[Blue Blood]

Agri

Situated in Eastern Anatolia and extending to the Iranian border, is Agri, one of the highest regions in the country with its mountainous formation.


Rising up to a height of 5165 m, Mount Agri (Ararat) is the main peak of Turkey and the symbol of the city. This snowcapped dormant volcano is the famous biblical Mount Ararat, the legendary site of the second beginning of the world. It is believed that Noah's Ark rested on its summit during the big flood, and the wide plain of Igdir at the foot of the mountain is the first place where Noah set foot after the disaster. A geological hollow near Uzengili village has the shape allegedly of the ark, and it is a place often visited by tourists, being also a beautiful resting spot. Mount Ararat, besides offering magnificent scenery, also provides sportive opportunities for hunting, skiing and mountaineering. Climbing is also possible once you get the necessary permission from the local authorities. Ararat became 35th National Park of Turkey with the decision of the Parliament on 1st of November, 2004.

95 kms east of Agri, is the town Dogubayazit, comprising spectacular ruins from earlier periods Ishak Pasha Palace, 6 kms outside the town center, is the most important sight, and was constructed by the Ottoman governor, Ishak Pasha, in the 17th century. It has been restored many since, and has become an original building of mixed architectural design. An Urartian king relief and a rock tomb dating to the 9th century BC, are other historical remains near the palace, while ruins from the same period are also to be found near Patnos, another important town of Agri province.

An interesting place is the meteoric hole, about 80 years old, located between the Gürbulak border gate and Sancavus village. It is the second largest hole of this type in the world with its 35 m width and 60 m depth.

Besides these tourist attractions, there are other specialties of the city. One is "Lake Balik", famous for its "trout". Still another is the local dessert "Asure", also known as "Noah's Pudding" and it is a sweet that must be tasted.
Bubi Mountain skiing area is 18 kms to the city center but it isn't developed much as a big resort yet. It's season is between December and April and it gets approximately 1-2 meters of snow. There is a 1,227 meters long teleski with a capacity of 600 persons per hour. Another skiing area is 4 kms to Eleskirt district with 1,650 meters long and 1,000 people per hour capacity detachable chair telesiege. Skiing track is 1,200 meters long and 250 meters wide.

[Blue Blood]

Artvin

Like all cities extending along the beautiful Black Sea coast, Artvin is a lovely district, 64 kms southeast of Hopa, possessing picturesque views of nature. Typical of this region, wide forests cover the area, and this landscape of mountains and lakes, plateaus and rivers, together with the traditional settings of pretty wooden houses, offers a pleasant atmosphere to visitors.


The wild and romantic Çoruh river with its impressive rapids crosses the land here. White water rafting is possible on this river for the adventure- lovers to enjoy the excitement that few other rivers in the world offer. Along the road to Erzurum, are the Tortum waterfalls, constituting another attraction with a calm and peaceful atmosphere. 55 kms east of Artvin, are the towns of Savsat and Borcka, and the nearby Karagöller, a dreamlike place of beautiful lake. Wide plateaus are also found in Artvin, one being the Bilbilan; and the other Kafkasor, where the famous Kafkasor Festival is held with the interesting bull-fights. Sarp border gate is at Hopa. There are many historical citadels, mosques, churches, and bridges, along with yachting, hunting, fishing facilities and thermal springs .

In this city of diverse nature, there also exist numerous ancient sites for sightseers to visit. The ruins of a 16th-century castle lie at the foot of the hill where the city is situated. There are fine old churches, dating to the 7th and 10th centuries, near the villages of Barhal, Ishan, Bagbasi and Çamliyamaç. Balih Bey Mosque is another important monument of Artvin, and the typical old Turkish houses are the part of the charming historical scenery.

[Blue Blood]

Gumushane

Gumushane has been one of the most important cities in the Eastern Black Sea region due to its foundation on the main route from Trabzon to Iran. The city neighbors to Bayburt, Giresun, Erzincan, and Trabzon. It is a small city of approximately 200.000 people, with 6575 square kilometers of land area at an altitude of 1210 meters above sea level. The city has a moderate climate at a high plateau shaped by deep valleys and high mountains. The highest hill of the city is Abdal Musa hill touching 3331 meters.

Gumushane has a rich flora and fauna; it's surrounded by fruit groves, especially apples, and gardens of wild roses. Gumushane is a natural stop between Trabzon and Erzurum which is a restful place. The city has many interesting natural caves such as Karaca cave in Cebeli village of Torul district, or Akcakale and Arili caves. Tomara waterfalls in Siran district, Artebel and Limni lakes in Torul district, and Orumcek forests in Kurtun district are other natural beauties. Zigana mountains have also skiing facilities at an altitude of 2032 meters and it offers good opportunity for winter sports fans.

During the Roman and Byzantine periods the city was known as Argyropolis; in Greek Argyros means Silver and Polis means city. Later on it was ruled by Emevis, Abbasids, Seljuks, and Ottomans. In the 17th century Evliya Celebi reports that Gumushane was rich of silver mines. During the Ottoman Empire Gumushane was a satellite of Erzurum and than Trabzon, but after the Republic it became a province of Turkey.

The old Gumushane city still retains examples of old-style architecture, you should especially visit Saricicek village to admire 19th century typical Ottomanhouses. The oldest mosque in the city is Suleymaniye which was built by the order of the Sultan in the 16th century. There are also many fountains, tombs and mausoleums from Ottoman period.

Being founded on the ancient Silk Road, Gumushane province has many fortresses such as Canca, Akcakale, Edire, Kov, Kodil and Gumustug.
Imera Monastery built in the 14th century is 38 kilometers from the city center, at Olucak village. Other ancient Christian churches are; Metropolitic, Balcilar, Hegios Georgios, Ayana, Mandiri, Emirler, Cakalli and Dilek.
Apart from the city center, Kurtun, Torul, Kose, Kelkit, and Siran are other provincial districts of Gumushane.

