The Turkish capital is known as Ankara and is the second largest city in the country following Istanbul. Ankara has a rich history which has been left by many of the civilisations that have inhabited it over time. This includes the Hittites, Phyrgians, Lydians and Persians as well as the Galatians. Prior to October 1923 the capital city of Turkey was Istanbul but Ankara was declared as the new capital of the Turkish Republic following the National War of Independence. Some of the oldest areas are around the Castle and near the gates is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. This contains numerous artefacts from many eras and civilizations and is one of the best ways to really see the history of this area. It is also worth noting that there are eight districts also under the administration of Ankara and it is the capital of the Ankara Province. The city has had a number of names over the ages and was known as Ankuwash by the Hittites before 1200 BC and Ancyra by the Galatians and Romans. In 1073 it was known as Angora following a conquest by the Seljuk Turks. This was the name that it was then known by until in 1930 it changed to Ankara following the Turkish Postal Service Law.
The Turkish capital
of Ankara is located centrally in Anatolia and has become an important as a commercial
and industrial city. Nearly everyone will have heard of the long haired Angora
goat and its mohair along with Angora cats and rabbits. The area is also well
known for its production of pears and honey as well as some fantastic muscat grapes.
These days Ankara is the centre of the Turkish Government and is also where you
can find many foreign embassies.
Ankara is an incredibly old city and due to its past inhabitants has a wealth of archaeological sites containing artefacts from the Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras. The beauty of the city is further enhanced by the ruins of the old castle; however it is unfortunate that there are very few historical buildings that have survived. Some remains that you should aim to see include the Temple of Augustus and Rome, known as the Monumentum Ancyranum. The Turkish capital of Ankara is definitely one city that should not be missed if you are planning on travelling to this magical country.
