GALATIA
Let's strat to explore central highlands of
Anatolia in which unforgettable memories are inevitable. We are going to
visit in this beautiful land Ancyra (Ankara), Hattuşaş (Alacahöyük) which
was prior Hatti land.
Galatia was enclosed on the north by Bithynia and Paphlagonia, on the east by Pontus and Cappadocia, on the south by Cilicia and Lycaonia, and on the west by Phrygia. Now we will visit Galatia's capital city Ancyra. Let’s ow nhave some notes of Ankara.
ANCYRA, ANKARA
Today's
also capital city in Turkey in which history dates back to the Bronze
Age. 2000 years B.C. the Hittites become the dominant power of the region and
were then followed by the Phyrgians, Lydians and Persians. In the 3rd Century
BC, a Celtic race known as the Galatians. The name Ankara comes from the word
'Ancyra', which means 'anchor' in that era.
Ankara
in history gained its fame actually when it was under the
leadership of Ataturk during the national resistence which followed World War I
. It was announced as the capital of the new Turkish Republic on
October 13th 1923 when the National War of Independence freed Turkey from
foreign occupation.
When
we visit here firstly it is suggested to see Anıtkabir, occupying one of the most
prominent parts of the city, the magnificent mausoleum constructed to honour
Atatürk. This structure which was completed in 1953, is a synthesis of antique
and modern architectural themes.
MAUSOLEUM
OF ATATÜRK, ANITKABIR
The mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, locates in Ankara designed by architects Professor Emin Onat and Assistant Professor Orhan Ardaç. His proposal beat 48 other entries from several countries in a competition held by the Turkish Government in 1941 for a "monumental mausoleum" for Atatürk.
Anıtkabir consists of the same characteristics of
this period and is considered as one of many ultimate monuments of the era. In
addition, Anıtkabir features Seljuq and Ottoman architectural and ornamentation
features. There are four main parts to Anıtkabir to be visited; the Road of
Lions, the Ceremonial Plaza, the Hall of Honor (location of Atatürk's tomb) and
the Peace Park that surrounds the monument.
As
second it issuggested to visit the oldest parts of the city, the Castle.
ANKARA CASTLE
Ankara
castle is a fortification from ancient era. It was under control of Romans,
Byzantines, Seljuk Turks and Ottomans locating near Ulus in Altındağ. The
Alaaddin Mosque found inside its walls is still one of the best examples of
Seljuk art and wood craftsmanship, in spite of the fact that it was restored by
the Ottomans.
The
area has experienced a rejuvenation with the restoration of many interesting old
Turkish houses and the opening a several art galleries and fine restaurants
which feature examples of traditional Turkish cuisine.
Near
the gate of the castle is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which is a
beautifully restored portion of the old bazaar. It contains priceless artifacts
belonging to the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras as well as the Hatti, Hittite,
Phrygian, Urartu and Roman civilizations. Now let’s visit Anatolian
Civilisations Museum.
The biggest museum of Anatolia based on the old
Ottoman Mahmut Paşa bazaar storage building and the Kurşunlu Han locates near
Ankara castle. Today, Kurşunlu Han forms as an administrative building forms of
the work rooms, library, conference hall, laboratory and workshop.
The old bazaar building includes a number of
exhibits of Anatolian archeology. It starts with the Paleolithic era continuing
chronologically through the Neolithic, Early Bronze, Assyrian trading colonies,
Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuq and
Ottoman periods. There is also an extensive collection of artifacts from the
excavations at Karain, Çatalhöyük, Hacılar, Canhasan, Beyce Sultan, Alacahöyük,
Kültepe, Acemhöyük, Boğazköy (Gordion), Pazarlı, Altıntepe, Adilcevaz and
Patnos as well as examples of several periods.
The exhibits of gold, silver, glass, marble and
bronze works date back as far as the second half of the first millennium BC.
The coin collections, with examples ranging from the first minted money to
modern times, represent the museum's rare cultural treasures.
If
you are here as an option it is suggested to visit Beypazarı 100 km. northwest
of Ankara in which the old streets and market place reflect a typical
Turkish town.
BEYPAZARI
HOUSE
The
marketplace (Çarşı) and the neigbourhoods in the town are traditional houses
and shops displaying old Turkish architecture. The shops, which are generally
one storey high, are used as workshops where coppersmiths, silversmiths and
bronzesmiths work metals into beautiful artifacts. There are also carpenters`
and shoemakers` shops here.