[Blue Blood]

Adiyaman


Adiyaman lies in the southeast of Turkey in the central Firat (Euphrates) river region. According to archaeological research the history of the area goes back to the Paleolithic Age. During the Neolithic Age (8000-7000 B.C.) Gritille, Hayaz, Ancoz and Samsat were the main culture centers.

Adiyaman used to be known as "Hisn-i Mansur" until the republican era. It hosted many civilizations throughout its history including the Hittites, Mittanis, Urartus, Assyrians, Meds, Persians, Alexander the Great and the Kommagene. Adiyaman lived the periods of the SeljukTurks, Crusades and Mamelukes in the 11th, and those of the Anatolian Seljuks, Ilkhanite and Mamelukes in the 12th century. It was annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1516 during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim. The area has ample pieces, structures and specimens coming from the Hellenistic era, Romans and the Byzantine together with those belonging to the Islamic - Turkish heritage. These assets obtained during the salvation work started in 1978 along with the Lower Euphrates Project are now placed in Adiyaman Museum. The museum exhibits pieces obtained from excavations carried out at various tumulus together with coins from the Roman and Seljuk times.

Historical sites within the central town include the Fortress, Carsi Mosque, Old Palace Mosque, Kap Mosque and the Grand (Ulu) Mosque from the 14th century.
The fortress of Adiyaman is placed on a man made hill at the centre of the town, built by the Caliph Omayyad Commander Munsur Ibn-i Cavene to defend the city against the Byzantine attacks. Now remaining in a destroyed standing, the fortress has three main gates. Today this fortress is a park.

The ancient city of Perre, today called Pirin, is 5 km from Adiyaman. The city ruins and 208 caves in the rocks, where there are some human relieves, are of historical importance.

At the Adiyaman Museum you will find on display archaeological and ethnographical finds from various historical periods. The museum is open everyday except on Mondays.

The Nemrud Mountain tumulus in the National Park, Karakus Hill, Cendere Bridge, Samsat, Arsameia, Dikilitas, Kahta, Göksu Bridge, and rock graves are other sites in the province worth seeing. For more information on these, please Click Here.

A colorful place for shopping is the Oturakçi Çarsisi where you can find local handicrafts, rugs, kilims and saddle bags.

The territory of the province of Adiyaman extends from the slopes of the Southeastern Taurus Range to the Euphrates over an area of 7,614 square kilometers. It has a population of 678,999 according to the 1997 Census. Its administrative districts are the central Adiyaman, Kahta, Golbasi, Besni, Celikhan, Gerger, Samsat, Sincik and Tut. The Euphrates, the most fertile river of Turkey forms the southern and eastern borders of the province.
The province mainly subsists on crop farming and stock breeding. Land under cultivation constitutes one forth of the total territory of the province. Main crops are wheat, barley and corn. Vineyards which used to be an important source of income have been replaced by pistachio orchards.

Upon the completion of GAP Project, fish culture, cotton textile plants and facilities processing feed, milk and meat will gain weight in the province.
The climate of Adiyaman is continental climate with hot, dry summers, and cold winters. However, in the summer the nights are cool. The average temperature varies from 30C-20C during the summer months.

Adiyaman has been the host of many civilizations throughout its history. Being a melting pot socially and culturally, it has valuable features related to customs about different periods of life, hospitality, folk dancing, carpets and kilims etc. Adiyaman is famous for its folk songs, folk dancers and tombs. Different kinds of meatballs such as "cig kofte, icli kofte, mercimekli kofte" and hitap (stuffed hot pie) are special local foods in Adiyaman.
There are air, rail and overland routes to Adiyaman. Gölbasi district is the primary junction, on the main highway to Malatya, Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep. Rail connections are also made in Gölbasi, through which Malatya - Adana railroad passes.

[Blue Blood]

Nevsehir

Nevsehir is a regional transport hub and provincial town for the surrounding area. It's close enough to the sites of Cappadocia to make it practical as a base from which to tour, but it doesn't have the same 'charm' as the smaller Cappadocian towns and villages. Useful place to find buses and any bus coming from the west will stop here on the way through.

Hotels and Pansiyons are plentiful here but the size of the place makes it a little tricky to get around without your own transport. It's useful to know that you can find services here that aren't available in the wilds of the interior but with any luck you won't need them.

It does have a decent archaeological and ethnographical museum with Byzantine, Hittite, Roman and Ottoman artifacts and a couple of interesting mosques that are worth a visit if you are here for the day.

On March 29th, 2006, Total Solar Eclipse will be seen in Nevsehir as well at 14:02pm local time.

Göreme

Göreme has, to some extent, become the focus of the Cappadocian tourist industry. It's proximity to the Open Air Museum, Zelve and other bits and pieces of fairy chimney charm, coupled with it's downright cheapness has been drawing people from all over the world for the last 20 years or so.

Basic accommodation and supplies are here in volume as a result of the rapid response to the areas tourist potential and Göreme is a favorite amongst budget travelers, many of whom stay a while, sometimes finding work in the tourist industry themselves.

Central location and cheapness apart you may not feel there's much to distinguish Göreme from it's neighbors. It is, perhaps, less organized and a little bit more laid back than Ürgüp or Avanos and it's probably livelier than either in the season. If you're looking for somewhere to hang out for a while, meet people and maybe blend in a little then Göreme is probably the place for you.

Göreme Open Air Museum

This is the one place that everybody who comes through Cappadocia goes. It's a nicely packaged instant version of what the whole area has to offer and it's a good place to start.

The open air museum is about 2 kms from the town of Göreme itself and you can comfortably walk it. Walking in Cappadocia is usually fun anyway. As you approach you'll pass the bus park on your right, complete with its row of souvenir shops, and on your left the buckle church (Tokali kilise), one of the finest examples of frescoes in the area. Entrance is included when you buy your ticket at the main gate so you'll probably end up visiting it on the way out of the museum. Try not to forget it.

