Kayseri: The city where ancient and modern live in harmony

In the east of Cappadocia lies Kayseri, the city known as Caesarea in Roman times. As with many human settlements in Anatolia, Kayseri has a long history and a rich cultural heritage. Located 20km from the city centre, the Kültepe Mound is the most important example of this heritage with a history dating back 6000 years. Kültepe was an important trading centre during the 2nd millennium BC. Excavations have unearthed important artefacts from the Bronze Age, the Assyrian trading colonies and from the Hittite era. One of the most visited sites in Kayseri is the Soğanlı Village of Yeşilhisar County. The village is an important centre of Cappadocia and there are about fifty rock cut churches in its environs. While each deserves a visit in its own right, the most striking churches are the Kubbeli, Karabaş and St Barbara churches with regards to their architectural features and frescoes. Another important settlement where churches and monasteries from different eras can be seen together is the county of Ağırnas. The county also has the distinction of being the birthplace of Mimar Sinan, the architect royal who built masterpieces in Istanbul as well as in other principal urban centres, defining the cityscapes of most of those cities. The most prominent monumental buildings in the city centre were built during the Danishmend, Seljuk and Ottoman eras. The 13th-century Hunat Hatun Complex, the first Seljuk complex in Anatolia, is comprised of a mosque, madrasah, tomb and a public bathhouse. Each building has its own specific features and the masonry work of the whole complex is exceptional, and you may easily spend hours there without noticing how time flies. The city is spread out at the foot of the extinct volcano Mount Erciyes, where in winter the ski centre offers excellent runs for downhill skiers and several pleasant hotels. Kayseri is one of the most important carpet and kilim (rug) production centres in Anatolia.