Dalyan

Dalyan achieved international fame in 1986 when developers wanted to build a luxury hotel on the nearby Iztuzu Beach , a breeding ground for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle species. The incident created major international storm when David Bellamy championed the cause of the conservationists. The development project was stopped and the beach is now a protected area.

Life in Dalyan revolves around the Dalyan Cayı River which flows past the town. The boats that ply up and down the river, navigating the maze of reeds, are the preferred means of transport to all the local sites.

Above the river’s sheer cliffs are the weathered facades of Lycian tombs cut from rock, circa 400 AC. The ruins of the ancient trading city of Kaunos are a short boat trip across the river.

The south of Dalyan on the Mediterranean coast, lies Iztuzu Beach, near the village of the same name is a popular area for sunbathing and swimming. There are regular boat and minibus (dolmuş) services to the beach. Visitors should be aware of the wooden stakes in the beach to mark nesting sites. The road route is particularly scenic, offering views of Sülüngür Lake. Iztuzu, Dalyan’s turtle beach, was voted the best beach in the world in 1995.

The beach is well known for the Caretta Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtles) which have existed for 95 million years. International animal protection organizations monitor and protect the turtles’ nesting grounds in Turkey. The beach is closed during the period of time that the Turtles lay thair young. On the other side of the beach, lesser known and lesser protected turltes which are illegally fed and coaxed into the river, which has a small salt content (dalyan), and therefore these turtles has to adapt. Fortunately few turlte deaths have ever occcured.

Tulum

It is a prominent instrument in the music of Pazar (former Atina), Hemşin, Çamlıhemşin (former Vije), and in the villages of the Tatos range (the watershed between the provinces of Rize and Erzurum) of İspir. Tulum is the instrument of the transhumant population of the north-eastern provinces of Anatolia and, like the kemençe its area, its imposes its style on the whole of the dance and entertaintment music of those for whom it is "our music".

 Tulum (bagpipe) is a Turkish folk instrument of the wind type. It consists of three parts with Deri Kısmı (leather section), Nav and Ağızlık (mouth piece). The air is stored in the leather section and is let into the nav section by pressing the bag under the arm. Nav is the part where the melody is played. It also has two parts called Analık and Dillik. Ağızlık is the section which sends the air to the leather bag of the pipe.

Tulum is used in Turkey at Trabzon, Rize, Erzurum, Kars, Northern and Eastern Anatolian regions and at the Thrace region. Tulum, which is generally made from lamb or kid skin, is called Gayda in Thrace . 

Zonguldak

Since the discovery of coal in the province, Zonguldak has become a major coal production center.

Coal mining today

Current coal mining/extraction zones of Zonguldak province/region: Armutçuk (Eregli), Kozlu (Kozlu), Üzülmez (Zonguldak), Caydamar (Zonguldak), Baştarla (Zonguldak), Kilimli (Kilimli), Karadon (Kilimli-Çatalağzı), Gelik (Çatalağzı), Amasra (Amasra, Bartın Province)

Coal Washing/Treatment Plants: Zonguldak and Çatalağzı Coal Treatment Plants. Coal Transport: (delivery and import) Port: Zonguldak Sea Port (transport to Eregli and Istanbul direction), Amasra Port, Eregli Port Other usable port for mine transport: Bartın Port (coal, cement etc.) Railway: Zonguldak-Ankara Railway (transport to Karabük and Ankara direction)

Thermic Power Plants: Çatalağzı Thermoelectric Power Plant units

(use coal powder), in Işıkveren ward. Iron-Steel Plants: Eregli

(Erdemir) Iron and Steel Works, Karabük (Kardemir, Karabük province)

Iron and Steel Works.

Average heat capacity of Zonguldak coals: 7000 kcal/kg.

Sites of interest

Ilıksu, Kapuz, Göbü beaches, National Sovereignty Forest, Lake (Göl)

Mountain, Plateau, Kocaman, Bostanözü, Çamlık, Baklabostan and Gürleyik

forest recreation areas, Cumayanı, Kızılelma, Mencilis caves.