The streets are narrow, mostly 3 to 6 meters wide and are lined with houses and garden walls on both sides. The houses which are usually 3-storey high were built with the same materials as other traditional Turkish houses. The ground floor is faced with flat stones. Stables, sheds, store-rooms, and pantries are usually on the ground floor.
Just
above the ground floor there are cupboards and a kitchen used in the winter.
The upper floors are the most frequently used areas. In the outer, inner or
middle areas, there is the Turkish “sofa” (hall anteroom). The bedrooms,
toilets and kitchens are situated around the sofa.
Before passing through Cappadocia we will visit
one of the most important historical site Hattuşaş (Alacahöyük) in border
of Galatia, today in province Çorum.
HATTUSAS,
ALACAHÖYÜK
Now we are about to visit one of the most important historical site in the World, Hattuşaş belonging to Hittite Empire.
The
historical site of Hattusas locates at 82 km. to the southwest of Çorum and it
is 208 km. from Ankara. The Hattusas historical site was first visited by
Charles Dexter in 1834 and introduced to the world.
Settlements
existed at the Hattusas since 3rd millenium B.C. The small and fortified
settlements of that period were at Büyükkale and its environs. In the 19th and
18th centuries B.C. settlements from the age of Assyrian Trade Colonies are
seen at the Lower City. After Hattusas was a capital, a monumantal building
development can be seen at the farthest point of the settlement. In the second
development period of Hattusas three important Hittite kings played a
significant role both from within and without during the last years of the
Empire. They were Hattusilis III, his son Tudhaliyas IV, and his son Suppiuliumas
II.
When
the Hittite state was destroyed due to economic hardships during the reign of
the Suppiuliumas II, Boğazköy was
abandoned for a period of 4 centuries. And the first settlements were seen after
this gap is Phrygian middle of 8th century
Let’s
start to see some remnants of this site.
The
part of Hattusas known as the Upper City is a sloped land of more than 1
kilometer square. Upper City is surrounded at south by a city wall
which draws a large arch and this wall has 5 gates. At the furthest southern
point of the wall and at the highest point of the city, the gate with the
Sphinxes is located with its bastion rising above anything else. Of the other
four gates the two facing one another at the southern and western tips of the
city walls are the royal gate and the gate with the lion.
In
the Upper City, the area known as the district of the temples reaches from the
gate with the Sphinxes to Nişantepe and Sarıkale. In this part many temples
were revealed orignating from different stages. The general characteristics of
the temple plans were defined by the cult room groups which are entered from a
central court yard and consist of a narrow fore-space and a deep main space.
One
of the most important architectural sites at Boğazköy is the Great Temple. The
Great Temple which formed the center of the northern city in Hattusas was built
as the home of Storm God of Hatti and the Sun Goddess of the Arinna City.
The
Great Temple is surrounded by buildings of secondary importance. Most important
one among them is the Slope House. It deserves attention with its large size,
its plan and the fact that it is a multi-storey building.
The other sacred place of here is Yazılıkaya.
YAZILIKAYA
RELIEF
Rock
sanctuary at Yazılıkaya sixty-three deities representing a reduced version of
the "thousand gods" of the Hittite Empire. This holy area for
Hittites locates near Hattuşaş. It has got two main sections A and B displaying
gods of Hittite. It is claimed that here was built 16th B.C and used for celebrations of new year. In
section A there are 64 rock-cut deities in procession. The smaller and narrower
section B has fewer but better preserved reliefs.
After
visiting this perfect ancient site now it is time to know my hometown Caesarea,
Kayseri in border of Cappadocia Region.
CAPPADOCIA
At first it is recommended to visit Caesarea, Kayseri.
CAESAREA,
KAYSERİ
Kayseri is located at the foot of the extinct volcano Mount Erciyes, 3916 m over the city and 220 km south of Hattuşaş. The city itself is a blend of wealth, modernity and provincial conservatism and is often cited in the first ranks among Turkey's cities that fit the definition of Anatolian Tigers.
Renowned for its culinary specialties such as mantı, pastirma and sucuk, the city is also rich in historical monuments dating especially from the Seljuk period. While it is generally visited en-route to the international tourist attractions of Cappadocia, Kayseri has many visitor's attractions by its own right; Seljuk and Ottoman era monuments in and around the center, Mount Erciyes as trekking and alpinism center, Zamantı River as rafting center, the historic sites of Kultepe, Ağırnas, Talas and Develi.
