CAPITAL ANKARA
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 Ankara:
From Antiquity to Modernity The city lies in the heart of Anatolia, an historical treasure
at an altitude of 850 meters. Ankara, formerly named “Ancyra” by the Celts (meaning
“anchor”), was an important cultural, trading and arts center in Roman times, and an
important trading center on the caravan route to the east in Ottoman times. By consequence
of being chosen as the base during the War of Liberation by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the
city was declared the capital of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
 Ankara is
a modern city with a population of over 5 million, maintaining the traces of civilizations
dating back to the Bronze Age, to the Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians and Persians. The
Romans and the Byzantines have also left their marks in the region. On an imposing hill in
the center of Ankara, stands the mausoleum (Anýtkabir) of Kemal Atatürk, a fusion of
ancient and modern architectural ideas. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations houses a
unique collection of treasures dating back to 2000 B.C.
 Besides
the historical monuments within the heart of the city such as the Roman Theater, Ankara
Citadel, Temple of Augustus, Roman Bath and the Column of Julian, the city’s environs
are also rich with ancient ruins. Ankara is surrounded by Hittite, Phrygian, Ottoman,
Byzantine and Roman historical sites. The capital of the Seljuk Turks, Konya, renowned for
the mystic “Whirling Dervishes”, lies to the south east of Ankara.
 Ankara
is a center for opera, ballet, jazz and modern dance as well as the home of the Turkish
Parliament, ministries, foreign embassies and nine universities. Shopping in Ankara can be
exciting in the old part of the town for buying old copper, jewelry, carpets and kilims,
antiques and embroidery. Modern shopping malls are scattered in and around the city
selling various new items. Small shopping areas, local markets and restaurants are other
attractive sights one should not miss. Ankara’s location makes it very convenient for
“Weekend Escapes” to reach to skiing resorts, cultural and historical sites, and the
seaside. Ýstanbul is only five hours away by bus.
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