It is impossible to give details of all the churches and rooms in the valley here as you could easily spend half a day wondering about and looking at them all. Basically what you'll find is the remains of a monastic community who made their home in this valley. Most people are struck by the frescoes and the quality of these varies from excellent to very tatty. Keep an eye open for the strange symbolic decorations in some of the smaller churches and chapels. Bear in mind when buying your ticket that the Karanlik church (recently restored and with the freshest frescoes) is not included in the price and will cost you extra.

Over the last 2 years or so an extensive protection program has been put into place. The churches are very prone to erosion and to prevent this they are slowly being covered with a resilient artificial surface designed to halt their gradual destruction by nature. This looks kind of weird at first glance but it makes sense.

The frescoes that many tourists come to see can be divided up into Pre and Post-Iconoclastic. The earlier works rely entirely on symbolism to communicate their messages and may look childish and simple in comparison to later works. Their form is a result of the early church's disapproval of the portrayal of the human form in religious art. The works which postdate the resolution of the Iconoclastic controversy (mid 9th Century - see Ecumenic Counsils) are much more figurative. It is interesting to compare them and realize that both styles are telling the same stories of Christ and the Saints.

Avanos

Avanos is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak, the Red River, which gets its name from the clay that it deposits. This clay has provided Avanos with pottery for centuries and the town is still dominated by this industry despite the inroads that tourism has made in the area. The main street has numerous shops and workshops selling plain and decorated pots and plates and you can watch the potters at work using kick wheels, the design of which has remained unchanged for generations. Many of the workshops will encourage you to have a go yourself. It's harder than it looks.

Avanos is a possible base for exploring Cappadocia with accommodation and services available at reasonable rates. The town has retained some of its charm and is a pleasant place to spend half a day or to stop for lunch. The town has a tourist targeted Hamam (Turkish bath) which is popular with tour groups and is also close to the Selcuk built Yellow Caravanserai, a restored Han (travelers 'service station'), and the Özkonak Underground city, a smaller version of those at Derinkuyu and Kaymakli.

Today Avanos is also famous for its carpets and textile.

Uçhisar

If you're not looking for a party Uçhisar makes an excellent base from which to explore the unique Cappadocian landscape. It's a sleepy little town, less dominated by the tourist trade than Göreme or Avanos and with an atmosphere that can fool you into thinking you're in Turkey in the late 70's rather than the late 90's.

There are some pleasant mid-range and cheap hotels and pensions here and food is acceptable at several establishments. Uçhisar's Kale or fortress is visible for miles around and has become the town's major tourist attraction, offering, as it does, fine views over the surrounding countryside.

Uçhisar is also a good place to begin a walking tour from because it's down hill in every direction and because you can take in Pigeon Valley, named for it's myriad nesting holes carved to encourage said birds.

Ürgüp

The unfortunately named Ürgüp is probably the busiest of the small towns in the vicinity of the Cappadocian sites. It's possibly the tastiest as well, recent development has mushroomed leaving a grim legacy of poorly designed and serviced buildings. The road down into the town however does take you past some pleasant rock carved dwellings, accommodation and restaurants. It's worth wondering around the old town for a taste of what the place must have been like before we all arrived.

This said it does offer services, such as banking, which are a little scarce elsewhere. It has a scattering of hotels and pensions of varying degrees of sophistication and a couple of good places to eat. The town has also a certain night life with small bars and discos.

Zelve

A strong contender for favorite place status, the Zelve monastery complex is situated about 10 km out from Göreme on the Avanos road. Lacking the elaborate frescoes of Göreme and other sites there's still plenty here to see. The series of valleys can provide you with a couple of hours walking, climbing and crawling about and in addition to the marked highlights (the Fish and Grape churches) there are innumerable rooms and passages to look at.

Zelve was inhabited until quite recently but you can almost see the place crumbling before your very eyes. There's probably an element of risk involved in exploring too enthusiastically but a guide should be able to balance the thrill of stumbling through pitch black tunnels by torchlight with an element of safety.

It's probably a good idea to make the most of the place while there's still something to see. There seems little chance of a restoration scheme along the lines of that in place at Göreme and even if tourists were to stop visiting today natural erosion processes do their damage every winter.

Ihlara Valley

The Ihlara valley is very nice. Removed a little from the rest of the Cappadocian sites it can be a little tricky to get to but it's worth a full day if you can spare one. The gorge is 16 km long and both sides are lined with rock carved churches, about 100 in all. You can look at the more important of these in a couple of hours but it's very pleasant to spend an afternoon following the river down the valley and exploring on your own.

The climb down to and especially up from the gorge can be demanding and probably shouldn't be attempted if you're feeling frail. To make the most of your time here a full day and a picnic is a good idea and will repay the effort in terms of a relaxed days pottering about admiring the churches and the valley's beautiful scenery.

Underground cities

The underground cities of Cappadocia are worthy of a visit. Let's take Derinkuyu for example. The one time home of up to 20,000 people, it's 8 levels descend into the Anatolian plateau 50 kms south of Göreme. Stop and think about that for a while. A large, market town sized community digging a settlement out to guarantee themselves a degree of protection.

There are 8 floors of tunnels but 4 of them are open to the visitors and this is enough to give you an idea of the sensation of living in a labyrinth like this. The ventilation shafts, circular and descending from the surface to the lower levels, bring home the scale of the enterprise while the massive circular doors - which were rolled across the passages and sealed from the inside - remind you of the motivation for moving underground in the first place.

Derinkuyu is by no means the only such city you can visit here. There are actually 40 or so subterranean settlements in the area although only a few are open to the public. Kaymakli, 10 kilometers to the north of Derinkuyu, is smaller and less excavated but 4 levels are accessible and the experience is pretty much the same. Not For The Claustrophobic.