Thanks to the economic liberalization policies introduced in the 1980s, a new wave of merchants and industrialists from Kayseri joined their predecessors. Most of these new industrialists choose Kayseri as base of their operations.
You
can start with Keneş Ancient city which was first trade center in history,
Kayseri Castle, Hunad Hatun Mosque and Complex from Seljuk Era, and Erciyes Ski
Center.
KÜLTEPE, KANEŞ
Kültepe is an archaeological area located in Kayseri Province in Turkey. The nearest modern city to Kültepe is Kayseri, about 20 km southwest. It consists of a tell and a lower town where an Assyrian settlement ruins were found. Its name in Assyrian texts from the 20th century BC was Kaneş, the later Hittites mostly called it as Neşa, occasionally Anisa.
Kaneş,
inhabited since Chalcolithic period to Roman times, flourished as an important
Hattic, Hittite and Hurrian city, which contained a colonised large quarter of
the Old Assyrian Empire from 21st to 18th BC. This kârum is accepted to have
served as "the administrative and distribution centre of the entire
Assyrian trade colony network in Anatolia. Also It is the site of discovery of
the earliest traces of the Hittite language dated to the 20th century BC.
The
ruins of the kârum form a large circular mound 500 m in diameter and about 20 m
above the plain. The kârum settlement is the result of several superimposed
stratigraphic periods. New buildings were constructed on top of the remains of
the earlier periods; thus, there is a deep stratigraphy from prehistoric times
to the early Hittite period.
The findings have cosisited of numerous baked-clay tablets some of which were found in clay envelopes stamped with cylinder seals. The documents records show common activities such as trade between the Assyrian colony and the city state of Assur and between Assyrian merchants and local people.
Now we can go to city center and visit first Kayseri City Walls and then just opposite of it we can visit Hunat Hatun Mosque and complex which is one of the best example of Seljuk architecture.
KAYSERİ
CASTLE
A
1,750-year-old castle in the central Anatolian province of Kayseri is preparing
to host culture and art events. The Kayseri Castle was built in 238 during the
reign of the Roman Empire and served as a center of trade after surviving many
wars. The castle, located in Cumhuriyet Square and symbolizing the 6,000
year history of the city, was one of the leading places for commercial affairs
in the past.
The
Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality recently gave the go-ahead to turn the castle
into a culture and arts center. The shanty houses around the main structure
have been removed, while shops currently situated there have been transferred
to a passage built in Hunat neighborhood. Works are also continuing to move any
businesses inside the castle to alternate locations.
HUNAT HATUN MOSQUE AND COMPLEX
Hunat Hatun Complex which was built in teh center of Kayseri standing opposite of Kayseri Castle by Mahberi Hatun wife of Seljuk empire I. Alaeddin Keykubad. Rock-cut stone Hunad Hatun complex consists of mosque, madrasah used as bazaar today and grave and hamam, turkish bath for both male and female.
The main building in this complex is Mosque on which written some verses of Koran. It has 8 sections each is parallel to altar which was decorarted with geometric symbols such as main gate.
Madrasah seeming such castle is one storey building consisting of 2 vernadah having
opened-roof courtyard mostly decorated geometrical decorations. Since 1929 this
building was used as etnography museum but in 1998 displayed things moved to
Güpgüpoğlu House then is has been used as bazaar.
Before
passing through to Cappadocia it is recommended to visit Erciyes Volcanic
Mountain, one of the most popular ski centers in Turkey.
ERCİYES VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN
Erciyes is the highest mountain in central Anatolia with its summit reaching 3,916 m, located within the ancient region of Cappadocia. It is considered to be the highest peak of the Anti-Taurus mountain range, a northeastern extension of the Taurus Mountains to the south, and belongs to the Alpide belt in Eurasia. The volcano is heavily eroded, but may have erupted as recently as 253 BC, as may be depicted on Roman era coins.
The
first recorded successful climb was performed by William John Hamilton in 1837.
There are, however, some historic writings and symbols on the rocks at the
summit showing earlier human presence there already. There are two caves near
the summit tower, of which at least one must have been expanded by humans. It
is supposed that monks in historic times have visited the summit several times.
There
are winter sports facilities on the mountain, usually accessed from nearby
Kayseri.
