Central Anatolia Region

From Turkey Travel Guide

Central Anatolia Region

[edit] Location

Central Anatolia Region is located in middle Turkey, having borders with all other regions except Southeastern Anatolia Region.

[edit] Provinces

• Aksaray
• Ankara
• Çankırı
• Eskişehir
• Karaman
• Kayseri
• Kırıkkale
• Kırşehir
• Konya
• Nevşehir
• Niğde
• Sivas
• Yozgat

[edit] History

The Central Anatolia region is an incredibly historical and diverse landscape, dating back several centuries, and is the second largest region of Turkey, the first being the Eastern Anatolia region. The region is considered one giant plateau, with two large basins located on the Konya Ovasi and the Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake). Forestry resides on the northwest and northeast, with rivers and valleys in the central parts.

The region encompasses the capital of the country Ankara, as well as several historical areas to Turkish and pre-Turkish cultures, including Konya, Eskisehir, and Cappadocia. Legions of warriors and societies have existed in this region, including the Greeks, Romans, Seleucids, Persian, Ottomans, and several others.

The name Anatolia comes from the Greek "Anatoli" which means "east", later transformed into the Turkish "Anadolu", and the English "Anatolia".

[edit] Climate

Anatolia, having diverse landscapes, has a variety of climates. The central plateau area of the region is characterized by a continental climate, with cold snowy winters and hot arid summers. Several areas including Cappadoceia and Ankara, have a typical desert-like climate, with hot arid days and cool evenings.

[edit] Places to See

There are several wonderful places to see in the Central Anatalian region.

Nevşehir: A province within the region known for the great city of Cappadocia, which boasts some of the earliest Christian church work. The churches are located within the rocky hills of Goreme, with some pre-dating Byzantium. The churches are now tourist attractions, as they are kept as museums under the Turkish Republic.

Eskişehir: Meaning "old city", this place offers a mix of both historical and modern sites. Eskisehir is now the location of popular colleges and schools, thus boasting modern malls, cinemas, and cafes. However, the ancient sites include the Midas Tomb, which holds the body of King Midas, a character from Greek mythology known for touching things and turning them into gold. Hence, where the coin phrase "the Midas touch" comes from.

Sivas: This city is a cultural hub, including the work of 13th-century Seljuk architecture. The Mavi Medrese (Blue Madrasa) dates back to 1271, the Şifaiye Medresesi to 1218 and the Çifte Minare Medresesi (Double Minaret) to 1271. There is also the Armenian monastery of Surp Nishan ("Holy Cross"), founded by Atom-Ashot, the son of King Sennacherib, however, not much remains due to war destruction. There are also fine examples of Ottoman architecture, including the Kurşunlu Hamamı (Ottoman bath house) from 1576, which is the largest in Sivas, boasting classical Ottoman craftsmanship. There is also the Gevher Nesibe Madrasa, which is a medical madrasa dating back to 1206, it was constructed by a Seljuk Princess of the same name, which still stands in excellent shape today.

Ihlara: A township located in Aksaray Province, it is situated at about 40km (25 miles) from the province seat of Aksaray near Güzelyurt. The township is known for the Ihlara Valley, which is a long gorge cut into the southern part of Cappadocia. Several ancient Byzantine churches still exist there, as they reside within the canyon itself. It was the first settlement of proto-Christians escaping from the Roman Empire, and hundreds of old churches in the volcanic rock caves still hold strong. The most popular churches are Karagedik Church, Sümbüllü Church, Kemerli Church, Egritas Church, Ağaçaltı Church, Pürenliseki Church, Kokar Church, Yilanli Church, and several others.