[Hi-LaL]

Nevsehir is the capital of the Cappadocia region and is a perfect starting point for extensively visiting the area.

Urgup-Goreme

The first settlements date back to 3000 BC; its oldest name was "Nyssa." The city also has some interesting remains from the Seljuk period, such as the castle which stands at the highest point of the city. The Kursunlu Mosque has an impressive complex of buildings and a medresse surrounding it which dates back to 1726. The museum displays a rich collection of the local finds.

Gulsehir, and Hacibektas which is the town where Haci Bektas Veli settled in the 14th century, and set up his own Bektas Dervish order which was based on love and humanism. Hacibektas is famous for its onyx souvenirs.


GOREME NATIONAL PARK (CAPPADOCIA)

Cappadocia has one of the most interesting and spectacular landscapes in the world. About three million years ago the volcanoes of Mt. Erciyes and Mt. Hasan covered the surrounding plateau with volcanic tuff as a result of their violent eruptions. The natural effects of wind, water and rain eroded this area into a spectacular, surrealist landscape of rock caves, capped pinnacles and fretted ravines in colors ranging from warm tones of red and gold to cool tones of green and gray.

Dating back to 4000 BC; the earliest people used to live in Goreme, known as Cappadocia, in dwellings dug into the rock. Christianity came to the region, and chapels, churches and monasteries were constructed in the rocks. At Derinkuyu, Mazi and Kaymakli, cities were developed underground in order for the inhabitants to hide from raiders. There is another underground city -Ozkonak- which is also open to the public. They are really amazing to visit, and give a sense of the way people must have felt while living underground.

Urgup, 20 kms east of Nevsehir, is a lively tourist center and has all the characteristics of the region. Besides this, it is the center of a wine producing region and every year in October an International Wine Festival is held. It is an excellent place to stay to tour the sights in daytime and to find amusement in discos and bars at night. In Urgup you can see how people once lived in houses carved into the rock along the narrow streets. This is a good place for buying carpets and kilims, as many varieties are offered. Pancarlik Valley, the Mustafapasa (Sinassos) and Cemil villages, with their traditional stone houses, the Taskinpasa and Sahinefendi villages where the 2th century Kirksehitler Church is located, and the Devrent and Catalkaya Valleys are famous for their fairy chimneys.
Tokali Church

The Goreme Open Air Museum, 8 km northwest of Urgup, is a monastic complex of rock churches and chapels decorated with frescoes. The churches of Elmali, St. Basil, St. Barbara, Yilanli, Karanlik, Carikli, and Tokali are of particular interest and their frescoes are very well preserved. Many pilgrims still visit the churches. The cities of Goreme and Uchisar provide a bewitching scenery of cones and chimney formations. Uchisar Fortress is the highest point and the view from its top is enchanting. In Cavusin you will find the monastery of St. John the Baptist. The attractive town of Avanos is famous for its handicrafts, especially pottery, and you may try this craft yourself in one of the many studios. Soganli has a picturesque beauty with dozens of chapels, churches, halls and tombs. The Byzantine development of fresco art can be observed from the 8th to the 13th centuries in Soganli.

The town of Ortahisar is carved out of rock. The churches in the Balkan Valley are some of the oldest. Kizilcukur Valley is strikingly beautiful during sunset. You should not miss that marvelous picture.
Cappadocia is a land which seems to be a fantasy. Words are useless to describe the beauty and charm of the region; you must experience it for yourself. It will certainly take a particular place in your memories and in your photograph album.

To view 50 different photos of Nevsehir as slideshow, please click here...

[Blue Blood]

Karaman


Once a district of Konya, Karaman is in the south of central Anatolia, Turkey, at the northern foot of the Taurus mounts. The ancient Laranda, Karaman was renamed after the chieftain of a Turkic tribe who conquered the city c.1250 and set up the independent Muslim state of Karamania, which at one time comprised most of Asia Minor. A successor state of the Seljuk empire, Karamania existed until its final subjugation by the Ottoman Turks in the late 15th century. Karaman has retained ruins of the Karamanid castle and of two fine mosques.

Its area is 9.237 km?, population 217.536 (1990) and traffic code 70.

Karaman is formed by Karaman (center), Ayranci, Ermenek and Kazimkarabekir districts. Some sites of Interest and history are; Gokce forest recreation area, Maraspoli Cave, Kraman, Ermenek (Firan) and Mennan castles, Binbirkilise, Hatuniye, Emir Musa, Ibrahim Bey old theological schools (medrese) for alm and Tol Medrese, Gaferyad (Ermenek, Kazimkarabekir) and Yollarbasi (Ilisra) village Grand Mosques, Haci Beyler, Aktekke (Valide Sultan), Arapzade, Pasha, Dikbasan (Fasih), Akcasehir, Sipas and Mimar Emir Rustem Pasha mosques, Yunus EmreMosque and Lodge, small mosque of Seyh Celebi and Akca Mescit, Karamanoglu alm house and mausoleum, Bicakci Bridge and Ala Bridge, Fountain With Seven Sprouts, Karaman Museum, Canhasan - Center - Alcatikoyu, Karadag Thousand Churches - Center - Madensehir, Uckuyu Village.

This province is also famous with its special breed of sheep and delicious yogurt.

Some significant dates for the city are:

Culture and Art Week, Karaman, 5-12 May
Commemoration Ceremonies for General Kazim Karabekir, Kazim Karabekir, 26 Ocak
Commemoration Ceremonies for Mader'i Mevlana, Karaman, 10 December
Celebrations of Language Day, Karaman, 13 May
Celebrations of Day of the Province, Karaman, 21 June
On March 29, 2006, Total Solar Eclipse has been seen in Karaman as well at 13:59pm local time.

Karaman Museum

The museum is located at the city center on the former Hastahane Caddesi now named as the Turgut Ozal Caddesi and behind the Hatuniye Medresse which is one of the best examples of the architecture of the Karamanogullari Principality Era.


