Kars The Caucasus Gate

The Caucasus Gate. Kars is the city referred to as the “Caucasus Gate” of East Anatolia. The city was founded along the eastern banks of the Kars stream, which merges with Arpaçay. The city consists of two parts, Old Kars and New Kars. Old Kars was founded around the Kars Citadel, located on a hill to the north, and its center is the Kaleiçi District. New Kars, which was founded after 1878, extends towards the plain. The vast difference between the new city, which was built according to a systematic plan, where the streets and avenues intersect each other perpendicularly, and the old city with its narrow and irregular streets, can be easily noted. There are also many interesting structures built by the Russians in Kars. The city was occupied by the Russians in 1828, 1855 and 1877 and was under Russian sovereignty for approximately forty years.
The historical Kars Citadel, the symbol of the city, was built by Saltukoğlu İzzeddin Han in 1152. The citadel, which was repeatedly restored, has two sections, the inner citadel and the outer citadel. Only seven of the 220 towers have remained. The Church of the Holy Apostles, which is now a museum, is in the south of the Kars Citadel. The Church was dedicated to the Twelve Apostles in the 10th century. There are reliefs of the Twelve Apostles along the outside walls of the structure.
Ani is the most important historical city in the environs of Kars. Ani, which was founded as a fortress city, became the capital of the Bagratid Kingdom in the 10th century. The city walls in the ancient city, Menucehr Mosque, the Seljuk Palace and the Museum-Churches of Nakışlı, Keseli, the Virgin Mary and Abugamrents are all worth seeing.
Sarıkamış, a county of Kars Province, is surrounded by forests and known for its scenic wonders. The monument erected in memory of the Turks who had fallen during the First World War in Sarıkamış and the Hunting Lodge built

Travel To Trabzon Province

A Historical Port City. Trabzon is an important and large port on the Black Sea coast. It is the starting point of the transit route to Iran and has connections with the ports of the other countries having shores on the Black Sea. The city was founded by the colonists of Miletus in the 8th century B.C. Most of the architectural works in the city date back to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The most important structure in Trabzon is the Ayasofya (St. Sophia) Museum. This museum is converted from a church constructed in the 13th century. The decorations at the entrance date back to the Seljuks, and the interior sections of the museum are decorated with various frescoes. The Gülbahar Hatun Mosque is the most beautiful mosque in the city. The old streets of Trabzon give the city a picturesque appearance. The historical houses on the back streets are worth seeing. The Kızlar Manastırı (Girls’ Monastery), dating back to the Comnenian era (14th century) and the Irene Tower are among the places frequently visited by tourists.
The Altındere National Park is near Maçka to the south of Trabzon. The magnificent Sumela Monastery, which seems almost higher than the clouds, is located in this national park. The monastery, perched on the face of a cliff at a height of 270 meters, assumed its most magnificent form during the reign of the Comnenus King Alexius III. The crowning ceremony of Alexius III was held here in the 14th century. The monastery has a library, a church, rooms for priests, a chapel, a sacred spring and a kitchen.
There are very beautiful high plateaus in the environs of Trabzon. These are the Erikbeli, Hıdırnebi, Şolma, Kirazlı and Kadırga high plateaus. The famous Kadırga Festival is annualy held in the springtime at the Kadırga High Plateau. Hamsiköy is a famous mountain village to the south of Trabzon, which is known for its delicious food and its scenic wonders.
The Zigana Tunnel, which is the longest highway tunnel in Turkey, is to the south of Hamsiköy. The Zigana Ski Center, with its modern facilities, is located on the old Zigana Mountain road at the upper section of the tunnel, and an attractive place for ski enthusiasts. The silver market in the city is also famous. The famous gold and silver filigree items, and especially bracelets of Trabzon are available only here.