İnformation About Aksaray

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Aksaray is located in middle of Anatolia region, it was an important trade centre on the ancient silk road, and nowadays it is still placed on intersection point of main roads lies between east to west and north to south. Historical background of city can be traced to 8000 BC. Years and there are cultural creations those related to various civilisations. Aksaray that sited as the beginning gate of Capadocia, offers various and interesting vacation facilities to its visitors with apart from cultural values and also natural riches. Districts: Ağaçören, Güzelyurt, Gülağaç, Eskil, Ortaköy, Sarıyahşi. How to Get Aksaray is placed on intersection point of road ways lies between east to west and north to south, and at the entrance place of Capadocia. Where to Visit Ihlara Valley 40 kilometre away from Aksaray. Valley can be reached by turning at the 11th kilometre point of Aksaray - Nevşehir roadway. Canyon constituted by breaks and collapses come out with getting cold of lavas that contains dense basalt and andesite substances and run over from Hasandağ mountain. On that split area an Melendiz brook find way to flow and give today's shape to canyon, that brook was named in early ages 'Potamus Kapadukus" which means river of Capadocia. Valley lies 14 kilometre long.starts from Ihlara, come to an end at Selime. Valley's hight reach to 100 - 150 meter at some places. Across the valley there are innumerable shelters, tombs and churches that all engraved in to rocks present. Some of the shelters and church's are related each other with tunnels that similar to underground cities. Museums and Ancient Cities Aksaray Museum: Museum is founded in the "Zinciriye Medrese". The building remains from Karamanoğulları governmental period in the 14th century. The museum placed on Zincirli quarter, centre county of province Aksaray. The archaeological and ethnographic work of the arts are exhibited in the museum. Museum Tel: (+90-382) 213 16 67 Under Ground Cities: In spite of under ground cities are generally concentrated on Güzelyurt and Gülağaç counties, there can be seen some under ground cities at the whether Centre county or Ortaköy county. At the Güzelyurt county centre and at the Manastır (monastery) valley there are three revealed under ground cities present. At the Gülağaç county Saratlı under ground city is revealed and lighted. Antic Nora Viranşehir (Helvadere Town): Nora town was builded on a slope of Hasandağ mountain, placed 30 kilometres south of Aksaray. It was an important military base because of strategically position. Town preserve its importance at the Rome and Byzantine period too, so there are lots of churches are present now. Out standing buildings are remained from Byzantine period. Those churches can be partly damaged but also some of various frescos are still take attention on them. Acemhöyük (Persian mound) Antic Settlement: Acemhöyük is at the Yeşilova 18 kilometer north - west from Aksaray. In the mound an great palace and its depot remaining from Asur Trade Colonies Period, brought to the light with the systematically excavation process until 1948. Moreover; aquiline mouthed jugs, signets and ceramics founded. Aşıklı Tumulus: Aşıklı Höyük is placed at the Kızılkaya village, nearly 1 kilometre south of village on the shore of Melendiz brook, and 25 kilometres south - east from Aksaray. Aşıklı is in side of an place spread by volcanic tufa at the Capadocia of Aksaray, first settlements began at 8 thousand BC. Aşıklı Tumulus, is one of the most important ruin places founded at Anatolia and nearly east that exhibits oldest 'first village settlements' remains from Aceramic Neolithic Period. Religious Monuments Ulu Mosque, Eğri Minaret (Red Minaret), Tapduk Emre Tomb (Tapduk Emre Village), Sheikh Hamid-i Veli (Somuncu Baba) Tomb (at city Centre), Kılıçarslan Tomb (at city Centre): Sheikh Cemaleddin-i Aksarayi İtifakhanesi, Suffering place and small mosque are most important mosques and tombs in Aksaray.  