In Karaman and its environs traces of a large number of civilizations both from the pre-historic and historic periods are evident. Today both Karaman and the nearby region display a large number of mounds and historical sites. However as museum activity had a late start in Karaman, many of the portable works discovered at these sites were removed to other museums.

Motivated by the notion that this rich archaeological and ethnographic heritage should be protected at its place of origin, the first museum was established in 1961 at the Tourism Association and Library with the support of some local administrators and prominent members of the Karaman community. In 1963 it was moved to a building in the market area, in 1966 to Imaret (alm house) of Ibrahim Bey, in 1968 to a rented house and was finally opened to public in its present building in 1971.

The museum is a two storey building where each floor has a usable floor space of 550 m?. At the lower floor there is a second exhibition hall which can be opened to visitors in the future, storage areas, a photography laboratory, workshop and the library.

The exhibition hall on the upper floor consists of two sections and the material is exhibited in 33 cases. In the archaeological section there are works from the Neolithic Age to the late Byzantine. In the ethnographic section there are material from the Seljuk, Anatolian principalities, Ottoman and the Republican periods.

In the museum garden stone works belonging to the Byzantine and the Turkish - Islamic period are arranged on grass with Roman tomb steles making up the bulk of the material displayed.

Among the material exhibited, the Neolithic - Calcolithic Age findings from the Canhasan Mound excavations are particularly interesting. Canhasan Calcolithic age findings displayed in cases numbered 1, 2, 3, 14 and 17 consist of baked earth cups and pots, human and animal figurines, stone axes, obsidian arrow heads, scrapers made of bones, small artifacts such as bracelets and necklaces, sea shells ornaments, necklaces made with blue apatit stone and grinding stones from basalt.

In case no. 4 where material from the Bronze Age are exhibited, besides the pottery found at the Sisanin Mound and the Gokce village, there are also black and dark gray colored polished pottery belonging to the Western Anatolia Yortan culture.

In case no. 5, the exhibited Hellenistic Period findings are from Mersin - Gelindere, Mugla - Iasos, Adiyaman regions and from around Karaman. Most of them are lekistos and plates.

The majority of the Roman Period material exhibited in case no.6 are collected from Karaman - Taskale, Bayir, Karacaören and Kazimkarabekir area. They include human and animal figurines from baked earth, oil lamps, small pitchers and plates.

In case no. 7 lachrymatories and perfume bottles from the Roman and Byzantine periods are exhibited. Some of these are plain and without any motifs while others are very colorful and richly decorated.

In cases no. 8 and 9 wood lids, box sections, cosmetic boxes, bronze roses, gold jewelry, bronze oil lamps from the Byzantine period and samples of Byzantine ceramics are exhibited.

In cases no. 12, 13, 18 and 19 coins are displayed from the Greek, Venetian, Roman, Byzantine, Princedom, Karaman Dynasty, Ottoman and the Republican periods, respectively.

In case no. 15, Urartian bronze bracelets, figurines and offering plates are displayed. These materials were generally obtained through purchases and added to the museum collection.

In case no. 16 there are stone stamp seals and cylindrical seals from the early and late Hittite periods and the case also contains the photographs of the inscriptions made with the seals on display.

In case no. 20 in the Ethnographical section there are tiles and mosaics, enameled and over and under glazed tiles, plaster relieves, and tiles from Canakkale and Kütahya from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

In cases no. 21 and 22 cauldron, tray, plates, medicine cups, mortar, lunch box and ewer with geometrical design and plant decorations from the 14th and 19th century Seljuk and Ottoman periods are exhibited which were collected from the vicinity of Karaman.

In cases no. 24 and 25 among the wood work displayed there is mother of pearl inlayed coffer, clogs, spinning wheel, hand mill for grinding coffee, coffee coolers, mirror cases, spoon container, measuring cups, musical instruments and similar objects.

In cases no. 28 and 29 there are gold inlayed Korans from the Karaman Dynasty and Ottoman periods, decrees written in the courtly style, religious court decisions and Ahi Evran Fütüvetname, the document which defines the rules which governed the guilds.

Case no. 30 has various samples of oil lamps in different forms.
Case no. 30 holds samples of silver jewelry, hair ornaments, coined fez and pocket watches.

In case no. 32 there are examples of hand knitted socks and gloves which are still reproduced in the region.

In case no. 33 there are samples of bells of various size used for different animals.

Apart from these, in two table cases there are examples of objects such as weapons, gunpowder containers, candle cutters, spoons, door handles, whips, seals, cigarette holders and worry beads.

The museum also displays traditional rug and kilim samples which are hung as panels between the display cases, an Aesculapius statute in the Archeological Materials Hall, one facade of a Sidemara type sarcophagus and a mummified female body from the Byzantine period.

In the lower floor section of the museum, which started to be restored last year, there are cupboards, doors, shelves and fireplaces removed from Karaman houses and they are all mounted onto the walls. This section also contains some agricultural tools. However this part of the museum is not yet opened to visitors.

In the upper floor, besides the administrative offices, there is a gallery where the artistic works of the students and the citizens of Karaman are exhibited periodically. The material and visitor status of the Museum as of the end of 1997 is as follows.
1- Number of archaeological materials: 3911
2- Number of ethnographic materials: 2067
3- Number of coins: 6079
4- Number of visitors: 10637

[Blue Blood]

Kilis


In June 1995 PresidentDemirel approved the bill that allowed the government to name the southeastern border township of Kilis as a new province of Turkey.
Kilis, situated near the Turkish-Syrian border in the South-eastern Anatolian Region en route to Gaziantep is an especially charming area, dotted with vineyards and olive groves on all sides. It was originally known as Kilis (mentioned in the Assyrian archives) and was a very important town in Asia Minor in ancient days for frontier commerce. It is still famous today for its cotton, silk weaving and leather products.

