Kayseri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Kayseri, Turkey |
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 Kayseri 1897 |
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 Location in Turkey |
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| Kayseri, Turkey briefly | |
| Province | Kayseri |
| Coordinates | NA |
| Area code | (+90) 352 |
Kayseri (Greek: Καισάρεια), in the antiquity Mazaka and later Caesarea, is an industrialized city in Turkey that is famous for Mount Erciyes. It is the capital of Kayseri Province. 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 Westerners arrive in Kayseri en-route to the tourist attractions of Cappadocia. The Turkish architect Mimar Sinan the Great was born here 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. 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 belong to the Seljuq Era. The Grand Bazaar dates from the latter part of the 1800's, but the adjacent Caravanserai (where merchant traders gathered before forming a caravan) dates from around 1500. The city is famous for carpets, 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 Ozal 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. 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. However, given the low quality service and old trains with slow speed in Turkey, the passengers should avoid railway transportation.
Since city is located somewhere at the center of the country, transportation via cars and busses may seem highly efficient. It takes ~3 hours to reach Ankara, ~3 hours to Mediterranean shores and 45 minutes from ancient Capadocia. 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 two years.
[edit] Sport
The city has two major Turkish association football (soccer) teams; Kayserispor and Kayseri Erciyesspor. These two soccer teams are currently in "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 Ozal 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.[1]
In 2000 the privated Kilicaslan High School in Kayseri and Anatoli College in Salonica became sister schools.
[edit] Notable Kayserians
Turkish politician Abdullah Gul
German/Turkish movie star Sibel Kekilli
Greek/American movie director Elia Kazan
Turkish tradesman Sakıp Sabancı
Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan
[edit] External links
- Kayseriliyim.com Portal with news and Photos from the city
- Armenian history and presence in Gessaria
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Districts of Kayseri |  |
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Kayseri | Akkışla | Bünyan | Develi | Felahiye | Hacılar | İncesu | Kocasinan | Melikgazi | Özvatan | Pınarbaşı | Sarıoğlan | Sarıs | Talas | Tomarza | Yahyalı | Yeşilhisar |
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