Ankara Attractions

Anitkabir - Ankara's main attraction

Advantages: Important and interesting historic monument, great kitsch souvenirs
Disadvantages: None

In modern Turkey culture and pride revolve around one man: Kemal Mustafa Ataturk. He was the founder of the Turkish Republic, having proved himself during the First World War as a commander of the Turkish armies during the Gallipoli campaign. All Turkish towns and cities have a statue of Ataturk, all schools have a bust of him by the entrance, as do all army barracks, police stations and other civic buildings. Nowhere is Ataturk more celebrated ...
...to replace Istanbul and become the capital of the Republic of Turkey. Until then Ankara was a rather modest town with a population of around 30,000; today Ankara is home to some four million people. He chose Ankara because he wanted to leave behind the associations with the Ottomans and Istanbul just had too many reminders of the old regime. Just like many of us set down our preferences for our funerals long before we die, so Ataturk chose the site ...

fizzytom 01.05.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Anitkabir, Ankara