Though not definitive, the history of Kilis is believed to date back to 3000 BC. The city lived out the times of the Assyrians, Hurri-Mitani, Hittites, Persians, Romans, Byzantine and the Ottomans. In 636 AD the area was occupied by Caliph Omer and used as an outpost against the Byzantine Empire. Kilis was attached to the County of Urfa during the Crusades and subsequently lived under the Seljuks and Mamelukes. It was finally annexed by the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim. Early in this century, following the First World War, Kilis was regained from the occupying forces upon Ankara Treaty acted on 7 December 1921 during the War of Liberation. Kilis was given the status of province on 6 June 1996 with its administrative districts of Elbeyli, Musabeyli and Polateli. The province has 138 villages (51 of them attached to the central district, 46 to Musabeyli, 23 to Elbeyli and 18 to Polateli), a sub-district (Yavuzlu) and 69 sub-villages.

The city has a distance of 10 kilometers to the Syrian border and the length of its border with this country reaches 120 kilometers. Resul Osman and Kotal are the mountains of the province while Afrin and Sabun Suyu brooks constitute its main water resources.

Canpolat Mosque, built in 1553, is one of the first specimens of Ottoman structures. It was built in the time of Canpolat Bey, a local ruler. It is an Ottoman style mosque having square plan and single doom.

Akcurun Mosque was built by Seyyide Fatma in 1334 and it has Mameluke features.

Ulu (Grand) Mosque was built by Abdullah Bin Haci Halil in 1334. The mosque is made of cut stone and has a rectangular plan.
There is no definite information about the time that Ravanda Fortress was constructed, but some say that it was built by the Crusaders. Its walls and watchtowers have survived. There are water storage, remains of houses, galleries and dungeons in the fortress. Being a stronghold during the time of the Egyptian Mamelukes, Ravanda Fortress later became a centre governed by the Crusaders' County of Urfa. It particularly flourished in the 12th century. The fortress is believed to have an underground city as well. However, satisfactory information could not be obtained so far since no archaeological
excavation took place.


The old city of Kuzeyne (Kuzuini) and the fortress are located at a distance of 5 kilometers from the city. Remains found date back to the times of the Hittites, Romans, Byzantine and the Abbasid. It is an open air museum as a whole with its castle and mosaics.

Sirahbil bin Hasane Tomb, the Old Turkish Bath, Hoca Bath, Tekke Dervish Lodge, residences reflecting the features of Kilis architecture, fountains and bridges are other historical assets worth seeing.

Korus (Kiriz) is 20 kilometers east of Kilis where an ancient Roman center with castle ruins, a temple and theater are definitely worth seeing.
Kilis' area is 1.243 km², population is 101.818 (1985), traffic code is 78, and districts are; Kilis (center), Elbeyli, Musabeyli and Polateli.

thank you so much

ADANA

With a history dating back to 6000 BC, Adana is one of the oldest settlements in Anatolia and is the fourth largest city in Turkey. Interest in the city is not only due to its collection of historical sites, but it is also renowned as a thriving, modern region. Its population boom (now 1.5 million) can be attributed to its fertile plains, rivers and highlands, which have created a major textile industry, and the city is also an importing trading centre for gold.

Area: 17.253 km²

Population: 1.934.907 (1990)

Traffic Code: 01

Districts : Seyhan, Yüreğir, Aladağ, Ceyhan, Feke, İmamoğlu, Karaisalı, Karataş, Kozan, Pozantı, Saimbeyli, Tufanbeyli, Yumurtalık.

How to Get

By Road Adana can be reached via the D-400 Highway and the international TEM highway. It is 472 km from Ankara along Aksaray Pozanti; 873 km from Izmir via Afyon, Konya and Eregli; and 909 km from Istanbul via Bolu, Ankara and Aksaray. Located 5 km from the city centre, Adana’s bus station has services to all areas of the country. Regular bus services include Ankara (10 hours), Antalya (12 hours), Allepo in Syria (12 hours), Konya (7 hours), Van (18 hours) and Kayseri (7 hours). Bus station Tel: (0322) 428 20 47

By Rail Apart from domestic services, there are also international rail connections. There are many trains to Europe, the Middle East, and countries to the north, with connections to the harbours in Mersin and Iskenderun, both of which have ferries. Adana’s railway station is 1 km. from the city centre. The main domestic routes are a daily service to Ankara (14 hours), several weekly to Gaziantep (3 hours) and several daily to Mersin (1 hour). Railway Station Tel: (0322) 453 31 72

By Air There are daily flights to Istanbul and Ankara. International flights include Jedda (twice a week), plus weekly flights to Frankfurt-Dusseldorf, Munich via Ankara, and Koln via Istanbul (once a week). The airport is 3.5 km from the city centre and has a 140-vehicle parking lot.

Airport Tel: (0322) 435 42 01 Turkish Airlines: (0322) 435 91 75

Where to Visit

ANCIENT CITIES

Anavarza Located in Ceyhan near the village of Dilekkaya , 20 km along the Kozan-Kadirli road, the ruins resemble an open-air museum. Anavarza Castle still has traces of Roman and Muslim history, with well-preserved relics including the castle walls, the triumphal arch, numerous columns and two pools decorated with mosaics in front of the guard house.

Sar 20 km northeast of Tufanbeyli, these ruins were the scenes of the most important religious Hittite ceremonies, performed in honour of the Mother Goddess Magda-Mater. In addition, there is a Roman theatre and a Byzantine church besides the 6-metre high Ala Kapi, which is made of marble blocks.

Magarsus An ancient port city, west of the modern town of Karatas, the city of Magarsus has the remains of a theatre, temple, church and baths.

Aegaea (Ayas) This ancient port city between Yumurtalik and Ayas has a three-storey watch tower, Ottoman and Roman baths beside the city walls.