Museums

Eregli Museum

Address: Atatürk Kültür Sitesi Eregli – Zonguldak

Tel: (372) 312 03 62

Open Daily except Mondays: 08:00 – 16:30

Eregli

Eregli was founded during the 6th century B.C. by the Mariandines, who were the successors of the Phrygians. Eregli was an important commercial wharf (emperion), which takes its name from the famous mythic hero, Hercules (Heracles). The city preserved its importance during the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman Empire periods. Important historical ruins in the region include the Acheron Valley ruins, in which the Cehennem Ağzı caverns are located, along with Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman ruins, Eregli Castle, Heracles Palace, Çeştepe Lighthouse tower, Byzantine water cisterns, Krispos mausoleum, Byzantine church and Halil Paşa Mansion.

Beaces

Many natural and sandy beaches may be found along a fifty mile (80 km) stretch of the coast. Beginning from the east, these beaches include: Sazköy, Filyos, Türkali, Göbü, Hisararkası, Uzunkum, Tersane, Kapuz, Karakum, Değirmenağzı, Ilıksu, Kireçlik, Armutçuk, Black Sea Eregli, Mevreke, Alaplı and Kocaman.

Promenade

The boroughs of the city are used as daily recreation areas for leisurely hikes by regional residents. Boroughs are artificial lakes intended to provide drinking water or serve other industrial purposes. These boroughs are: Ulutan Dam Lake at the center, Kızılcapınar Dam Lake, and Gülüç Dam Lake in Eregli, Dereköy Pond at Çatalağzı borough and Çobanoğlu Pond (18 ha.) at Karapınar borough.

The most important waterfalls of the city are: Harmankaya at Center Kokaksu site, Değirmenağzı at Kozlu borough and Güneşli waterfalls at Eregli, and their environs are also used for trekking.

Local Days of Celebration

• April 3 – Anniversary of Ground Breaking for Iron and Steel Works Karabük
• June 4-11 – International Black Sea Eregli Ottoman Strawberry Culture Festival
• June 11-13 – Festivals: Black Sea Eregli Culture and Strawberry Festival
• June 21 – Commemoration day for Uzun Mehmet Zonguldak
• June 21-26 – Zonguldak Black Diamond Black Sea International
• July 1 – Maritime Day Eregli
• July 1 – Cabotage Celebrations
• July 1-31 – International Youths Interchange Program
• July 8-9 – Walking Stick Festival Devrek
• August 26 – Visiting of Atatürk – Commemoration Day
• September 3-9 – 16th Traditional Wrestling
• September 3-9 – Alaplı Hazelnut, Culture, Art and Sports Festival
• November 8 – Commemoration for Uzun Mehmet and Coal Celebrations Eregli
• December 4-9 – World Miners’ Day
• Çaycuma Yogurt Culture & Art Festival Çaycuma

 Festivities

• June 18 – Freedom from Occupation Days: Freedom Day – Eregli
• June 18-24 – Music Feast
• June 21 – Freedom Day
• July 5-7 – Traditional Yenice Wrestling Competitions (Yağlı and Karakucak) Yenice
• July 16-22 – Devrek Walking Stick and Culture Festival
• July 23-29 – Circumcision Feast
• August 26 – Arrival of Atatürk at Zonguldak
• August 31 – September 1 – Traditional Wrestling Festivities Alaplı
• September 3-9 – Circumcision Feast

Kale (Demre, Myra)

Demre is the Ancient Greek town of Myra, the home of Saint Nicholas of Myra the original Santa Claus.

The district was known as Kale until it was renamed in 2005.

Myra is an ancient Lycian town, where the small town of Kale (Demre) is situated today in present day Antalya Province of Turkey. It was located on the river Myros (Demre Çay), in the fertile alluvial plain between Alaca Dağ, the Massikytos range and the Aegean Sea.

Although some scholars equate Myra with the town Mira in Arzawa, there is no proof for the connection. There is no substantiated written reference for Myra before it was listed as a member of the Lycian alliance (168 BC – AD 43); according to Strabo (14, 665) it was one of the largest towns of the alliance.

The Greek citizens worshipped Artemis Eleutheria, who was the protective goddess of the town. Zeus, Athena and Tyche were venerated as well.

The ruins of the Lycian and Roman town are mostly covered by alluvial silts. The Acropolis on the Demre-plateau, the Roman theatre and the Roman baths (eski hamam) have been partly excavated. The semi-circular theater was destroyed in an earthquake in 141, but rebuilt afterwards.

There are two necropoli of Lycian rock-cut tombs in the form of temple-fronts carved into the vertical faces of cliffs at Myra: the river-necropolis and the ocean-necropolis. The best known tomb in the river-necropolis is the "Lion’s tomb." When the traveller Charles Fellows saw the tombs in 1840 he found them still colorfully painted red, yellow and blue.