The
skiing area in Erciyes Ski Centre is between 1800–3000m altitude where the
total length of the tracks is about 12km long. The longest track in Erciyes Ski
Centre is 3.5km. There are 8 mechanical lifts in Erciyes where you can enjoy
the delights of powdery snow and skiing. By lift in Erciyes Ski Centre, 3 of
them are by Baby-lift,3 of them by Teleski and 2 of them preferred more than most
are operated by Zümrüt chair-lift. The First chair lift in Erciyes Ski Centre
is 1500m long, begins at 2215m altitude and ends at 2550m. The second chair
lift that is mostly targeted by proffessional skiers is 1600m long and exposes
the skier to 2550 to 3000m altitude.
This
chair lift in Erciyes Ski Centre is the longest one in Turkey. The opportunity
for skiing occurs from November to March in Erciyes Ski Centre. Under normal
climate conditions in Erciyes Ski Centre the thickness of the snow is about 2m
and skiers have the opportunity to ski on the snow.
In
Erciyes Ski Centre there are many hotels offering perfect winter holiday. Erciyes
Ski centre is 30km away from Kayseri Airport and 25km from the city centre..
Access from Kayseri city centre to Erciyes Ski Centre is possible by private
vehicles. Also many hotels in Erciyes Ski Centre organise bus services for
their customers.
Now
we are going to visit one of the most attractive place in the World,
Cappadocia. Cappadocia a tale of love, a poem of feelings, language of life. If
you want to loose yourself you are in right place.
CAPPADOCIA, KAPADOKYA
Before you decide to visit Cappadocia at least you should plan it for 3 days. You will have a chance to see almost all places to be visited by millions every year from whole over World. Cave churches, underground cities, castles furthermore horse - riding and hot-air balloon never to be forgotten in this marvelous region are just some sample to be utilized.
Neverthless, prior to this excited trip there is some useful information written below for you. Cappadocia which is unique in the world and is a extraordinary nature wonder is the common name of the field covered by the provinces of Aksaray, Nevsehir, Nigde, Kayseri and Kirsehir in the Central Anatolian region. In the upper Myosen period in the Cappadocia region as a result of the vulcanic eruptions happened in Erciyes and Hasandag, in the region was formed a large tableland from the vulcanic tufas and together with the erosion of the Kizilirmak river and wind over ten thausands of years there appeared the chimney rocks which are a wonder of the nature.
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The first populations of the region of Cappadocia were Hatties, Luvies and Hittites. In the 3000-2000 years B.C. the Assyrians have established trade colonies in this region. The Cappaddocian tables with cuneiform in Assyrian language founded at Kanes which are lighting the social and politic life of the period and were in the same time the trade and economical agreements are the firs written tablets of Anatolia. According to these documents in that period in Anatolia were founded small local kingdoms non-depending from a central authority. These had in generally in their hands a little area and were living in peace. The region creating the core of the Hittite Empire later has go under the domination of Phrigia and Pers. The Pers civilization has called this region Katpatuka meaned beautiful horses' land and its center was Mazaka. When Datames the Satrab of Cappadocia has bear arms against the biggest king of Pers, the other Anatolian Satrabs have been supported him but the revolt has been raided. In 33 b.c. the Big Alexander has captured a big part of Cappadocia. In 188 B.C. The Cappadocia which entered under the Roman domination has been captured in 100 B.C. by the Mithridatesd the king of Pontus but in 63 B.C. Pompeius has defeated Mithridates and took again the Cappadocia under the domination of Rome. In the period of Tiberius the Cappadocia gainded the status of Roman district.
During this period Christianity started to spread mainly in east part of world. The first Christians such Saint Basileious from Kaisera and Saint Gregorios from Nyssa had settled in Cappadocia who escaped from the persecution of the Roman Empire like the citizen of the region.The first Christians had hidden in Cappadocia in these underground cities whose gates were made in such way in which they couldn't be easily observed and they have escaped from the persecution of the Roman soldiers. After Roman Kingdom being divided in two part by the invasions, West called as Roman Kingdom and East called as Byzantine Kingdom (between 1st - 5th A.D.) whose capital city was Constantinople locats today in Anatolia.
In 647 A.C. together with occupation of Kayseri by Muaviye Cappadocia has met with the Arabian invasions. Cappadocia which went under the domination of the Seljuks in 1072 has been added to the lands of Ottoman Empire in 1399 by the Ottoman Sultan Yildirim Beyazit.
Now time to explore the beauties of Cappadocia withhin oldest history.
You can follow the map route as seen below.
You can follow the map route as seen below.
