The Citadel of East Anatolia. Erzurum is the largest provincial capital in East Anatolia. It was founded at the foot of the Palandöken Mountains at an elevation of 1,950 m. above sea level. Erzurum, which is known as the citadel of East Anatolia, is located on an important trade junction and transit route between Ankara, Trabzon and Teheran. The city is also the cultural center of East Anatolia. The Atatürk University in this city is one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in Turkey.

Erzurum is a real historical treasure, with its centuries-old mosques, forts, towers and large tombs with dome shaped or conical roofs. The Twin Minaret Madrasah, the symbol of the city, dates back to the Seljuk period. The architrave of its portal, with its stone carvings, is among the most beautiful examples  of  Seljuk art.  The  minarets  on  either side of the portal are 26 meters high and decorated with turquoise colored glazed tiles. Üç Kümbetler, a group of three tombs, is one of the monumental structures in Erzurum. The largest of these tombs is the tomb of Emir Saltuk, the founder of the Saltuk State. The tomb is constructed according to an octagonal plan. The most interesting mosques in the city are the Grand Mosque, built in the 12^th century, and Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque built in the 16^th century. The Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai was built by Rüstem Pasha, the Grand Vizier of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. The caravanserai, which displays the characteristics of 16^th century Ottoman architecture, is still in use as a market place. In it are the workshops processing the famous “Oltu” stone (jet).

The Aziziye Monument, which was erected to commemorate the heroism of the people of Erzurum during the Ottoman-Russian War in 1878, is one of the most important monuments in the city. The forts built to defend the city of Erzurum during the war are strategically located on the surrounding hills. The building where the Erzurum Congress was held on July 23, 1919, has been converted into a museum as a reminder of this important gathering.

The Palandöken Ski Center is 5 km. to the south of Erzurum. It is one of the longest and steepest ski runs in the world. The length of the chair lift is 3,237 m. and the difference in altitude between starting and finishing points is 1,000 m. Among the other places of interest in Erzurum are Tortum Lake and Waterfall with its steep cliffs; Çobandede Bridge, which has a length of 220 m. and was built by the Seljuks on the Aras River in the 13^th century; and the Pasinler and Oltu citadels.

Mountains and Vineyards. The people of Erzurum describe their city as “a place surrounded by mountains which has vineyards in the center”, and this indicates the geographical outline of the city. The province is surrounded by mountain ranges both in the south and north. There are fertile lands in the river basins between these mountains. Erzincan Plain, where Erzincan province is located, is covered with vineyards and has been the cradle of many great civilizations since the early ages of history. Karaparmak grapes from the Erzincan vineyards are especially famous. The traditional craft of coppersmithing  is  still  preserved  in Erzincan. The Mamahatun Tomb and Caravanserai, built in the 12^th century, are located in Tercan. These structures have interesting and unique plans. Altıntepe (1000 B.C.), which was an important settlement of the Urartians, the citadel at Kemah, the large Melik Gazi Tomb and Gülali Bey Mosque (12^th century) are among the other historical structures located around the city.

The history of Amasya province, located in the Central Black Sea region, dates back to the Hittites. Amasya, which attained great importance during the Ottoman period, became one of the five largest cultural centers of Anatolia where many scientists and Ottoman princes were educated. The province has been described as “the Oxford of Anatolia” by European tourists. Murat II and Yavuz Sultan Selim grew up here. Amasya also played an important role in the National War of Independence. Mustafa Kemal, who landed in Samsun on May 19, 1919, came to Amasya on June 12, 1919. The plans for the National War of Independence were drawn up and the dates of the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses were decided upon here. The “Amasya Circular” published on June 22, 1919, stated that the independence of the nation can only be achieved by the will and determination of the nation itself.

Sivas. Sivas, which is located on international trade routes, is very rich in historical and touristic assets. The Grand Mosque, dating back to the 12^th century, the Twin Minarets, the Şifaiye, Buruciye and Gök Madrasahs dating back to the 13^th century, the Güdük Minaret from the 14^th century and the Sait Pasha Mosque, the Taşhan and Kurşunlu Baths dating back to the  16^th  century,  are some

Soğanlı Church - NEVŞEHİR

of the structures displaying the historical richness of the province. The carpets and rugs of Sivas are famous beyond the borders of Turkey and they are known for the uniqueness of their colors and designs, superior quality and matchless workmanship. Knitted and woven articles such as bags, saddlebags, belts, socks and scarves are  among  the leading handicrafts of Sivas. Silver items, and combs and knives made of bone are also unique examples of Sivas handicrafts.

The Balıklı Çermik Thermal Springs, which are world famous, are near Kangal County in Sivas Province. This is one of the most important centers for psoriasis curing in the world. It is possible to completely recover from psoriasis in 21 days.

Çankırı and Ilgaz National Park. The city of Çankırı, which has a history dating back to ancient times, is located at the spot where the Acıçay and Tatlıçay branches of the Kızılırmak River meet. A large portion of the arable land is reserved for the growing of crops. Wheat is the most frequently planted crop, followed by barley. The only industrial plant raised in the province is sugar beet. In the past few years, industry in the region has also developed. The most important historical and tourist sites of the city, famous for its angora goats, are the Çankırı Citadel, the Taş Mosque, the Grand Mosque, the caves of Beşdut Village and the fortresses at Eskipazar. Ilgaz Mountain, which has been the favorite subject of many songs, has brought Çankırı international fame. Ilgaz National Park is a winter sports center. It is an ideal spot for those who want to take a vacation in the winter thanks to its skiing facilities and hotels.

Kırıkkale: A City Built During the Republic Era. Kırıkkale is located in the Central Kızılırmak portion of the Central Anatolia region and was built and speedily developed after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. Since it has no historical past, it does not contain historical monuments and ruins. In the first years of the Republic, the Machinery and Chemical Industry Organization built a chain of factories, which manufactured ammunition, guns, rifles and some electrical machines in the city.

The Motherland of the Hittites. The lands of Çorum province,    including    the    ancient   cities    of    Hattuşaş (Boğazköy), the capital city of the Hittites, and Alacahöyük are within the Central Anatolia Region. However, the capital of Çorum province is located in the Black Sea Region. Hattuşaş, which is surrounded by large city walls, is like a city of temples. Here, at the Yazılıkaya Open Air Temple, there are friezes of all the Hittite gods and goddesses. Alacahöyük is another important settlement of the Hittites near Hattuşaş. Furthermore, it is known that Alacahöyük was an important city of the Hattis who lived in Anatolia before the Hittites.