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Erzurum
Cifte Minare, Erzurum
Oltu Church, Erzurum |
Erzurum, 193 km east of Erzincan and the largest city in
easternAnatolia, sprawls on a high plateau at an altitude of
1950 meters.As you enter the city, the large Aziziye monument
commemoratingthe Turkish-Russian war will catch your eye.
Although the collection in the archaelogical museum reveals
muchof the city's history and ancient origins, it is Erzurum's
architecturewhich is in fact the city's best museum. The city
walls and fortressremind one of the period of Byzantine rule.
And particularly important are the remaining Seljuk buildings
-brilliant examples of a fascinatingaesthetic. The Ulu Mosque,
built in 1179, has an unusual formwith seven wide naves. The
Cifte Minareli Medrese, or theologicalcollege, built by the
Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat in 1253,astonishes with the
elobarote stone carvings on its portal andits majestic double
minarets. Behind the Cifte Minareli Medresestands the Uc
Kumbetler, a group of three tombs, the most notableof which is
that of Emir Saltuk. The 13th-century Hatuniye Turbesi,or
mausoleum, was built for Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat's
daughter.The beautiful portal and richly tiled minaret of the
13th-centuryYakutiye Medrese reveals another facet of Seljuk
architecture.You can also see Ottoman buildings in Erzurum;
the great architectSinan left his mark on the city with the
Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque.
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While wandering around the city, notice the local black
stonewhich is used in jewelry. The shops on the upper floor of
theTashan (Rustem Pasha Caravanseria) offer the best selection
of items.
A road through splendid mountain scenery leads to the winter
sportsresort of Palandoken, only 6 km from Erzurum. This
center hashotels, the longest ski-run and the best snow
quality in Turkey,and is a favorate haunt of expert skiers.
The glassy Tortum Lake,120 km from Erzurum towards Artvin and
the Black Sea, may be themost tranquil sight in all of Turkey.
Be sure to see the TortumWaterfalls at the north end of the
lake, plunging from a heightof 47 meters.
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General View |
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