Cappadocia & Central Anatolia - Discover Turkey: Experience the Best of Turkey - page 547

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(Atatürk Mausoleum and Museum; Gençlik Caddesi; audio guide " 5; 9am-5pm May-Oct, to 4pm Nov-
Apr; Tandoğan) The monumental mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938),
the founder of modern Turkey, sits high above the city with its abundance of marble and
air of veneration.
To the right of Atatürk's huge tomb, the extensive museum covers Atatürk and associ-
ated subjects such as the War of Independence.
Atatürk's lofty mausoleum is lined with marble and sparingly decorated with 15th- and
16th-century Ottoman mosaics. At the northern end stands an immense marble cenotaph ,
cut from a single piece of stone weighing 40 tonnes. The actual tomb is in a chamber be-
neath it.
It is virtually a pilgrimage site, so arrive early to beat the crowds; school groups fre-
quently drop by midweek, especially in May, June and September.
The memorial straddles a hill in a park 1.2km south of Tandoğan metro station. A free
shuttle zips up and down the hill from the entrance; alternatively, it's a 15-minute walk.
Security checks, including a bag scan, are carried out on entry.