Andriake was the harbour of Myra in classical times, but silted up later on.

In early Christian times, Myra was the metropolis of Lydia. The town is traditionally associated with Saint Paul, who changed ships in its harbor. Saint Nicholas of Myra was a bishop of Myra in the 4th century, who countered Arianism at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. It became the Capital of the Byzantine Eparchy Lycia under Theodosius II, who reigned from 408 to 450.

After a siege in 809, Myra fell to Arab troops under Harun al-Rashid. The town went into a decline afterwards. Early in the reign of Alexius I Comnenus (ruled between 1081 – 1118), Myra was again overtaken by Islamic invaders, this time the Seljuks. In the confusion, sailors from Bari, Italy seized the remains of Saint Nicholas, over the objections of the monks caring for them, and spirited the bones away to Bari, where they arrived on May 9, 1087, and soon brought that city visitors making the pilgrimage to Saint Nicholas.

The earliest church of St. Nicholas at Myra was built in the 6th century. The present-day church stems mainly from the 8th century; a monastery was added in the second half of the 11th century.

In 1863 Czar Alexander II of Russia bought the building and started to have it restored, but the work was never finished. In 1963 the eastern and southern sides of the church was excavated, in 1968 the former burial of St. Nicholas was roofed over. The floor of the church is made of opus sectile, a mosaic of coloured marble, and there are some remains of wall-paintings. A Greek marble sarcophagus had been reused to bury the Saint, but his bones were stolen in 1087 by merchants from Bari, and now held in the cathedral of that city.

Demre is on the coast of the Teke peninsula, west of the bay of Antalya, with the Taurus Mountains behind. The moutains are forested and the coastal strip is made of good soil brought down by the mountain rivers. The climate is the typical Mediterranean pattern of hot dry summers and warm wet winters.

Before tourism boom began in the 1980s the local economy depended on agriculture, which is still important today. The villages of Demre grow pomegranates and citrus fruits and now a large quantity of fruits and vegetables all year round in glass houses. Also with its rich history, attractions like the island of Kekova, the sea and warm weather this coast is very popular with holidaymakers from Turkey and all over Europe, although Demre still does not have the high volume of tourists enjoyed by districts nearer Antalya airport. Some local handicrafts like rug making, and events such as the annual camel-wrestling festival bring in extra income.

The local cuisine predictably includes fish and seafood from the Mediterranean.

History

The foundation date of Myra is not known exactly. However, the archaeological data, obtained from the researches in the grave reliefs with regard to style, indicates that the city has existed in the 5th century before Hellenistic Period. The city experienced its golden period during the 2nd century AD. Myra, completely destroyed by the earthquake in 141 AD., was rebuilt by the charities of the rich Opromaos from Radiopolis and Lucius Magnun, Roman Proconsul. Artemis Eleutera Sacred Place in the city was also rebuilt. Having been renovated in this period, the theatre with its ornaments was characterised as a wonder of the world in the Late Antique Period. Some of the numerous masks ornamenting this stage building are exhibited in the Demre Museum and some in the Antalya Museum.

During the reign of Theodosius II (408-450 AD.), the city became the Metropolitan of the Lycians. In this period, the reputation of the city as the centre of pilgrimage where diseases having been cured spread not only in Lycia but also throughout the Christian World. The reason for this is that Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) has lived here in Myra in this period.

Milas

 It was the ancient capital of Caria and of the Anatolian Turkish Beylik of Mentese. The territory of Milas district boasts of 27 different archaeological sites, a record among local entities in Turkey, and probably anywhere.

In classical antiquity

 Milas is situated on a fertile plain at the foot of mountain on which there are great quarries of the white marble which has been used for the construction or decoration of the city’s temples and other buildings since antiquity.

An older picture of the Mausoleum copy, called "Gümüşkesen Monument" locallyMylasa was taken by Labienus in the civil wars. In the Greco-Roman period it enjoyed a season of brilliant prosperity, and the three neighbouring towns of Olymos, Labraunda, and Euromos were included within its limits. Its finest temples were that dedicated to Zeus Osogoa, which recalled to Pausanias (VIII, x, 3) the Acropolis of Athens, and those of Zeus Karios and of Zeus Labraundos, or Stratios (Strabo, XIV, ii, 23). Mylasa is frequently mentioned by the ancient writers. At the time of Strabo the city boasted two remarkable orators, Euthydemos and Hybreas. Various inscriptions tell us that the Phrygian cults were represented here by the worship of Sabazios; the Egyptian, by that of Isis and Osiris. There was also a temple of Nemesis.

