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When in Ankara
Turkish history is littered with battles and conflicts stretching back to the time the Hittites ruled Anatolia between 1900 and 1600 BC and clashed with Egyptian forces. The Turkey that you see today is thanks in large part to the efforts of the Ottoman general Mustafa Kemal, better known as Ataturk or Father Turk, who led the Turkish people to independence through a war with Allied nations between 1920 and 1922. Ankara was named the capital of the republic of Turkey in 1923.
The Turkish capital is often overlooked as a tourist destination in favour of its cousin Istanbul, but visitors willing to make the trek inland will find much to enjoy here. The city is large and with plenty of people and traffic does not make for the most relaxing of experiences. Those that enjoy the bustle, however, will find the city appealing and there are plenty of sites and museums to keep the tourist gong.
The Byzantine citadel known as Hisar, which lies just to the east of the old city is a must for any visitor. The huge number of beguiling alleyways will take hours to explore and those wishing to pick up the best of the atmosphere should arrive at sunset when they can witness the call to prayer.
Another popular spot is the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, which houses a huge range of interesting exhibits. It places particular emphasis on the earliest occupiers of Asia Minor and is a wonderful starting point for learning more about the region and the people. Closed on Mondays.
Close by is the stunning mausoleum where Atatürk lies and where symbols of various Anatolian empires can be seen in the architecture. It was completed in 1953 and the nearby museum houses a huge amount of Atatürk related artifacts. Entry is free.
Ankara Esenboga International Airport lies around 20 miles north-east of the city. International arrivals are sparse but this could be set to change following the unveiling of new terminals at the site in October 2006. There are numerous domestic flights each day, with Istanbul particularly well served. Decently priced buses run regularly in to the centre of town.
Trains depart regularly to many parts of the country, with many heading to Istanbul. Journey time is currently around six hours although this is set to be halved in the near future when a new high speed link is opened. As things stand, a bus is normally a faster option for getting around the country and there are numerous services each day from the main terminal known as ASTI.
Temperatures in the city can get well in to the 30s during the summer, with winter days often below freezing, making spring or autumn the best time to visit.
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Introduction
