An unusual capital city, Ankara is often overlooked by travellers to Turkey, with Istanbul being their first choice. However, Ankara does contain the country’s finest museum – the Museum of Ancient Civilisations. This displays a huge array of artefacts and treasures, with the emphasis on the Hittite civilisation. Ankara also contains the mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, which is open to view.
Further to the south of Ankara is the city of Konya. Home to the Mevlevi Order, better known as ‘the whirling dervishes’, there is an interesting museum, the Mevlana, which was once their lodge.
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