An inscription from Mylasa (first brought to light in Bulletin de correspondance hellénique, 1890, pp. 621-623) provided one of the few certain data about the life of Cornelius Tacitus, identifying him as governor of Asia between 112 and 113.

 In the Christian Era

 Among the ancient bishops of Mylasa was Saint Ephrem (fifth century), whose feast was kept on January 23, and whose relics were venerated in neighbouring city of Leuke. Cyril and his successor, Paul, are mentioned by Nicephorus Callistus (Hist. eccl., XIV, 52) and in the Life of Saint Xene. Le Quien mentions the names of three other bishops (Oriens christianus, I, 921), and since his time the inscriptions discovered refer to two others, one anonymous (C.I.G., 9271), the other named Basil, who built a church in honour of St. Stephen (Bulletin de correspondance hellenique, XIV, 616). The Saint Xene referred to above was a noble virgin of Rome who, to escape the marriage which her parents wished to force upon her, donned male attire, left her country, changed her name Eusebia to that of Xene (stranger), and lived first on the island of Cos, then at Mylasa.

Mylasa remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church, Mylasensis; the seat has been vacant since the death of the last bishop in 1966

Turkish Era

Milas and the surrounding region has been taken over by Turks under the command of Menteşe Bey in mid-13th century, who gave his name to the principality that has established its capital in the city, the administrative center being the Beçin Castle located in the contemporary depending township of that name at a distance of 5 km. from Milas and which was easier to defend.

Milas, together with the entire Beylik of Menteşe was taken over by the Ottoman Empire in 1390. However, just twelve years later, Tamerlane and his forces have beaten the Ottomans in the Battle of Ankara, and returned control of the region to its former rulers, the Menteşe Beys, as he did for other Anatolian Turkish Beyliks. Milas was brought back under Ottoman control, this time by Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror, in 1451.

At the turn of the 20th century, according to 1912 figures, Milas urban center had a population of 9,000, in which some 2,900 were Greeks, a thousand or so Jewish, and the remaining majority were Turks Milas Greeks have been exchanged with Turks living in Greece under the 1923 agreement for Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations between the two countries, while the sizable Jewish community remained as a presence till the 1950s, at which time they emigrated to Israel, still visiting Milas frequently to this day.

Climate

Milas, which is at south west of our country, is surrounded by Bodrum – Mandalya Bay, Lake Bafa and Gökova Bay. As a result of this, it has a long coastal line. Temperature rarely decreases under 0 C in Milas, where summers are passing hot and dry, and winters are warm and rainy.

Usak

Usak traditionally had a strong industrial base. Usak was the first city in Turkey to have an urban electricity network, the first city where a collective labor relations agreement was signed, during the Ottoman era, between leather industry employees and workers, and the first factory of Republican Turkey, a sugar refinery, was set up here through a private sector initiative among local businessmen. The tradition of industriousness continues today around two industrial zones.

Usak carpets

Whereas in pre-industrial times, Usak was already a major center of production and export, particularly of Ushak carpets. Ushak carpets are also called Holbein carpets in reference to the 16th century painter Hans Holbein the Younger who depicted them in minute detail in his paintings, reflecting their popularity in European markets. The level of international popularity attained by Usak’s carpets became such that the word "Ushak" is considered an English word of Turkic origin.

Although Usak’s carpet patterns have evolved since then, large-scale weaving still continues and the name of the city still has an important presence in the market for carpets, both hand-woven and industrial. The depending district of Eşme, on the other hand, is famous for its kilims.

Among other depending district centers, Banaz is the largest and is notable for its varied agricultural production as well as for its forests, and Ulubey’s canyon is a natural site and an important visitors attraction.

History

The first known organized states to have ruled over the region of Usak were the Phrygians for the eastern portion and the Lydians in the west during the 7th century BC. Karun Treasure, discovered by clandestine treasure hunters in Usak in 1965, and whose smuggling outside Turkey and subsequent retrieval after decades from New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art made international headlines, provides a perception of the high degree of civilization attained by these Anatolian states. The region of Lydia was later taken over by the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC and by Alexander the Great and his successor states as of the 4th century. Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, the Beylik of Germiyan and finally the Ottoman Empire as of 1429 had established their rule over Usak.