Inns Alayhanı Inn: is in the border of Alayhan village on the Aksaray - Nevşehir highway. Inn's front side and courtyard are collapsed. Estimated that Inn builded by far border governmental ruler Pervane Bey at the period of 2nd Kılıçarslan. Öresin Inn: There is an inn remains from Selcuklu's at the 22nd kilometres of Aksaray - Nevşehir highway. Centre dome and gate of inn are collapsed. Windows are crenel type shaped. It has sections those each one has six arches. Sultan Inn: It was built by Alaaddin Keykubat in between the 1228 - 1229. The Inn is a masterpiece art of Selcuklu's Period by the perspective of architecture, stone masonry and decoration arts. It was builded purposes for to make, Konya - Aksaray roadway safe that way was important for military and trade purposes. Inn has classical formation of Selcuklu Inn organisation with summer, winter, barn sections and with a small mosque. Ağzıkara Inn: It is placed at 15th kilometre of Aksaray - Nevşehir highway, Ottoman source document's mention inn as Hoca Mesud Inn. Building process started at 1231 AC. in the Alaaddin Keykubat period, it is finished in 1239 AC. In period of Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev. It is fully organised with public bath, charitable establishment, summer and winter sections. Main gate of Inn contains every property of Selcuklu stone decoration art. Thermal Resorts At Aksaray sentences contains thermal tourism automatically remains Ziga Hot Spring. Ziga is 35 kilometer away from Aksaray on the Ihlara road. The water is usefull first of all for rheumatism illnesses than for metabolism disorders, digest system illnesses, skin diseases, eye illnesses and gynaecological diseases, and more over for neuralgia, nervate and broken - prominent type diseases. Sporting Activities Mountain - Nature Tracking: Hasandağı Mountain is capable for mountaineering and winter sports. Presently Mount Hasandağ be in demanded by home and foreign mountain climber. At the mountain with the establishment of Klimatizm, that forest interior resting place, nomadism, mountain bike sports, mounted tour excursion and nature tracking are possible. Fishery with Fishing Line: Mirrored carp and fresh water bass species are breed at Mamasun, Hirfanlı and Kültepe dam lakes. Moreover again crap, bass, trout and yayın fish breed at the out numbered present ponds. There are lots of coral fishes at Uluırmak river which river spring from Melendiz Mountains and flows to Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake). fresh water kerevites that breed at Mamasun Dam Lake are exported to foreign countries. Geography Aksaray province is belong to Interior Anatolian Region's climate; terrestrial climate is dominant, where summers are hot and dry while the winters are cold and snowy. History Aksaray province is placed in the Capadocia region, inhabiting of human starts from the 8th thousand BC. Aşıklı Tumulus is one of the first village settlement place in Anatolia remains from Aceramic Neolithic Age. According to historical process Aksaray province was breed place for various civilisations. Acemhöyük placed near the city centre was one of the most important trade centres in the period of Asur Trade Colonies between the BC. 3000 - 2000 years. Afterwards on the province Hittite, Rome, Byzantine, Selcuklu and Ottoman Periods are experienced. Christianity began to spread towards Anatolia with disciple Saint Paul and his students at first century AC. This process took a huge against reaction from polytheism Rome Empire, so than first Christians are settled this region. Where to Eat Aksaray coking tradition consist density of flour, meat, milk products and vegetable. Sıkma (tighten), çörek (bun), mayalı (fermented), erişte (kind of macaroni), kuskus pilavı(kind of rice), dolma mantı, katıklı aş, soğanlama (with in onion), tarhana çorbası (kind of soup), hoşmerim, bamya çorbası (okra soup), yoğurt çorbası (yogurt soup), arabaşı , sarığı burma (katmer), pelte, kayganayı are some of the famous meals and cookies of provinces. What to Buy Taşpınar's rugs are famous in the province. Don't Leave Without - Visiting Ihlara Valley and Güzelyurt, seeing Eğri Minaret, - Tasting tourt at Helvadere - tasting Saç tava at Ihlara Valley, - Buying Taşpınar rugs, - Watching festivals of Ihlara and Eski (old) and Yeni (new) Gelveri Festivals at 15 - 30 August arranged in Güzelyurt (these festivals assigned for visit of Greeks to region whom used to live at same locality.).