Amasya is a pretty town, whose beauty will impress any foreign visitors at the very first sight. I instantly fell in love with the town as soon as I set my eyes on it. With its numerous well-preserved Ottoman timber houses, the ancient tombs of the Pontus kings and a castle which overlooks the town, and the serene Yesilirmak river that flows through the town's Old Quarters, Amasya is a real gem and by all means a city not to be missed.
Amasya' beauty is all the more evident in the night, when the whole town was lighted up. It is very romantic to walk along the river bank or wander around in the cobblestone streets of the old town lined with traditional Ottoman houses.
Amasya has been a very important city in Anatolia. Known for its culture and historical pedigree, Amasya was the city at which Ottoman princes were educated and trained in preparation for future government duties. It is also the birthplace of Greek geographer and traveller Strabo. In modern history, Amasya is tbest known for the Amasya Circular, in which Mustafa Kemal Ataturk called for the founding of a Turkish army in order to fight the Greeks in the upcoming Turkish War of Independence.
There are plenty of tourist attrcations within the town centre of Amasya, ranging from the Pontic tombs carved onto the cliff face overlooking the city, the Ottoman houses which have become a trademark of Amasya and which adorn posters promoting Turkish tourism, to numerous medieval mosques and religious buildings dated from the 13th century onwards.
This is how a perfectly restored Ottoman timber house in Amasya looks like.
The view of the tombs of the Pontus kings and Amasya Castle from the other side of the Yesilirmak river.
Talking about riverside walks, Amasya has probably one of the tidest and most scenic riverside pedestrian walks in the whole of Turkey. In part it is even better maintained than those in parts of Istanbul.
To get the best view of Amasya, one needs to climb up the sometimes slippery stone steps up to the castle and admire the picturesque views from high above.
After visiting all the important sights within Amasya's city limit, there are plenty of pleasant tea gardens and cafes for visitors to soak up the leisurely atmosphere and enjoy the unique historical beauty of this beautiful city.
Copyrights@2010. All text and photos by YC Cheng. All Rights Reserved.
Amasya' beauty is all the more evident in the night, when the whole town was lighted up. It is very romantic to walk along the river bank or wander around in the cobblestone streets of the old town lined with traditional Ottoman houses.
Amasya has been a very important city in Anatolia. Known for its culture and historical pedigree, Amasya was the city at which Ottoman princes were educated and trained in preparation for future government duties. It is also the birthplace of Greek geographer and traveller Strabo. In modern history, Amasya is tbest known for the Amasya Circular, in which Mustafa Kemal Ataturk called for the founding of a Turkish army in order to fight the Greeks in the upcoming Turkish War of Independence.
There are plenty of tourist attrcations within the town centre of Amasya, ranging from the Pontic tombs carved onto the cliff face overlooking the city, the Ottoman houses which have become a trademark of Amasya and which adorn posters promoting Turkish tourism, to numerous medieval mosques and religious buildings dated from the 13th century onwards.
This is how a perfectly restored Ottoman timber house in Amasya looks like.
The view of the tombs of the Pontus kings and Amasya Castle from the other side of the Yesilirmak river.
Talking about riverside walks, Amasya has probably one of the tidest and most scenic riverside pedestrian walks in the whole of Turkey. In part it is even better maintained than those in parts of Istanbul.
To get the best view of Amasya, one needs to climb up the sometimes slippery stone steps up to the castle and admire the picturesque views from high above.
After visiting all the important sights within Amasya's city limit, there are plenty of pleasant tea gardens and cafes for visitors to soak up the leisurely atmosphere and enjoy the unique historical beauty of this beautiful city.
Copyrights@2010. All text and photos by YC Cheng. All Rights Reserved.
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