km), in the sheer walls of which Christian hermits built many temples, connecting them with an extensive network of passages. One of the most incomparable and thrilling experiences that Cappadocia can give you is a flight in a hot air balloon. Flights are possible at any time of the year and on any day of the week, the main condition is suitable weather. Every season is beautiful and interesting in its own way. But still, the best time to fly is from April to October. During this period, the winds are less. The best time to fly is from April to October. During this period, the winds are less. The best time to fly is from April to October. During this period, the winds are less.
Izmir. On the wonderful expanses of the warm Aegean Sea, one of the oldest cities in the world, Izmir, spread its streets and buildings, mosques and modern buildings, dating back to the time immemorial of ancient civilization, when the ancient Greeks decided the fate of peoples and erected architectural wonders of the world. The birthplace of the unforgettable Homer, which was called from the time of its foundation, from the 2nd millennium BC. e. until 1922 Smirna, Izmir, a real find for those who like to combine business with pleasure: seaside vacations and educational excursions.
The largest resort of the Aegean coast, the third city of Turkey – Izmir, which has fallen more than once into the epicenter of earthquakes, although it cannot boast of a string of sights, is the starting point to the nearby ancient settlements at different times shining with their grandeur, strength and wisdom of their inhabitants. Among the architectural masterpieces of Izmir that have passed through the sieve of temporal vicissitudes, there are the famous 13 columns – once supporting the portico of the huge Roman forum, between which the broken statues of the ancient gods of Neptune, Ceres, adjacent to Muslim tombstones, are located in a chaotic manner, as well as the miracle of engineering thought of the Romans aqueducts Shirinier and Yesildere. The most beautiful and largest mosque Hissar (1597) and Shadirvan (1636) surrounded the ancient market square, and also, the famous caravanserais that spread their tents in the 18th century: the Kyzlaragasy Khans and the Chakaloglu Khans. No less attention is drawn to the Yahly Mosque (1754), decorated with bright tiles, as well as the amazing 25-meter elegant Clock Tower (1901), located on the central Konak Square.