FOLLOW THE ROUTE
If you feel like to have trip on your own, you can land either on Cappadocia Airport (10 km. far) and on Kayseri Airport (70 km. far) mostly from İstanbul or you can arrive by bus from every city. Also it is possible by private helicopter to be hired in İstanbul, İzmir, Antalya. It would be better to adjust the accomodation before you arrive at Cappadocia or you could have a trip including accomodation via any agency such as my company. Rock - cut boutique hotels are considerable populer in this region which really attract all tourists
This imprressive region locating in central Anatolia lies on a huge area approximately 300 km2 is mainly covered with vulcanic tufa and fairy chimneys.
1st day it is suggested to start your trip havig hot-air balloon early in the morning which is one of the most popular spots in the World rising up from 10 m. to 1000 m. depending on weather conditions. After perfect breakfast with the perfect view of Cappadocia you should be ready for walking much. First stop can be Uçhisar Castle which is on the Nevsehir-Goreme roadway. It is not clear that the period of the commencement of the oldest settlement at Uchisar which is situated in the highest point of the region. The hill of the castle of Uchisar is today the panoramic watching point. There are many rooms, steps, tunnel and galleries inside the castle connected to each other. At the entrance of the rooms there are sliding stones used to control the accesses and exits. On the chimney rock and outskirts of the castle and around there has been constructed many dovecotes. The doves were used in communication with the other settlement regions. Says as legend dwarf had been lived at the Uchisar because of the very narrow passages in the castle. There are three tombs top of the castle.
When you follow the road in front of Uçhisar Castle it takes you to Göreme Open Air Museum, 1 km. far from city center, containing the finest of the rock-cut churches, with beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) whose colors still retain all their original freshness. It also presents unique examples of rock hewn architecture and fresco technique. The Goreme Open Air Museum has been a member of UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984, and was one of the first two UNESCO sites in Turkey. The area covered by this Open Air Museum forms a coherent geographical entity and represents historical unity. There are eleven refectories within the Museum, with rock-cut churches tables and benches. Each is associated with a church. Most of the churches in Goreme Open Air Museum belong to the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries.
There are 9 churches inside the museum as it is seen below museum plan but the most fascinating churches are Apple Church and Dark Chuch.
One of the most prominent buildings in the area with its vivid colors, the Apple Church is a groin-vaulted structure with cross-in-square plan, having four columns and a central dome. It has beautiful frescoes dating to the 11th and 12th centuries. And where these have fallen off, you can see simple red-painted ornaments from the iconoclastic period. The frescoes are narrating scenes from the Bible and the life of Christ, the Hospitality of Abraham and Three Hebrew Youths. The building derives its name from the apple orchard collapsed a long time ago, in front of the main entrance.
One of the most prominent buildings in the area with its vivid colors, the Apple Church is a groin-vaulted structure with cross-in-square plan, having four columns and a central dome. It has beautiful frescoes dating to the 11th and 12th centuries. And where these have fallen off, you can see simple red-painted ornaments from the iconoclastic period. The frescoes are narrating scenes from the Bible and the life of Christ, the Hospitality of Abraham and Three Hebrew Youths. The building derives its name from the apple orchard collapsed a long time ago, in front of the main entrance.
The entrance to the Dark Church is from the north through a winding tunnel which opens into a barrel-vaulted narthex. In the south of the narthex there are three graves, two of which are big and the other, small. The church has a cross plan, the arms of the cross having a diagonal vault. The templon of the main apse has been destroyed. This Church dates to the end of the 12th century. Some of the scenes on the walls are Deesis, Annunciation, Journey to Bethlehem, Nativity, Baptism, Raising of Lazarus, Transfiguration, Entry into Jerusalem, Last Supper, Betrayal of Judas, the Crucifixion and Anastasis.
After museum it is suggested to visit city center of Göreme where you can meet authentic decorated restaurants and shops where you have chance to buy local souveniers such carpets, scarf, linens, coffee cups, tea glasses. And then you can have dinner in one of the smart-decorated restaurants in Cappadocia and try one of the most delicious meal "Potted Lamb".
For 2nd day you can plan to visit some panoramic view points like Göreme Panorama, Ortahisar Castle, Ürgüp Square, Camel Valley and Paşabağ Monks Valley where certainly will amaze you with their exceptional occurrences. After tiring day you can get relax attending one of Turkish Night programs held in almost each towns of Cappadocia in which you can watch many dance performances from all regions of Anatolia and some traditions of turkish culutre drinking local wine.
