Turkey: Amasya
Amasya is one of the oldest cities in Turkey and actually the whole world with recorded history spanning over 7500 years. It’s one of the most picturesque locations imaginable – along the river bend high on the mountains rising sharply above the Black Sea coast. Walking along the river promenade you can explore all the major attractions – they are almost stacked upon each other like a layer cake. First comes the river and the old 19th century Ottoman mansions. Above this are the Royal burial tombs of the Pontus Kings, over 2 thousand years old (260s BC)- an impressive sight easily seen in the mountain wall behind the city. Finally, the mountaintop is actually a massive fortress – Amasya Castle (see previous post). The town itself has a lot of historic attractions as well, like several medieval mosques, beautifully decorated inside, or the old medressa, now a museum of music.
