Kayseri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Kayseri |
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| Location in Turkey | |
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| Overview | |
| Region | Central Anatolia Region, Turkey |
| Province | Kayseri Province |
| Coordinates | NA |
| Area code | (+90) 352 |
Kayseri (Greek: Καισάρεια), in the antiquity Mazaka and later Caesarea, is an industrialized city in Turkey.
It is famous for Mount Erciyes and is the capital of Kayseri Province (located in the Melikgazi District). The city's population is around 500,000 whereas the population of the Kayseri Province is 1,094,000 (official census department estimates for 2004). Home of the pastirma, most visitors arrive in Kayseri en-route to the geological tourist attractions of Cappadocia. The Ottoman-period architect Sinan the Great was born near Kayseri, in the village of Ağırnas.
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[edit] History
Kayseri has been a continuous settlement since 3000 BC. The city has been a vital trade center as it lies on what was the Great Silk Road. As being one of three oldest cities founded in Anatolia as well as its proximity to major trade routes, the city bears one of the oldest historical heritage on the planet.
There were three golden-age periods for Kayseri. First, dating back to 2000BC, city was the trade post between the Assyrians and the Hittite empire. Second golden age was lived during 200-300AD under Roman rule; at one point the population of the city was almost half a million. Third golden age is during the reign of Seljuks, when the city was the second capital of the state.
The 1500-year-old Roman castle is still standing in a good shape at the central square of the city. The short-lived Seljuk rule left large number of historical landmarks; historical buildings such as Hunad-Hatun complex, Kilicarslan mosque, The Grand Mosque and Gevher Nesibe asylum also belong to the Seljuq Era. The Grand Bazaar dates from the latter part of the 1800s, but the adjacent Caravanserai (where merchant traders gathered before forming a caravan) dates from around 1500. An Armenian church from the 19th century still operates as a church, another from the same period is used as a gymnasium. However, apart from these few, large, religious and secular constructions, most of Kayseri is modern: the town's older districts (which were filled with ornate mansion-houses mostly dating from the 18th and 19th centuries) were subjected to wholesale demolitions starting in the 1970s.[1] The city is famous for its carpet sellers, and a range of carpets and rugs can be purchased reasonably ranging from new to 50 or more years old.
For its earliest history, see Caesarea Mazaca.
[edit] Industry
Kayseri received remarkable public investments in the 1920s and 1930s. Sumer Textile and Kayseri Tayyare Fabrikasi (airplane builder) were established during the early Republican Era with the help of German and particularly Russian experts. The latter manufactured first "made in Turkey" planes in 1940s. During the multi party era the city suffered from a decrease in the amount of public investment, although Kayseri Seker Fabrikasi was established in 1955. It was, however, in those years that local businessmen and merchants transformed into countrywide capitalists. Families such as Sabanci, Has, Dedeman and Ozilhan who started out as small-scale merchants in the city of Kayseri became prominent actors in the Turkish economy. However, these families soon transferred their headquarters to major cities such as Istanbul and Adana. Thanks to the economic liberalization policy that was introduced by Prime Minister Turgut Özal in the 1980s, a new wave of merchants and industrialists from Kayseri joined their predecessors from the 1950s and 1960s. These new industrialists, however, mostly chose Kayseri as their base of operation. Ozbiyik, Hasyuncu, Boydak and Altop are among the families who expanded their business in the 1980s and 1990s. As a consequence of the infrastructural amelioration, the city has achieved a remarkable industrial growth since 2000. Today, Kayseri appears to be a paradise for small and medium scale enterprises.
[edit] Transport
The city is served by Erkilet International Airport and the International Air Transport Association symbol for the airport is ASR.
The airport is approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from downtown. There are several flights per day to Istanbul airport which is Turkey's premium air transportation hub. As Turkish air transportation sector realizes ultra fast growth, thanks to new policies of central government, new flights from Kayseri to several spots in Turkey are soon to be expected.
City is connected to the rest of country with railroad service. There are four trains per day to Ankara. To the east there are two branches: one to Kars and Dogukapi toward Armenia, and another to Tatvan on the west shore of Lake Van. However, given the low quality service and old trains with slow speed in Turkey, the passengers should avoid railway transportation.
Since city is located in the center of the country, transportation via cars and buses may seem highly efficient. It takes approximately 3 hours to reach Ankara, approximately 3 hours to Mediterranean shores and 45 minutes from ancient Cappadocia. The symbol of the city, Mount Erciyes, which is a famous ski center in winters and trekking spot in summers, is only 30 minutes away from city centre.
The transportation within the city relies mostly on buses, dolmuş, and personal vehicles. A light rail transit system called Kayseray is under construction and is expected to open in one year.
[edit] Sport
The city has two major Turkish association football (soccer) teams; Kayserispor and Kayseri Erciyesspor. These two soccer teams are currently in the "super league" of Turkey
[edit] Trivia
The world's biggest nose record is also held by Kutlay Akpinar who is from Kayseri.
Kayseri Lisesi High School is one of the oldest high-schools in Turkey established in 1893.
Former Turkish prime minister and president Turgut Özal is a graduate of Kayseri Lisesi. Current foreign minister Abdullah Gul is a graduate of Kayseri Lisesi.
The building that hosts Kayseri Lisesi was arranged to host the grand national assembly during the independence war Kurtulus Savasi when the Greek army nearly captured Ankara, the capital.
In the 4th century the city becomes central in early Christianity when St. Basil the Great establishes an ecclesiastical centre here.[2]
In 2000 the private Kilicaslan High School in Kayseri and Anatoli College in Salonica became sister schools.
Kayseri is famous for its mantı, pastırma and sucuk.
[edit] Notable Kayserians
- Turkish politician Abdullah Gul
- German/Turkish movie star Sibel Kekilli
- Greek/American movie director Elia Kazan
- Turkish business tycoon Sakıp Sabancı
- Ottoman-period architect Mimar Sinan
- Basil of Caesarea, one of the Cappadocian Fathers
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Kayseriliyim.com Portal with news and Photos from the city
- Armenian history and presence in Kayseri/Gessaria
- The Armenian church of St. Gregory in Kayseri
- Online Kayseri
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Districts of Kayseri |  |
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Akkışla | Bünyan | Develi | Felahiye | Hacılar | İncesu | Kocasinan | Melikgazi | Özvatan | Pınarbaşı | Sarıoğlan | Sarıs | Talas | Tomarza | Yahyalı | Yeşilhisar |
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