Tourexpi
The
nomination, titled “Ankara: The Planning and Building of a Republican Modern
Capital City”, was jointly prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of
Türkiye and the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO. It highlights the
transformation of Ankara from a modest Anatolian town into a model of
republican urban design between 1920 and 1970, fulfilling UNESCO’s cultural
heritage criteria ii, iv, and vi.
Key
Highlights of the Submission:
·
The city’s central axis: Atatürk
Boulevard
·
Historic districts: Ulus and Kızılay
·
Landmark buildings:
·
The First, Second, and Third Grand
National Assembly buildings
·
The Presidential Complex
·
Güven Park, Youth Park, Ulus Square,
and Kızılay Square
·
Ankara Train Station and the İş Bank
Building
·
Multiple historic ministry buildings
These
elements reflect the capital’s emergence as a national and architectural symbol
of modernity, democracy, and cultural identity following the establishment of
the Republic in 1923.
A
City Rooted in History, Built for the Future
Declared
the capital on October 13, 1923, just days before the official founding of the
Republic on October 29, Ankara supplanted İstanbul as the administrative and
symbolic heart of the new nation. While rooted in ancient civilisations—from
the Hittites and Phrygians to Romans and Ottomans—modern Ankara was shaped to
reflect the progressive ideals of the republic.
Key
cultural and historical institutions reinforcing Ankara’s legacy include:
·
Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa
Kemal Atatürk
·
The Museum of Anatolian Civilisations,
named Museum of the Year in Europe (1997)
·
The Ethnography Museum, Painting and
Sculpture Museum, and the Faculty of Language, History, and Geography
·
The State Opera and Ballet and Ankara
Radio
Ankara’s
candidacy is a testament to Türkiye’s continued commitment to preserving and
promoting its cultural and architectural heritage on the global stage. The
Ministry of Culture and Tourism affirms its ongoing cooperation with UNESCO and
international partners to safeguard this legacy for future generations.
Image
Credit: © Tourexpi
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