For 3rd day you can start the day riding a horse between narrow paved streets. After you can plan to go to first Zalve ruins, an open air museum which once was a cave town. You need at least two hours to hike through and discover all that Zelve has to offer - three valleys that contain a multitude of cave homes, carved and painted churches, grain mills and wine making rooms. After visiting Zelve your route shows Avanos having one of the longest river called Kızılılırmak coused to hand-made pottery and sermaic. You can watch and try how to prepare pottery and sermamic in one shop in Avanos.
The extensive networks of passages, tunnels, stepped pits and inclined corridors link family rooms and communal spaces where people would meet, work and worship. The cities were complete with wells, chimneys for air circulation, niches for oil lamps, stores, water tanks, stables and areas where the dead could be placed until such time as conditions on the surface would allow their proper disposal. Most importantly, carefully balanced moving stone doors, resembling mill stones, were devised to quickly block the corridors in the event of an attack. Of course, these doors operated from one side only.
ALTERNATIVE PLACES TO BE VISITED
Love Valley: It is one of the most uniq place to be visited locating between Göreme and Çavuşin towns. Especially when you are above the sky by balloon it gives much pleasure to be close them during sunrise.
Kaymaklı Underground City: It was first opened to tourists in 1964, the village is about 19 km from Nevşehir, on the Nevşehir-Niğde road. The ancient name was Enegup. The houses in the village are constructed around the nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city. In this city there are 4 storey can be seen which consists of stable, church, storages, kitchen and vinary.
Pigeon Valley: The unique rock formations where pigeons live in these dovecoats carved into the rocks and cliffs. Years ago the pigeons were used to carry messages from this remote region, and their droppings have long been used by local farmers for fertilizer. Pigeon Valley is a great place for hiking. The whole area around Göreme is made up of valleys with almost no fencing and there are well-marked trails. The mildly hilly trail through Pigeon Valley is free of charge and about 4 km long running between Göreme and Uçhisar.
Red & Rose Valley: It is a large valley located between Goreme and Cavusin villages, and it is divided into many smaller valleys: Gulludere, Kizilcukur, Meskendir and Zindanonu valleys. This notable valley takes its name from the rose-colored rock that varies in hue and intensity depending on time of day, season and weather conditions. During hiking you will visit several cave churches, cave houses and cave tunnels. Rose Valley has paths for easy, medium and difficult levels where the most common path in the valley takes around 2 hours (3.5 km).
ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITES
Horse -Riding: Beautiful Horses' Land Cappadocia is the ideal place to explore on horse. Horses have held an important place in Cappadocia history since the Persian Era and the unique landscapes in Cappadocia are perfect for exploring on a native Anatolian or Arabic horse – with a real Turkish cowboy. To explore the attractive valleys and breathtaking view around Goreme takes 2- or 4-hour trail ride . It is also suggested all-day trail rides and multiple-day excursions on horseback.
Visiting Winery: Anatolia has been making wine for at least 5,000 years and one of the best pelases is Cappadocia, the country’s almost biggest wine-making region. Because of location and climate conditions in this reagion mostly tasty grape is grown. That's why wine is so popular. The best grape wine are the white Narince and Emir and the red Bogazkere, Öküzgözü and Kalecik Karası. These Turkish wines are winning awards and continue to attract more and more world-wide attention. During your vacation you can visit one of winery and see how to be produced and stored. You can taste diffierent old wines before you buy.
Soğanlı Valley: Soğanlı Valley cosisting of the upper and lower locates on southern Cappadocia, 36 km. far. In the Soğanlı valleys you may have the hiking trails, visit churches. You can have fun exploring on your own throughout several valleys, and really get off the beaten path. Except that, you can visit then traditional Turkish village at Soğanlı where you can buy local souveniers.
LYCAONIA
Without
doubt one who visits Cappadocia afterwards should visit the Lykaonia region,
Iconium, today city Konya where famous legendary dervish Mevlana Jelaleddin
Rumi lived.
ICONIUM,
KONYA
The
land is a wide plateau and has been continuously inhabited even extending back
to the 8th millenium BC. Iconium, Konya is one of the well-developed city in
Turkey which has around 2 million population. It got its fame during Seljuk era
as capital city of Seljuk Empire. Today it attracts with its touristic places
such as having been explained below:
Çatalhöyük
is an ancient city which is the first example of agricultural settlements. Made
up of mud houses, which were entered through holes in the roofs.
