Ankara is the capital of Turkey and is located in the centre of
Anatolia Province. With a known history of around 3,000, Ankara has seen great
heights in the past.
Today, Ankara is a sprawling urban mass well planned and organised with a
more European look than most cities in Turkey. Its wide roads, large hotels,
restaurants and government offices distinguish the city adding to the several
tourist attractions. There are touches of the mystical east, but the vast
majority of the city is 20th century. Ankara is a huge university town where the
streets of Kizilay and Sakarya throng with students most of the year. The
capital city status and the presence of many language schools as well as the
university has brought a sizeable ex patriot community to Ankara adding to the
westernised atmosphere.
The main military units are based in Ankara and Saturday afternoon finds
Genclik Park with its fountains, funfair, and boat rides full of strolling
conscripts in their uniforms.
Ankara is a reasonably convenient base for travelling around Anatolia,
Cappadocia or to the Black Sea coast.