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    Tourist Attractions in Ankara

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Ankara. Photos and a brief description.

    Ankara
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    About Ankara

    The city is located on the territory that in the past belonged to different empires. The architecture partly recalls the times of Byzantine and Roman rule. Ankara is inferior to Istanbul in terms of population, but every year it catches up with the former Ottoman capital in terms of culture and tourist opportunities.

    Ankara received its current status only in the 20s of the last century. At the same time, it began to grow and change. Some areas, such as Hamamonu, have been completely rebuilt and modernized. Along with this, old mosques have been preserved, and caravanserais have been given over to museum collections. According to this principle, the building was also received by the Polytechnic Museum of Rahmi M. Kocha. New buildings are also appearing in Ankara. So the presidential palace was built in 2014, and the residence became one of the largest in the world.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Ankara

    Anytkabir

    The tomb of the first president of Turkey — Ataturk. Construction was carried out from 1944 to 1953. The area of the complex is about 750 thousand m2. There are many objects on its territory, including the Peace Park, the Lviv Road, the Hall of Fame and the Ceremonial Square. Ottoman and Seljuk motifs were used in the design and decoration. A large collection of cars belonging to Ataturk is also available for inspection.

    Anytkabir
    Citadel

    Citadel

    One of the main city attractions. It is also known as the "Citadel of Khizar". The location on a hill allows you to see an impressive building from different parts of Ankara. The structure is a fortress surrounded by two levels of walls. They were built in the VI and IX centuries. Of the 20 towers, only a few have been preserved. Tourists are allowed to climb to the east side to explore the surroundings.

    Presidential Palace

    The official residence of the Turkish leader. It is one of the largest among such structures in the world. It was put into operation in 2014. The first guest of the palace is Pope Francis. In addition to the main three-storey building, there are two more on the territory that perform auxiliary functions. They are equipped with the latest technology and all belong to the Art Nouveau architectural style.

    Presidential Palace
    Hamamonu District

    Hamamonu District

    It is located in the central part of the Old Town. After a number of restorations, Hamamonu has mostly turned into a pedestrian zone. The restructuring affected about 250 objects. The traditional architecture of Turkey has been preserved, while many modern shops and recreation places have appeared. On major state and religious holidays, the district is transformed and hosts various events.

    Kyzylai Square

    The central square of the city. It is surrounded by modern buildings: universities, shops, offices, restaurants. Transport routes converge here, so it is convenient to get to the square from any area of Ankara. Within walking distance of entertainment, including cinemas and exhibition halls. Kyzyl has repeatedly become a venue for protest actions and major New Year's events.

    Kyzylai Square
    Kojatepe Mosque

    Kojatepe Mosque

    It was built for almost two decades, starting in 1967. The author of the project is architect Hyusrev Tayla. Initially, a modern building was conceived, but in the course of work, preference was given to the classical style. There are four minarets around the perimeter. The height of each is 88 meters. The total area of the complex is more than 4200 m2. Inside, the walls and floor are decorated with marble, as well as impressive crystal chandeliers stand out in the interior.

    Haji Bayram Mosque

    The oldest mosque in the city. It was built in the Seljuk style. There are no other exact data on the time of its construction. Presumably, services began to be held here in 1428. It bears the name of a famous philosopher and poet. He stood at the origins of one of the Muslim currents. The followers of Hadji Bayram helped those in need and engaged in religious education. The mosque was built for the needs of this teaching.

    Haji Bayram Mosque
    Aslankhane Mosque

    Aslankhane Mosque

    It was built on the site of one of the Roman temples. In the design of the mosque, you can notice details from the Byzantine decor. In addition, the load-bearing structures remain from past structures and also give continuity of styles. The preserved interior details indicate that the mosque was richly decorated in the past. Although not much remains of this splendor, services are still held here.

    Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

    It was founded in 1921 by personal order of President Ataturk. The exposition occupies the buildings of the caravanserai and the covered market, erected in the XV century. The main condition for getting the exhibits into the museum collection is the attitude to the peoples who inhabited the lands of Anatolia. There are objects from different periods, starting from the Paleolithic. During the tour, you can get an English-speaking guide to accompany you.

    Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
    Rahmi M. Kocha Museum

    Rahmi M. Kocha Museum

    The second Polytechnic Museum of Turkey. The first with the same name is located in Istanbul. In Ankara, the assembly was located in a caravanserai opposite the city fortress. The doors opened to visitors in 2005. 3 floors are given over to an extensive exhibition where you can see the first engine, agricultural machinery, old televisions, cars. There are also models of famous objects, including Hitler's yacht.

    Museum of Fine Arts and Sculpture

    It has been receiving visitors since 1997. The collection can be called timeless. Along with works related to the Roman and Ottoman Empires, works by contemporary artists and sculptors are exhibited in the halls of the museum. Tourists have a chance to trace the changing trends and styles in the history of this area. The collection is temporarily replenished with mobile expositions. There is an ethnographic museum nearby.

    Museum of Fine Arts and Sculpture
    Ethnographic Museum

    Ethnographic Museum

    One of the most interesting museums not only in Ankara, but in the whole of Turkey. It was opened in 1925, a little later the collection was moved to a new building. Part of the old Muslim cemetery belongs to the museum. The exhibition includes finds from different parts of the country. The exhibitions of carpets and jewelry are particularly noteworthy. During the tour, tourists get acquainted with the customs and crafts, as well as the way of life of local residents.

    CerModern

    The Museum of Modern Art specializes mostly in temporary exhibitions. Paintings by world-famous artists, such as Dali, are brought here. You can also look at an unusual exhibition of fabrics or works by Turkish figures. There are closed workshops under the roof of CerModern, which are sometimes opened to tourists. There are cafes and spacious venues for events on the territory.

    CerModern
    Ulukanlar Prison Museum

    Ulukanlar Prison Museum

    The first such museum in Turkey. The real prison turned into a tourist attraction after the restoration. The attraction has been open to visitors since 2011. The building was built in the 20s of the last century, it became a prison a few years later. The correctional facility was liquidated after the riots. Ulukanlar has gained notoriety for its existence due to torture and human rights violations.

    AltInkoy Acik Hava Muzesi

    An open-air museum was created to preserve cultural traditions. The picturesque area takes visitors back a hundred years. Houses, a mill have been built on the spacious territory, fields and vegetable gardens have been sown. There is even a typical village square for meetings. The crafts presented here are on the verge of extinction. Animals can be seen in pens and pastures. There is a full-fledged museum that complements the overall picture.

    AltInkoy Acik Hava Muzesi
    Roman baths

    Roman baths

    Currently, the baths are an archaeological site. Discovered during excavations in the middle of the last century. They were built in the III century and were dedicated to the god of healing. The baths consisted of a cold room with a dressing room, a swimming pool, a hot room, a steam room and a room with average temperatures for relaxation. Although not many objects have been preserved, the contours of the structure are clearly visible.

    Turkish State Cemetery

    The necropolis has existed since 1981. It was built specifically for the burials of prominent political and military officials of the state. The first big ceremony took place in 1988, when the bodies of two Turkish presidents were moved here: Sunay Cevdet and Cemal Gursel. Nearby are the graves of 61 commanders — participants of the Liberation War. The territory of the cemetery is located in the department of the Ministry of Defense.

    Turkish State Cemetery
    Atakule Tower

    Atakule Tower

    It was built in the 80s of the XX century in the city center. The height is about 125 meters. The famous architect Regib Iuluk was responsible for the design. The tower is crowned by a wide cap, similar to a dome. At the very top there is an observation deck. Just below is a restaurant. Its peculiarity is its location on a special site. Thanks to this design, the restaurant makes a complete revolution around the axis of the tower in an hour.

    Genchlik Park

    The public park is located in the city center. The area of the territory exceeds 27 hectares. In the past, these places were occupied by swamps. After they were drained, greenery began to be planted, but the park itself did not take shape immediately. Tourists were attracted by various methods, among other things, two mini-trains were launched. Now there are concert venues, recreation and entertainment areas. Nearby there is an opera house, a stadium and a sports complex.

    Genchlik Park
    Lake Eimir

    Lake Eimir

    It is located 20 km from Ankara. The area is just over 1 km2. The depth varies depending on the time of year. Forms a single ecosystem with Lake Mogan. Eimir is fed by the waters of a neighbor through a canal. Picnics are arranged on the coast. Around – pine forest and thickets of wild almonds. In good weather, cyclists and runners can be found in the surrounding area. Swimming in the lake is not accepted.