ATTRACTIONS

Ankara Attractions

Anitkabir

The mausoleum of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk, is a revered monument in the city, accessed by a wide avenue lined with lion statues, drawing Turks from all over the country who come to pay their respects to their hero. It is also a fascinating attraction for visitors to Ankara, its stark, but imposing colonnaded aspect giving onto a courtyard, which contains a museum. The ceiling of the main hall is decorated with beautiful gold leaf mosaics, and there are plenty of reliefs and statuary to be admired.

Address: Entrance on Akdeniz Cad, Anitepe; Telephone: (0)312 231 7975; Opening time: 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday; Admission: Free

Ankara Attractions

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

The museum which charts the history of Asia Minor is housed in a lovely 15th-century restored building (originally a market and caravanserai) close to the centre of Ankara, and is the ideal place to visit for anyone intending to travel through Turkey, delving into the past. It is filled with fascinating collections of archaeological finds, from monolithic statues to delicate jewellery, including some from Catal Huyuk, believed to be the earliest known human social community in the world. From the Palaeolithic and Neolithic, and through all the great civilizations since, this museum is like a time machine for antiquity buffs.

Address: Old city (Ulus) near the entrance to the Citadel; Telephone: (0)312 324 3160; Opening time: Daily except Monday 8.45am to 5.15pm; Admission: 10 YTL

Ankara Attractions

Temple of Augustus

The Roman Temple of Augustus was built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, and contains the best-preserved copy of Emperor Augustus' last will and testament, inscribed on the vestibule walls. The temple itself is in ruins and not open to the public, but together with other Roman ruins in the vicinity (including the Roman baths and the column of Julian) it is an exciting port of call for classical history addicts.

Address: Ulus Square

Ankara Attractions

Ethnographic Museum

When the founder of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk, died in 1938 he was buried in the internal courtyard of the building, which now houses the Ethnographic Museum, until he was moved to his final resting place at the imposing Mausoleum in Ankara in 1953. Today the Museum, guarded by an imposing bronze statue of Ataturk astride a horse, is well worth a visit. It contains a vast collection of folklore artefacts, including costumes, arts, crafts and art works.

Address: Talat Pasa Boulevard, Namazgah; Opening time: Daily except Monday 8.30am to 12.30pm, and 1.30pm to 5.30pm

Ankara Attractions

Natural History Museum

Anyone with an interest in the natural world will enjoy Ankara's Natural History Museum, which contains some fascinating exhibits and dioramas detailing the (often extinct) wildlife of Anatolia, as well as a large collection of fossils and minerals. Most interesting are the fossilized footprints of humans who walked the Anatolian steppes 25,000 years ago, and the skeleton of a Maras elephant which lived in the area 193 million years ago.

Address: Eskisehir Road; Telephone: (0) 312 287 3430; Opening time: Weekdays 9am to 5pm, weekends 10am to 3pm