In the environs of Konya, there also exist sites which hold some remains from the Hittites. Ivriz rock-relief is 168 km east of Konya, which is one of the finest neo-Hittite reliefs in the country.
When the Byzantines got power of this land, Iconium became an independent province and was announce as "Lycanoia" as well.
During
the 12th and 13th centuries, the city acted as the capital of the Seljuk Turks
and advanced rapidly to become a great cultural center.
The
most famous building here is the Green Mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi,
the great Turkish philosopher and poet lived and died here. He is the founder
of the sect of Whirling Dervishes, the seminary that was attached to the
mausoleum. It has been converted into a museum housing Mevlana's works and
accoutrements related to his sect.
The
other well-known historical building Karatay Medresse, constructed in 1251,
stands to the north of this hill, and is now a museum which holds the best
examples of Seljuk tiles and ceramics.
Now
we are going to visit these historical sights.
ÇATAL
HÖYÜK
It can
be said that an extraordinary settlement such as Çatal Höyük is in the heart of
Anatolia which has been a cradle to many civilisations. Catal Hoyuk is situated
to the south-east of Konya where the Carsamba river nourishes the fertile
plains. Çatal Höyük's settlement site was found by archaeologist James Mellaart
in 1951.
The
findings from the district, including the cult figures of the famous temple and
the mother goddess, together with old frescoes, are today on display in the
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.
Çatal
Höyük was the most suitable place for settlement during the Neolithic Age
because of mountain forests stretching to the banks of rich territory. That’s
why Çatal Höyük seems to have been tailored for agriculture and the breeding of
animals.
The
first Neolithic settlement 8000 B.C. on this fertile lowland has greatly
challenged the earlier ideas about this age. The first early and second late
Neolithic settlements were established on east and west hills where the Çatal
Höyük people created one of the most magnificent civilisations of history. The
name "Çatal Höyük" originated from a forked road to the north of the
hills. The words "çatal" meaning fork and "höyük" meaning
mound. It is an interesting coincidence that this name marks an important
crossroad in the history of civilisation.
Now
let’s search Çatal Höyük architecture:
Despite
being very close to each other, the houses display separate walls with a small
gap between them built with sun-dried mud bricks supported by wooden beams.
This technique is called "himis" and is still used in certain areas
of Anatolia. The
small doorways in the houses are considered to have been for small animals to
get in and out.
The inhabitants of Çatal Höyük used the flat roof tops as a
means of getting from one dwelling to another made from clay, wood and reeds
and measured approximately 60 centimetres in width. In these houses horseshoe
shaped ovens were found. Each house also had a raised bank of earth or stone
which was used as a table, divan and bed. These raised banks were also used for
the burial of the dead and were covered with woven mattings thought to be
earliest forms of kilims.
In
nearly all of the houses, items of charm and religion in the shape of statues,
reliefs and paintings can be found in which paintings adorned the mud-brick
walls painted over again by using a thin layer of plaster to cover former
drawings. Of the discovered paintings, most display religious items. In all the
homes the religious paintings and statues mostly have the heads of animals with
horns.
Now
we are going to visit the most prominent museum of Konya belonging to Mevlana
Jelaleddin Rumi who is famous of his spiritual thoughts whole over the World.
MEVLANA
AND HIS LIFE
Jalâluddîn
Rumi was born in 1207 in Balkh in Afghanistan. At an early age his family left
Balkh because of the danger of the occupying Mongols and settled first in
Karaman then in Konya, which was then the capital of the Seljuk Empire at that
era. His father Bahauddin was a great religious teacher who received a position
at the university in Iconium, Konya.
Mevlâna's
early spiritual education was given by his father Bahauddin and later under his
father's close friend Sayyid Burhaneddin of Balkh whose grave is in Caesarea
today. Sayyid Burhaneddin came to Konya when Mevlâna was 24 years old and for
nine years instructed him in "the science of the prophets and
states," beginning with a strict forty day retreat and continuing with
various disciplines of meditation and fasting. As the years passed,
Mevlâna grew both in knowledge and consciousness of God. Eventually Sayyid
Burhaneddin felt that he had fulfilled his responsibility toward Jalâluddîn,
and he wanted to live out the rest of his years in seclusion. He told Mevlâna,
"You are now ready, my son. You have no equal in any of the branches of
learning. You have become a lion of knowledge. I am such a lion myself and we
are not both needed here and that is why I want to go. Furthermore, a perfect
friend will come to you, and you will be each other's mirror. He will lead you
to the innermost parts of the spiritual world, just as you will lead him. Each
of you will complete the other, and you will be the greatest friends in the
entire world." And so Sayyid meaned that coming of Shams of Tabriz,
the central event of Rumi's life. At the age of thirty-seven Mevlâna met the
spiritual vagabond Shams. For more than 10 years after meeting Shams, Mevlâna
had been spontaneously composing odes, or ghazals and these had been collected
in a large volume called the Divan-i Kabir.