MOSGUES

Ulu Cami Built in 1507 in Syrian or Mamluk style, this attractive mosque has black and white marble and decorative window surrounds. Inside is the tomb of Halil Bey, Emir of the Ramazanoglu Turks who ruled before the Ottomans, which contains beautiful mosaics made from Iznik tiles.

Sabanci Merkez Cami This recently constructed mosque has an immense capacity of over 28,000, and is the third largest in Turkey, with the highest dome. Brand new in style, it has six minarets and lies next to the Girne Bridge. Much of its financing was from the Sabanci family, originally from the area and now the second richest in the country.

Yag Camii With one bay originally used as the Church of St James, until incorporated into the main body, the Yag Camii was built in 1501 and has an impressive portal.

BEACHES

The unique highland beauty of Tekir, Burucek, Aladaglar, Horzum Findikli, Hamidiye, Asar, Asmacik, Armutoluk, Belemedik, Meydan, Camliyayla and Kizildag will appeal to tourists wanting to get back to nature.

ADANA HIGHLANDS

The Kozan-Horzum Highland and Çulluuşağı Highland Village

Transportation: Horzum highland is located at the 25 km mark and the village of Çulluuşağı is at the 31 km mark on the highway that connects Kozan, Feke, Saimbeyli and Tufanbeyli districts to Kayseri. There is bus and minibus service to this mountain village year-round.

Description: Much frequented by the people living in Kozan, the Horzum highland is a lovely place with pine and sycamore trees, vineyards and fruit orchards. There are many wooden houses which are beautiful examples of highland architecture. Many modern facilities are available including a health clinic.

Pozantı - Tekir Beldesi (Highland)

Transportation: Located on either side of the Adana-Ankara E5 highway, this spacious highland is 7 km from Pozantı, 107 km out of Adana. Transportation is plentiful and available year-round, as many inter-city buses and smaller minibuses operates in this route.

Description: The highlands of Tekir Highland, Bürücek and Eski Konacık are actually individual neighborhoods of the town of Akça Tekir. Located at the middle of abound pine and juniper trees as well as orchards, the highland accommodates the typical highland houses besides various examples of other architectural styles.

Further attractions of the higland are the protected emplacement of the Ottomans and a Reproduction Station of bezoar goats which are taken under protection by the Forestry Service.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: One may choose to camp here;otherwise there are tourist facilities in Pozantı which is 7 km far away.

Pozantı - Armutoğlu Highlands

Transportation: At the Pozantı - Ankara fork in the road go east towards Sarmısak Mountain. It is a 13 km drive from here along a road that winds through a forest of pine and fir.

Description: This pristine highland is covered with cedar, fir and juniper trees and in the spring there is a variety of wild flowers. There is an abundant wildlife since it is located at the foot of Sarmısak Mountain. Moreover icy waters of the springs flow creating a marvelous spectacle.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: This highland has no facilities. Anyone who plans to camp out will need to bring their own tent and other basic necessities.

Aladağ (Karsantı) - Meydan Highland

Transportation: It is 6 km from Aladağ along a gravel road. It is possible to get a taxi or minibus from Aladağ.

Description: At an altitude of 1700 m, the highland is adorned with juniper, pine, fir and cedar trees as well as orchards. There is electricity and telephone services and structures constructed out of wood and rock, which is typical of highland architecture.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: One can set up camp on the edge of the forest. There are also country restaurants, tea houses and a few small markets.

Aladağ Ağcakise - Başpınar - Bici and Kosurga Highlands

Transportation: These mountain villages, which are located very close to each other (3-5 km), can be reached only by a gravel road.

Description: These pristine highland villages are located in the forest within sight of the nearby Zehli Castle.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Those who would like to camp out should bring their tents and other basic supplies with them.

Karaisalı - Kızıldağ Highlands

Transportation: It is 27 km from Karaisalı. The road is asphalt.

Description: This highland gets its name from nearby Mt. Kızıldağ and is popular among the locals. There are lots of apple, pear, cherry, sour cherry and walnut orchards in the village and the wildlife is quite abundant. It is possible to hike up nearby Kızıldağ as well.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There are simple tea houses and country restaurants as well as small markets, a bakery, and meat markets.

Feke - İnderesi Village (Highland)

Transportation: It is a 59 km drive from Feke along a gravel road.

Description: This authentic highland village is nestled among vineyards and orchards. Modern facilities are now available and there is a village clinic and a police station. The villagers make 'Yahyalı' type rugs, carpets and woolen socks as souvenirs for visitors.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There is a small market, a bakery and some country restaurants.

Tufanbeyli - Kürebeli Highland

Transportation: The highland, located 10 km north of Tufanbeyli, can only be accessible by following a gravel road.

Description: This unspoiled mountain highland has a small lake which is used for irrigation.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Those who want to camp should bring their tents and basic necessities with them.

Pozantı - Fındıklı Köyü (Highland)

Transportation: It is 10 km out on the Pozantı-Çamardı highway and there are minibuses to the highland from Pozantı.

Description: A typical mountain village, it is surrounded with vineyards and gardens. The infrastructure of the village has been improved and currently there is a village clinic in service.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There are simple restaurants, a tea house and a small market.

Saimbeyli - Çatak Highland

Transportation: Two kilometers out on the Saimbeyli -Tufanbeyli highway, turn left on a gravel road and go 3km. The road passes through orchards and gardens. Minibuses are operating from the Saimbeyli district.

Description: This is a little village with huge sycamore trees watered by the springs which splash down the mountain slopes. Small platforms have been set up in the trees and they make delightful picnic area. The Çatak highland with its rich springs provides all of the water supply of the Saimbeyli district.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There is a small facility run by the Forestry Service here.

Saimbeyli - Tufanbeyli - Obruk Highland

Transportation: Located 35km out on the either side of the Saimbeyli - Tufanbeyli highway.

