Ankara

Formerly known as Angora, Ankara, the capital of the country, lies right in the heart of Anatolia. The city has a population of roughly 3 million and hosts several administrative, university and diplomatic services. From a cultural standpoint, it must be admitted that Ankara holds very little interest. Nonetheless, the city is home to a few museums which are worth seeing, such as the archeological museum of Anatolian civilisations. Antalya may be a better starting point to explore Anatolia, covering sites as varied as the Göreme valley, Cappadoce, Gordion (capital of ancient Phrygia, homeland of King Midas), Hattusas (former Hittite capital) or Konya (and its whirling dervishes or 'Mevlevis').