MEVLANA
MUSEUM
The
Mevlâna museum, located in Konya is the mausoleum of Jalaladdin Muhammad Rumi,
a Sufi mystic also known as Mevlâna or Rumi. It was also the dervish lodge of
the Mevlevi order better known as the whirling dervishes.
Sultan
'Ala' al-Din Kayqubad, the Seljuk sultan who had invited Mevlâna to Konya,
offered this rose garden as a fitting place to bury Bahaddin Walad (also
written as Bahaeddin Veled), the father of Mevlâna burried here. When Mevlâna
died in 17 December 1273 he was buried next to his father.
Mevlâna's
successor Hüsamettin Çelebi decided to build a mausoleum (Kubbe-i-Hadra) over
his grave of his master. The Seljuk
construction, under architect Behrettin Tebrizli, was finished in 1274 funded
by wifes of Seljuk empires. The cylindrical drum of the dome originally rested
on four pillars. The conical dome is covered with turquoise faience. However
several sections were added until 1854. Selimoğlu Abdülvahit decorated the
interior and performed the woodcarving of the catafalques.
The
decree of 6 April 1926 confirmed that the mausoleum and the dervish lodge was
to be converted to a museum. The museum opened on 2 March 1927. In 1954 it was
renamed as "Mevlâna museum". One enters the museum through the main gate
to the marble-paved courtyard. The kitchen of the dervishes and the Hurrem
Pasha tomb, built during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent, are located on
the right side. The kitchen was also used for educating the dervishes, teaching
them the Sema.
On
the left side are 17 dervish cells lined up, covered with small domes, and
built during the reign of Murad III. The
ṣadirvan (washing fountain) in the middle of the courtyard was built by Yavuz
Sultan Selim.
One
enters the mausoleum and the small mosque through the Tomb gate (Türbe Kapisi). Its
two doors are decorated with Seljuk motifs and a Persian text from mollah
Abdurrahman Cami dating from 1492. It leads into the small Tilavet Room
(Tilavet Odası) decorated with rare and precious Ottoman calligraphy in the
sülüs, nesih, and talik styles. In this room the Koran was continuously recited
and chanted before the mausoleum was turned into a museum.
One
enters the mausoleum from the Tilavet Room through a silver door made. On the
left side stand six coffins in rows of three of the dervishes (Horasan erler)
who accompanied Mevlâna and his family from Belkh.
Opposite
to them on a raised platform, covered by two domes, stand the cenotaphs
belonging to the descendants of the Mevlâna family (wife and children) and some
high-ranking members of the Mevlevi order.
The
sarcophagus of Mevlâna is located under the green dome (Kibab'ulaktab). It is
covered with brocade, embroidered in gold with verses from the Koran. Next to
Mevlâna's sarcophagus are several others, including the sarcophagi of his
father Bahaeddin Veled and his son Sultan Veled.
The
wooden sarcophagus of Mevlâna dates from the 12th century now stands over the
grave of his father. It is a masterpiece of Seljuk woodcarving. The silver
lattice, separating the sarcophagi from the main section, was built by Ilyas in
1579.
The
Ritual Hall (Semahane) was built under the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent at
the same time as the adjoining small mosque.
In
this hall the dervishes used to perform the Sema, the ritual dance, on the
rhythm of musical instruments. The
adjoining small mosque is now used for the exhibition of a collection of old,
illustrated korans and extremely valuable prayer rugs. There exhibits also a
box decorated with nacre, containing the Holy Beard of Muhammad.
Every year in December, ceremonies are held in Konya or the commemoration of Mevlana and the Whirling Dervishes. In this Dervish Festival, the "Sema" dance is performed by men dressed in white robes, whirling and rotating around the floor. This dance, in which the dancer with the great love of God is believed to attain divine unity, is an event well worth seeing.
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