TURKEY - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 570

Anitkabir is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern
Turkey who is still revered to this day. Completed in 1953, the mausoleum also
houses an impressive museum showcasing both Ataturk's daily life and his heroic
deeds during Turkey's War of Independence (1919-1923). Also interred on the
grounds is Ismet Inounu, the second president of Turkey. The grounds are open
0900-1600 daily, with slightly longer hours in the summer.
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is housed in an old covered bazaar and
hosts a large collection of sculpture and art from the Paleolithic Age (8000 B.C. )
through the Lydian Period (546 B.C. ). In fact, the symbol of Ankara is an ancient
Hittite rendering of a deer.
Day Excursion to
Cappadocia
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Depart from Ankara
Distance by Bus: 170 miles
Average Bus Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
City Dialing Code: 384
The sprawling landscapes of Turkey's centrally located Cappadocia region were
recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 due to the beautiful vistas
and unique geological formations. The best place to see both is the GoremeOpen
Air Museum, which is located in the center of the Goreme Valley and home to a
collection of rock-cut churches dating as far back as the 11th century. A wide ar-
ray of “fairy chimneys,” large rock columns formed through erosion and wind, also
loom over the museum. Two to three hours is sufficient to wander through this well-
signed museum and learn about the fascinating history of the region. Nearby, the
small town of Avanos specializes in red clay pottery and other artisanal works, and
many artists have open workshops where you can watch them create their next
masterpiece. There are a variety of underground cities in the area as well, most
of which date back to the 8th century and some of which reach nearly 100 feet in
depth. The largest and most popular of these is Derinkuyu, which boasts 11 floors
and could hold more than 35,000 people with their livestock.