In Ottoman times, the city’s name was spelled as "Uşşak", which could mean "lovers" and "minstrels" at the same time. The tradition privileges the second significance with regards to the name’s origin, which could be a reference to the region’s rich folk literature.

Usak was occupied by the Greek army between 28 August 1920 and 1 September 1922. The city was put to fire by the rapidly retreating Greek troops, causing the city important damages that were documented and calculated. The day after, General Nikolaos Trikoupis was made prisoner near Usak, the village of Göğem, today buried under a dam reservoir.

A district center depending Kütahya Province until 1953, Usak was made into a province seat in that year, when Usak Province was constituted.

Pasabag

PASABAG Fairy Chimneys by synnwang

Bearing the same first name as that of St. Stylite who had lived in solitary at the top of a column in Syria, this monk made the bed and sitting furniture in his cell by carving them out of the rock. Pasabag also contains a chapel dedicated to St. Simeon. In one other chapel, a striking inscription reads, as follows: “O Grave, Take me unto you as you took Stylite.”

Kocaeli – Izmit

Izmit (ancient Nicomedia) is a city in Turkey, administrative center of Kocaeli Province as well as Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality . It is located at the Gulf of Izmit in the Sea of Marmara, about 100 km east of İstanbul, on the northwestern part of Anatolia.

The city has a population of 199,023 (2000 census), compared with a pre-earthquake estimate of 210,000. The urban area has a population of 577,932 inhabitants and is part of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality , which has the same border as Kocaeli Province with a population of 1,411,845 inhabitants.

Izmit (Nicomedia) was the eastern (and most senior) capital city of the Roman Empire between 286 and 324 during the Tetrarchy system introduced by Diocletian, and served as an interim capital city for Constantine the Great between 324 and 330, until the nearby Byzantium was officially declared Nova Roma (later known as Constantinople, present-day Istanbul).

Izmit

The geological location of Izmit is between 40°-41° N and 29°-31° E, surrounded by the Gulf of Izmit at south, Istanbul and the Sea of Marmara at west, the Black Sea at north, and Sakarya at east.

The city is mostly built on hill slopes because of the cramped area, while flat plains are located around the gulf, near the sea. This topographic structure divided the city in two different parts. The first part was created on flat plains, where the city center is also located. The railway and highway networks also pass from this area which is close to the Sea of Marmara. The second part was built on hills, with many historic houses from the Ottoman period in the old quarters.

Climate

The local climate, more temperate near the Gulf of Izmit (Körfez in Turkish) and the Black Sea, more severe in the mountains, constitutes a transition between Mediterranean and Black Sea types; the typical urban summer here is hot and dry, the winter wet, but certain differences are apparent between the coastal regions mentioned: Izmit and Marmara lack the refreshing summer breezes of the northern reaches, and can become humid.

The highest recorded temperature in the city (11 Aug 1970) was 41.6°C , the coolest (4 Feb 1960) -8.7°C , while the yearly average stands at 14.8°C .

The Black Sea coast sees an annual rainfall of 1000mm., which gradually lessens the further south-east one travels: Izmit , for example, generally gets less than 800mm. The south-facing slopes of the Samanlı mountains, near Körfez, experience conditions similar to Black Sea coastal regions. Here too rainfall is different. Winter winds blow from South/South-East, Summer South-east.

Features

There are numerous places of interest for tourists both in the city center and its immediate surrounding region, such as the remains of the ancient Acropolis, Agora, Amphitheater, Nymphaeum, Necropolis, Demeter Temple and the Hellenistic Üçtepeler Mound King Tombs, the Roman city walls, parts of the Temple of Augustus, parts of the Palace and Arsenal of Diocletian, Roman aqueducts and cisterns, a Byzantine fortress at the core of the Roman city walls, Orhan Gazi Mosque (1333), the 14th century Süleyman Paşa hamam, the 16th century Imaret Mosque and Pertev Paşa Mosque (1580) designed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, Pertev Paşa Fountain (1571), the 16th century Mehmed Bey Hamam, Saatçi Ali Efendi Mansion (1776), Tüysüz Fountain (1782), the early 19th century Fevziye Mosque, Kapanca Sokağı Fountain and Canfeda Kethüda Kadın Fountain (1827), the mid 19th century Sırrı Paşa Mansion, Kasr-ı Hümayun Palace and the French Theological School, Redif Barracks (1863), and the Izmit Clock Tower (1901).

