Ankara

About the City

Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a population (as of 2019) of 5,5 million, and a mean elevation of 850 m (2800 ft). It was formerly known as Angora. The Hittites gave it the name Ankuwash before 1200 BC, the Galatians and Romans called it Ancyra, and in the classical, Hellenistic, and Byzantine periods it was known as Ánkyra. Ankara also serves as the capital of the Province of Ankara.

Centrally located in Anatolia, Ankara is an important commercial and industrial city. It is the center of the Turkish Government, and houses all foreign embassies. It is an important crossroads of trade, strategically located at the center of Turkey's highway and railway networks, and serves as the marketing center for the surrounding agricultural area. The city was famous for its long-haired Angora goat and its prized wool (mohair), a unique breed of cat (Angora cat), white rabbits and their prized wool (Angora wool), pears, honey, and the region's muscat grapes.

Anıtkabir (Mausoleum of Ataturk) No one is more respected in Turkey as much as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkish Republic. Even his political opponents who are always is charge mainly to destroy his secularity revolution, can not dare to speak against him. Ataturk's mausoleum. Anıtkabir is located on an imposing hill in the Anıttepe quarter of the city, / Ankara Ethnography Museum (Etnografya Muzesi): This museum is opposite the Opera House on Talat Paşa Boulevard, in the Ulus district. There is a fine collection of folkloric as well as Seljuk- and Ottoman-era artifacts. / Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum (Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Müzesi): An industrial museum opposite the entrance to the Citadel, close to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Located in the historic Çengelhan - a former Caravanserai, built in 1522 - the Museum displays a huge variety of exhibits on diverse themes such as Engineering, Road Transport, Scientific Instruments, Maritime and Medicine equipments, and many others.
Mausoleum
Anıtkabir, the resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, is one of the most important places that can be added to the list of places to visit in Ankara. Lion Road, Ceremony Square, Mausoleum Section, Atatürk Museum, Sculptures section are among the places to be visited.
Museums
Our capital Ankara has hosted many cultures from the Romans to the Ottoman rule. Thanks to this feature, there are many museums in the city, the main museums worth seeing are:
Anatolian Civilizations Museum
Ethnography Museum
Liberation War Museum
Republican Museum
Painting and Sculpture Museum
Rahmi Koç Museum
Gordion Museum
State Cemetery Museum
Ankara Castle
It is not known by which civilization the castle, which contains traces of various civilizations, was first built. Surrounded by cafes and souvenir shops today, the castle attracts attention with the historical buildings on its streets as well as its scenery.
Hamamönü
The Clock Tower, Mehmet Akif Culture House, Tacettin Mosque and Complex are worth seeing in the settlement, which is home to 250 buildings dating from the 19th century.