Description: Preferred by nomadic shepherds, this highland is totally unspoiled. The fields of wheat and barley are surrounded by wild flowers in the spring and juniper, black pine and cedar trees.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There are no facilities available. Those who plan on camping should bring their own tents and other basic supplies.

Kozan - Göller Highland

Transportation: It is a 40 km. drive from Kozan on a dirt road. There are minibuses from Kozan in the summer months.

Description: The highland has electricity and telephones. It is surrounded with forests and there are many wildflowers in the spring.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There is a country tea house, a small market and a restaurant.

Pozantı - Belemedik Highland

Transportation: Take the gravel road to the village of Anbaş from Pozantı (10 km).

Description: This mountain village founded on the banks of Çakıt Creek has many wood and stone houses made in the highland style. The is abundant wildlife here. The mostly commonly seen animals are mountain goats, wild hogs and birds of prey, such as eagles and falcons.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Those who want to camp should bring their own tents and basic supplies.

Pozantı - Asar Highland

Transportation: This highland village lies 1.5 km northwest of the asphalt highway to Pozantı-Çamardı. There are minibuses from Pozantı as well.

Description: The local highland houses made of wood and stone are surrounded by pine, fir and cedar trees and there are many fruit orchards. The village has electricity as well.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Those who want to camp should bring their own tents and other basic supplies.

BIRD-WATCHING

Aladaglar, Tuzla Lake, Akyatan Lake, Agyatan Lake, Yumurtalik Lagoons and Gaver Lake are all Bird Protection Areas, and are in the vicinity of Adana province.

THERMAL SPRINGS

The Haruniye Thermal Tourism Centre in Bahce, Acisu Springs near Aladag, Tahtalikoy Kokarpinar and Kurttepe springs in Ceyhan are known to be beneficial for those suffering from certain illnesses.

SPORTING ACTIVITIES

Surfing is possible in the dam lake of Adana. There are excellent trekking, cycling, and horse-riding trails in the highlands. Fishing is popular around the Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers, and the mountain streams have a good supply of trout. Adana also offers many possibilities for hunting, as well as various wildlife preserves breeding mountain goats, fallow and roe deer at the slopes of Toros Mountains.

Geography

With high mountains and low-lying plains, Adana’s climate varies depending on the geography. The climate of the plains is typical of the Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and mild wet winters. The coldest month is January (average temperature 9ºC) and the hottest is August (average 28ºC).

History

Adana, founded on the delta of the Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers, dates back to 6000 BC. The area has had a long string of rulers, starting with the Luvi Kingdom from 1900 BC (a branch of the Hittites), through a succession of Hittites, Phrygians, Assyrians, Persians, Seluicuds and Byzantines. There was an on-off struggle between the Greeks and Persians, which lasted 1000 years, which ended once the Romans came in the 1st century BC. The city first became an important trading centre under the Romans. Following the age of Islam, which began in 638 AD, there were then the Egyptian Mamelukes, the Ramazanogullari (Turks), and the Ottomans who captured the city in the16th century.

Where to Eat

Speciality of the city is the famous Adana kebap, which is made from minced lamb mixed with hot peppers, then charcoal grilled on a skewer. The local drink is called salgam, an unusual mixture of purple carrots, turnips, garlic and lettuce.

Don't Leave Without

- Visiting the Archaeology Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and Ataturk's house. centre,

- Visiting Ulu Camii, Sabanci Merkez Camii, Bebekli Church, the Stone Bridge over the river Seyhan, and the old house of Adana in Tepebas.

- Visiting the ruins of Anavarza, Sar, Misis and the bird sanctuary at Akyatan and Agyatan.

- Feasting on Adana kebap and drinking salgam and aslama (a licorice drink).

- Browsing around the old bazaar and buying a Karatepe rug.

- Watching the historical Festival of Altin Koza.

Sites

Registered Immobile Cultural and Natural Heritages in Adana

Sites

Archeological Sites: 62

Urban Sites: 3

Natural Sites: 4

Historical Sites: -

Other Sites

Archeological and Natural Sites: 1

Archeological and Urban Sites: 1

Total: 71

Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and Natural

Heritages: 457

TOTAL: 528

Contact Information

Camps

Raşit Ener Tur. Tesisleri İskenderun Yolu 5. km / Adana

Tel: (322) 321 27 58

National Parks And Forest Campsites

Karataş Kumluk, Adana

Tel: (322) 237 22 52

Provincial Cultural Directorate

Tel: (322) 458 84 30-31

Fax: (322) 458 84 29

Cultural Centers

A hall with 370 seating capacity for theatre, conferences, etc. 250 m² Exhibition Hall Library - 500 readers

Contact Address: Sabancı Kültür Sitesi - Adana

Tel: (322) 352 32 91

Fax: (322) 352 68 85

Çukurova State Symphony Orchestra

Address: Adana Büyükşehir Belediyesi Konser Salonu Atatürk Bulvarı - Adana

Tel: (322) 453 68 74

Fax: (322) 458 25 99

State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate

Sabancı Kültür Sitesi ADANA

Tel: (322) 352 46 74

Museum

Adana Museum Address: Seyhan Cad. Adana

Tel: (322) 454 38 55

Fax: (322)454 38 56

Tourist Offices

Provincial Directorate Cinarli Mah.

Ataturk Caddesi no 11

Tel: (0322) 363 1287

Fax: 363 1346

Sakirpasa Airport Tel/fax: (0322) 436 9214

Governorship : (+90-322) 458 83 30

Municipality : (+90-322) 515 84 13

Hospital : (+90-322) 227 25 90

Police : (+90-322) 432 27 77

Gendarme : (+90-322) 323 32 72

Links

Adana Governorship .:: T.C. Adana Valiliği ::.
Adana Municipality Adana Büyüksehir Belediyesi
Adana Chamber of Commerce Adana Ticaret Borsası
Adana Chamber of Industry ADANA SANAYI ODASI - FirmTrade