Don't just visit Istanbul when you travel to Türkiye～the capital, Ankara, is also worth a visit!
Flying over the Anatolian Plateau, I revisited this place～the last time I came to Ankara was nine years ago! The last time I visited Ankara Castle, it was midsummer; this time, it's the dead of winter. The castle is located on a hill in the old city, a perfect place to stroll～you can also overlook Ankara or watch the golden sunset light cast over the red roofs of the city～On the path to the top of the castle, there are many small shops selling Turkish specialties, as well as cafes, restaurants, and small hotels, along with well-preserved thick city walls and charming winding streets.
Ankara Castle was built by the ancient Romans in the 2nd century BC and stands on a hilltop overlooking the entire city～used for military defense. The roads here are intricate, and the crumbling walls are full of historical vicissitudes～Because of its strategic location, this castle has been through many battles and was successively occupied by the Eastern Romans, Persians, and Arabs～Therefore, there are not many ancient buildings left, so there is no entrance fee here. You can walk around, enjoy the scenery, and have a cup of coffee～how comfortable.
Ankara is located in the northwest of the Anatolian Plateau on the Asia Minor Peninsula. It is the capital of Türkiye and the second largest city after Istanbul. Although it is the capital～it seems to be always overshadowed by Istanbul, the former capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople. Ankara used to be just a small town and didn't develop into a modern city with a population of about 5 million until 2009～Ankara's time as the capital is pitifully short compared to Istanbul. It was only designated as the capital in 1923 when the father of Türkiye, Atatürk, founded the country.
Compared to Istanbul, which is frequently featured on the international big screen～Ankara does not appear on screen very often, but in fact, Ankara is also a city with a long history, dating back to ancient times～There are many historical sites in Ankara, such as the Column of Julian and the Temple of Augustus from the Roman period; the castle and tombs from the Byzantine period; the Alaeddin Mosque from the Seljuk period, and the Mehmet Pasha Market from the Ottoman period...If you have enough time when traveling in Türkiye, Ankara is a very worthwhile stop.
My favorite places in Ankara are Kocatepe Mosque, Hacı Bayram Mosque, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations～The museum is located on a hillside on the outskirts of Ankara, the capital of Türkiye. The museum building itself is a 15th-century covered market with 10 domes on its roof. The museum displays artifacts unearthed from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Assyrian, Lydian, and Hittite periods in the Anatolian region. Because of its historical building and the profound history it displays～the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations was named the first "European Museum of the Year" in Switzerland on April 19, 1997.