Economy

Izmit is an important industrial center, with a large oil refinery, and major paper and cement factories. Ford Motor Company has a plant here in a joint venture with Otosan, assembling the Transit/Tourneo and Transit/Tourneo Connect vans. It is also a transportation hub, being located on the main highway and railway lines between Istanbul and Ankara, and having a major port.

In the past few years the province has developed into a hotspot for the automotive industry, with investments of the sector’s heavy names such as: Ford, Hyundai, Honda and Isuzu. The big leaguers of the tyre and rubber sector (Goodyear, Pirelli, Lassa and Bridgestone) operate in Kocaeli. Today Kocaeli hosts 1200 industrial investments of which 108 have been established with international capital. Turkey’s largest enterprise, Tüpraş Petroleum Refinery Plant, is also located in Kocaeli, where the province shoulders 27% of the national chemical industry (petro-chemical included). 18 of the 100 largest enterprises of Turkey are located in Kocaeli.

Another strong indicator for the province is the 17-18% of the national tax revenues which are collected from Kocaeli.

Financial Times affiliated Foreign Direct Investment Magazine nominated Kocaeli (the province of which Izmit is the capital) among the 25 European Regions of the Future for 2006-2007.The city was chosen along with Adana for Turkey, which scored the most points for cost effectiveness against Kocaeli’s wider infrastructure, while Adana and Kocaeli tied on points for human resources and quality of life.

According to calculations made by the Anatolia News Agency based on national income estimations for 2007 with respect to purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita and accepting the shares of the Turkish provinces in the national income of 2001 as a constant, Kocaeli will be the richest province in Turkey with a per capita income of $23,581.

Izmit Outlet Centre gives manufacturers the opportunity to sell their products faster by uniting in one center. Besides shopping, the Center is designed to cater for all needs where visitors can spend longer periods of time.

Transportation

Being located along the commercially-active Black Sea and Marmara Sea shorelines, Kocaeli boasts 5 ports and 35 industrial docks, making it a logistics haven, as well as Anatolia’s farthest inland contact point and a gateway to the global markets. The main transportation routes, the D-100 highway and the E-6 TEM (Trans European Motorway) which connects Europe with Asia, along with the railway lines, form an intercontinental passage network. Kocaeli neighbours one of the world’s largest metropolitan centres, Istanbul. Its vicinity to Istanbul’s two international airports (Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Atatürk International Airport) which are 45 and 80 km away, respectively, from Izmit ’s city centre, provides the ultimate national and international transportation connection with the city and its surrounding province.

History

In antiquity, the city was called Astacus or Olbia (founded 712 BC). After being destroyed, it was rebuilt and founded by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most important cities in northwestern Asia Minor. Hannibal came to Nicomedia in his final years and committed suicide in nearby Libyssa (Gebze). The historian Arrian was born there. Nicomedia was the metropolis of Bithynia under the Roman Empire (see Nicaea), and Diocletian made it the eastern capital city of the Roman Empire in 286 when he introduced the Tetrarchy system. Nicomedia remained as the eastern (and most senior) capital of the Roman Empire until Licinius was defeated by Constantine the Great in 324. Constantine mainly resided in Nicomedia as his interim capital city for the next six years, until in 330 he declared the nearby Byzantium as Nova Roma, which eventually became known as Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). Constantine died in a royal villa at the vicinity of Nicomedia in 337. Owing to its position at the convergence of the Asiatic roads leading to the new capital, Nicomedia retained its importance even after the foundation of Constantinople.

The city was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1338.

The earthquake of August 17, 1999 (magnitude 7.4) devastated the region, killing more than 19,000 people and leaving many more homeless. It took several years for the city to recover from this disaster; but the scars, especially on the memories of the residents -most of whom lost their loved ones, family members or friends- can still be observed.

The famous Turkish traditional sweet Pismaniye is a native product of Izmit and the Kocaeli Province.

Kars Ani Ruins

The city is located on triangular site, visually dramatic and naturally defensive, protected on its eastern side by the ravine of the Akhurian River (Turkish: Arpaçay) and on its western side by the Bostanlar or Tzaghkotzadzor valley. The Akhurian is a branch of the Aras River and forms part of the current border between Turkey and Armenia. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.

