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The ultimate list: what to see and do in Kayseri
HUNAT HATUN MOSQUE is one of the most beautiful mosques in Kayseri. It is situated next to the Medrese and the tomb of the same name. It was built in 1237 in honor of Mahperi (Hunat) Hatun, the wife of Alaaddin Keykubat. Its plan is in the Basilica style of Anatolian Seljuks. The main gate is finely decorated. The minaret on the right was built recently. HUNAT HATUN TOMB is octagonal-shaped. Each side of the tomb is crossed by a double band, which is elegantly decorated with delicate geometrical designs. The interior is very simple. The Mihrab is of stone and is one of the rarest Seljuk Mihrabs. KURSUNLU MOSQUE…
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The history of Kayseri: a gem in Turkey’s history and culture
Kayseri Province and region have always been an important center of culture and trade for the Anatolian Civilization throughout the centuries. The city is situated on a plain between the ample curves of the Kızılırmak River and the wide skirts of Mount Erciyes. Today, it is a modern, well-organized industrial city set in beautiful surroundings, with rich history and tourist sites. Industrial enterprises, which began as small workshops, became modern factories quickly. New educational centers like Erciyes University and recent town planning activities added much to its touristic and commercial value. Being a settlement, which carries the cultural inheritance of the ages, Kayseri also has various handicrafts, primarily consisting of…
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Kültepe: one of the World’s most amazing open-air museums
Kültepe (Kanesh), the largest city mound in Anatolia, is located 22 km northeast of modern Kayseri on the road leading to Sivas. This worldwide famous open-air museum first attracted attention in 1881. The primary importance of Kültepe lies in the fact that the earliest written documents in Anatolia were discovered here. The clay tablets were written in an ancient dialect, using cuneiform script, the majority being commercial and economic. Karum, one of the most important divisions of Kültepe, was discovered in 1925. Excavations have been carried out by the Institute of Turkish History and the Headquarters of Museums and Monuments since 1948. Ancient monuments dating back to Assyrian, Late Hittite,…
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Agirnas: a home to rock-carved dwellings, historical houses, linseed oil factories, tunnels, and rock tombstones
Ağırnas means “Land of the Altar” in the Luwian language and “Earnest Man” in Arabic. The history of the settlement begins around 2000 B.C. Layers of Hittite, Cappadocian, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman settlements in Ağırnas compose the cultural heritage of different ages. The underground cities, rock-carved dwellings, arches, historical houses, linseed oil factories, labyrinths, tunnels, and rock tombstones reflect the historical identity of Ağırnas. Valley of Ağınas The valley begins from Büyük Bürüngüz village. The river in the valley runs towards the wetland of Engir Lagoon after making its way through the towns of Subaşı, Küçük Bürüngüz, Turan, and Özlüce. The 16 km-long valley is a wonder of nature like…
