Turkey: Van Citadel
Van Citadel aka the Rock of Van is an ancient fortress standing on top of a steep-sided rock bluff overlooking the Lake Van. It was built between 7-9th centuries and this was the capital of the Urartu (ancient Armenian) Kingdom of Van. In this part of the world, almost every rocky outcrop rising above the desert floor is topped with a castle or a fortress and the Van Citadel is the largest of the Utartuan fortresses, although it is pretty ruined. On the plane beneath the rock, there are several medieval mosques, made of different color rocks.