At the height of its glory, Ani had a population of 100,000 – 200,000 people and was the rival of Constantinople, Baghdad and Cairo. Long ago renowned for its splendor and magnificence, Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries.

Monuments of Ani

Menucehr Mosque (Ani Ruins): It is located in Ani Ancient City. Built by Ebu Süca Manucehr from Seddatoğulları Government in 1072, the mosque attract attention as the first building to have been constructed in Anatolia by Seljuks.

It is among the most splendid works of Seljuks of Anatolia with its vivid stones of the view of mosaics and rich geometric decorations on its ceiling.

Ebul Muammeral Mosque (Boz Minare, Ani Ruins): At the center of Ani Province, the mosque was constructed by the latest Seddatlı Sultan Şahan Şah. The minaret of the devastated mosque has been fell over to one side.

Kecel Church (Aziz Pirkitch Church, Ani Ruins): Located in Ani Ruins, the church was constructed by the son of Abugremrizents Daklavini,the grandchild of Gregor between the years 1034-1036. It was restored in 1173 by Priest Tridot, and a belfry was added to the main building in 1291and the dome was repaired in 1342. Nearly half of the building has still been demolished since it was strucked by lightining.

Sirli Church (Aziz Gregor Church, Ani Ruins): Located at Ani Ruins,the church was constructed by Tigran upon the request of the minorities of Şeddatlı Government in 1215. The main structure, which is of high esteem with its adornments on the inner sections of the dome, has been destructed to a certain extent.

Abughamrent Gregor Church (Ani Ruins): Located in Ani Ruins, it was constructed by Ani King Gagik XI. in the name of Gregor in 998.

Guvercinli Church (Maiden’s Church, Ani Ruins): Located in Ani Ruins, the structure thought to have been built in 12nd or 13th centuries was perched on a steep rocky place near Arpaçay.

Kemserakanlı Church (Ani Ruins): Located in Ani Ruins, the church was built in 922 and only a single wall adorned with the motifs of primitive men has remained today.

Meryemana Cathedral (Fethiye Mosque, Ani Ruins): The construction of the cathedral had been started during Sembatat II. at Ani city center in 1010 and was completed during Gagik I. period. After Alpaslan conquered the province of Ani in 1064, ithe building was used as a mosque for a certain period of time.

As it had been damaged by the earthquake in 1319, it was restored by the Architect Tiridot. Today it is among the rare structures in Ani that have been well-preserved so far.

Arak’ Eltos Church (Ani Ruins): The church was constructed in Ani Ruins as a patriarchate in 1031. Upon the as the invasions of Ani by the Seljuks, it was converted into a caravanserai in 1064.

Havariler( Disciples) Church (Kümbet Mosque, Center): It is the one on the southern slope of the Kars Castle in Kaleiçi District,the church has been well preserved till to our times. It was constructed between the years 932-937 by King Abbas of Bağrat who announced Kars as the capital city. In 1878, it was restored by the Russians. The belfry had been built adjacent to the church in 1890 was demolished in 1918.

After long periods of service as a church, the building was converted into a mosque by Seljuks in 1064. Still it was used as church in the following years. Reconverted into a mosque in 1918, the building finally decided to be used as a museum in 1964.

Safranbolu

 Its rich history and success in preserving it earned the town an inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The best known for its old Turkish houses, the town is attracting more attention especially as these 19th century homes are gradually disappearing from other areas of Turkey. Visitors enjoying walking along the old narrow cobbled streets, and seeing some of the traditional crafts and trades that are still practised today. It is also known as the Capital City of Preservation, acknowledging its ability to hold onto not only pieces of art, but also the atmosphere.

Climate

The climate in Safranbolu is a combination of the Black Sea and Central Anatolia. The summers are hot, winters are cold, spring and autumn are tepid and cool and very long.

History

Previously known as Paphlagonia, Safranbolu took its name from saffron and has hosted many different civilisations in its history including Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. It was conquered by the Turks in 1196.

The town reached its economic and cultural peak during the Ottoman Empire, partly because its position as an important stop on the Istanbul to Sinop trade route in the 17th century improved the commerce and wealth of the region. During this period it had close relations with Istanbul and Kastamonu, and state officials from the Ottoman Palace had important pieces of art in Safranbolu. The wealthy inhabitants of the town built large houses made from wood and stucco, many of which still survive. During the 19th century nearly 25% of the population were Ottoman Greeks, who left after World War I.