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Aksaray, on the western edge
of Cappadocia,
is a transit town with several interesting
old buildings from the Seljuk
Turkish and Beylik (post-Seljuk
period).
Anyone traveling between Ankara, Konya and Nevsehir might
consider stopping in Aksaray for
lunch, fuel or a tea or toilet break
(map).
The Orhan Agaçli Tesisleri at
the intersection of the nort-south
and east-west highways has all these
as well as fuel, shops, auto repairs
and even a motel. There
are also a few servicable hotels in
the city center if you need to stay
the night.
The sights of Aksaray (AHK-sah-rah-yee,
alt. 980 meters/3215 feet, pop. 110,000)
include its Ulu Cami (Great
Mosque, 1408) built in the post-Seljuk
Beylik period, the nice Aksaray
Museum housed in the Zinciriye
Medresesi (Chain Seminary, 1336),
and the Kizil Minare Camii (Mosque
with a Red Minaret, 1236).
Next to the mosque stands its eponymous
red Egri
Minare (Leaning
Minaret). Because of settlement at
its foundations the minaret does have
a distinct lean to it, earning it the
name "Aksaray's Leaning Tower [of
Pisa]."
The thrill from seeing this local wonder
dissipates in seconds.
Aksaray is a major
way-station along the ancient Silk
Road, which means there are
impressive Seljuk
Turkish caravanserais to
the east and west of it. The nearest
is the Agzikarahan, 10 km (6
miles) to the east; the enormous Sultan
Hani, largest of the Seljuk caravanserais
in Anatolia,
is 42 km (26 miles) to the west. More
on caravanserais.
Also near Aksaray is the Ihlara
Valley, with its dozens of tiny Byzantine churches.
A few pensions and inns near
the valley host visitors, or you
can stay in Aksaray, or visit Ihlara
on a day
trip from Cappadocia.
More...
Bus or car is
the only way to get to Aksaray. More...
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