Central Anatolia - fairy chimneys, balloons and Hittites

One of the more unknown regions is Central Anatolia (İç Anadolu), the actual historical heartland of the Turks. In terms of landscape, Central Anatolia is characterized not only by some wooded low mountain ranges, the Taurus Mountains in the southern part and the tuff landscapes of Cappadocia, but also by dry steppe areas of the inner Anatolian plateau. Central Anatolia is known for its hot summers (cold nights!) and frosty winters.
Worth seeing and of historical importance are the two former parliament buildings from the early republican period, which now serve as museums, and the old citadel in the city centre. The “Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi)”, known as the “Hittite Museum”, enjoys an international reputation as one of the most important archaeological museums in the world. Near the old town, in the Kocatepe district, rises the mighty Kocatepe Mochee, inaugurated in 1987.
A good 200 km south of the capital Ankara, the city of Konya is located on a plateau flanked by mountains up to 2,300 m high. The place, which was already populated in pre-Christian times, was the residence of the powerful Rum Seljuk sultans in the Middle Ages. Today Konya is known as a centre of conservative Islamic movements.
Eskişehir, surrounded by mountains and forests, is culturally influenced by its two major universities. The city, known for its meerschaum tradition (“Stone of Eskişehir”), boasts excellent cultural offerings such as opera performances, concerts and the annual “International Eskişehir Festival” as well as the “Kent Park” adventure park.
Until recently, the area's residents used the softness of the rock to build apartments, Christian religious buildings, storerooms and stables, as well as hiding places from marauding strangers. Over time, entire settlement complexes with up to 10,000 inhabitants emerged, some of which were connected by corridors. One of the most famous of these cave cities is Göreme, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is located near Nevşehir.