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Apr 3, 2024 · 17. Go hiking in the METU Forest. Here’s a great thing to do in Ankara if you plan a longer stay. As part of the Middle Eastern Technical University, the METU Forest ( map) is a beautiful spot for hiking, jogging, sights of the Eymir Lake, and, if you’re lucky, wildlife animal spotting!
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- The contemporary city
Ankara, city, capital of Turkey, situated in the northwestern part of the country. It lies about 125 miles (200 km) south of the Black Sea, near the confluence of the Hatip, İnce Su, and Çubek streams.
While the date of the city’s foundation is uncertain, archaeological evidence indicates habitation at least since the Stone Age, and a thriving Phrygian town was located in the area at the end of the 2nd millennium bce. Alexander the Great conquered Ankara in 333 bce, and in the 3rd century bce the town served as the capital of the Tectosages, a tribe of Galatia (the ancient name for the region around Ankara). In 25 bce Ankara was incorporated into the Roman Empire by the emperor Augustus.
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As a city of the Byzantine Empire, Ankara was attacked by both the Persians and the Arabs. About 1073 Ankara fell to the Seljuq Turks, but the Crusader Raymond IV of Toulouse drove them out again in 1101. The Byzantines, however, were unable to maintain their control, and Ankara became a bone of contention between the Seljuqs and their rivals among the Turkish frontier lords. After 1143, Seljuq princes fought among themselves for possession of the city. With the establishment of the Seljuq empire, Ankara declined.
In 1354 the city was captured by Orhan (Orkhan), the second sultan of the Ottoman dynasty, and it became a part of the Ottoman domains in 1360. Ankara was besieged during the Anatolian campaign of Timur (Tamerlane). In 1403 it again became subject to Ottoman rule, and in subsequent centuries it regained its importance as a commercial and urban centre because of its location on the caravan route to the East.
After World War I, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish nationalist leader, made Ankara the centre of the resistance movement against both the government of the Ottoman sultan and the invading Greek forces; he established his headquarters there in 1919. Ankara was declared the capital of Turkey in 1923.
The architecture of the present-day city reflects its varied history. Remains from the Roman era include a bath, the Column of Julian, and the Temple of Roma and Augustus. Byzantine remnants include the citadel and a cemetery. The square Alâeddin Mosque, with one minaret, is located near the walled citadel and dates from the Seljuq era. Ottoman buildings are numerous and include the Hacı Bayram Cami (1427–28), as well as the Mahmud Paşa market and the Kurşunlu Han, two 15th-century buildings that have been converted to house the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The modern city contains the huge Atatürk Mausoleum complex.
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Government is the main business in the city, but Ankara is also Turkey’s second most important industrial city after Istanbul. Factories producing wine and beer, flour, sugar, macaroni products, biscuits, milk, cement, terrazzo (mosaic paving), construction materials, and tractors are well established. Service and tourist industries are expanding rapidly.
Ankara is an important crossroads for trade and forms a major junction in the road network of Turkey. The city lies on the main east-west rail line across Anatolia. Esenboğa Airport, to the northeast, provides international services.
The city is the seat of the University of Ankara (established 1946), Hacettepe University (1967), and the Middle East Technical University (1956). The National Library is also located there, as are the state theatre and the Presidential Symphony Orchestra.
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- Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Highlights: Neolithic wall paintings, Bronze Age stonework, Hittite clay cuneiform tablets, and Phrygian gold.
- Pay Your Respects at the Anitkabir (Atatürk Mausoleum) Highlights: Sprawling city views from the plaza and a monumental mausoleum. Ankara's most visited tourist attraction is also Turkey's most important modern pilgrimage site.
- Walk the Citadel Neighborhood. Highlights: A historic district of cobblestone alleys enclosed within ancient walls. A wander through this neighborhood is one of the most atmospheric things to do in Ankara.
- See the Collection inside Erimtan Archaeology & Art Museum. Highlight: Ankara's premier collection of Graeco-Roman artifacts from sites throughout Turkey.
- Ankara Castle. Ankara Castle is one of the oldest sights and the most prominent landmark in the capital city of Turkey. No one knows exactly when the castle was built, but it’s believed that the castle was constructed somewhere after the 7th century.
- Anitkabir Mausoleum. This is where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence who led the people to fight for their liberation was buried.
- Anatolian Civilizations Museum. Anatolian Civilizations Museum is one of Ankara’s most prominent tourist spots. The Museum is home to thousands of interesting Anatolian archaeology items including the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, Seljuq, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras.
- Genclik Park. Located in the Ulus district of Ankara is the spectacular Genclik Park, another iconic tourist attraction. The vast 69 acres are home to an amusement park, a swimming pool, walking paths, a Ferris wheel, two small trains, and a unique open-air theater.
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Mar 2, 2023 · To truly understand how the African Ankara fabrics became a popular choice in Africa and other regions of the world, we need to look at the history of Ankara.. Interestingly, while Ankara is quintessentially seen as an identifying feature of the West African countries and largely as a part of the African culture, it started as a mass-produced fabric created by the Dutch for the Indonesian market.
Jul 20, 2023 · Ankara hosts a variety of vibrant festivals throughout the year, showcasing the city's cultural diversity and lively spirit. The International Ankara Music Festival is a major highlight, attracting renowned musicians from around the world. The festival presents a diverse range of performances, including classical music, jazz, and folk music.
Sights & Photos of Ankara. The imposing citadel Hisar is the most prominent landmark of Ankara. Hisar is located up the hill close to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The outer walls of the citadel were constructed by the Byzantine Emperor Michael II in the 9th century CE. The inner walls of the citadel date from the 7th century.
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