Ankara

• The origin of the name of the city of Ankara goes back to the Greek word "Ankira", which means anchor for the ship, and today it is the capital of the Turkish state and the second largest city after Istanbul.

Ankara has a population of more than 4 million people, and it has been centered on the Anatolian Plateau in central Turkey, for more than 10,000 years.

• The ancient man inhabited it, then the Hittites, the Phrygians, the Lydians, the Achaemenids, the Persians, the Macedonians, the Chaldeans, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Seljuks, the Mongols, then the Ottomans in the 14th century, eventually became a province within the Turkish territory, Taktusaj took Ankara as their capital, Ankara was within the borders of Gordium, which the Freej took it their capital, and Chubuk (one of the centers of Ankara) was the area in which Bayezid the First Tamerlane was defeated in the Battle of Ankara, as well as Ankara was a turning point in the war of independence in the Battle of Sakarya near from Polatli (western section of Ankara).

• It is the third district in terms of the area of Turkey, and is surrounded by Bolu, Cankiri, Kirikkale, Kirsehir, Aksaray, and Konya, and in front of Eskisehir.

• Ankara is 450 km to the southeast of Istanbul, and is 938 meters above sea level, while the total area of Ankara is 2,516 km2.

• Ankara had a great importance in ancient times due to its location at the crossroads of Anatolia.

• Ankara is distinguished by its strategic location, which had earned it special importance among the Turkish cities. Locally, Ankara is located in the center of Turkey and thus connects the regions and cities of Turkey with a main line of communication, while internationally the city works to connect Asia, Africa and Europe and forms a gateway to the entire Middle East, and it also has a very great transport network of airports, modern roads and fast trains that helped it perform its role ideally.

• Ankara's continental climate is very cold in the winter, while the summer may be hot and dry, so tourists prefer the months of June until September to visit the city.

• The province of Ankara has the largest number of universities in Turkey, in addition to the fact that the number of people who have a bachelor’s degree in it is doubled. This educated community creates the workforce which is necessary for investment mainly.

• Landmarks of Ankara according to the great history that Ankara has; The city includes a number of important historical attractions that attract tourists from all over the world, despite the fact that tourism is a non-major sector in Ankara's economy and does not depend on it greatly, and the most prominent of these features are:

• Ankara Castle: It is the oldest castle in Ankara, located in the Kale Mahallesi region, and its construction dates back more than 3000 years.

• Kocatepe Mosque: It is the largest mosque in Ankara, and its style follows the Ottoman design, and has four large minarets, the mosque is located in Kultur Mahallesi in the Kizilay region.

• Ataturk Mausoleum: It is a museum that includes the tomb of Kamal Ataturk, one of the pioneers and founders of the Turkish political movement, as well as a number of his personal possessions, and the mausoleum is located in the Hall of Honor, and the museum also includes three other sections, which are Celebrations Square, the Lions Road, and Peace Park. The total area of the museum is 750,000 square meters.

• The Roman Bath: It is one of the witnesses of the Roman state that was established on the city’s land, and the construction of the bath dates back to the third century AD, when it was built by the Roman Emperor Caracalla, and includes hot and cold-water rooms, special spaces for physical training and a wrestling arena.

• Haji Bayram Mosque: It is a mosque dating back to the 15th century AD, and it was built in a rectangular shape, and its roof was made of tiles. The mosque also contains decorations and embroideries, in addition to decorations made of wood, and a garden is located in its courtyard.

• The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: The museum contains a rare and large collection of antiquities dating back to the first civilizations that were established on the land of Anatolia, and arranging them from the monuments of the stone ages to modern monuments.

• Ankara is witnessing nowadays a permanent expansion in a modern way, and it is also noted that many of its main streets are crowded with cafes and restaurants, especially in the active Kizilay area, and Ataturk Avenue in Ankara is emerging as a central and crowded tourist area, and Ulus Meydani is considered also an important tourist area, as this area is located close to a number of museums and has options for sleeping and accommodation, as well as restaurants.

• The favourite shopping places for foreign tourists are the old shops in Yokushi Shiklikcilar (Weavers' Trail) next to Ulus, which contain traditional fabrics, hand-made carpets and leather products, and Bakırcellar Cherchisi (Copper Bazaar) is particularly popular, while modern shopping centers are in Kizilay or Helmy Tonale street, such as the modern Karume Center and the Atakul Tower neighborhood in Cankaya.