Information AboutKayseri |
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Kayseri 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 700,000 whereas the population of the Kayseri Province is close to 1,100,000. Home of the Pastirma , most Westerners arrive in Kayseri en-route to the tourist attractions of Cappadocia . 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 Seljukid 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 Carpet s, 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 . INDUSTRY Kayseri received remarkable public investments in the 1920s and 1930s. Sumer Bez Fabrikasi and Kayseri Tayyare Fabrikasi, which are still in operation, were established during the early Republican Era with the help of German and particlarly Russian experts. 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 country-wide 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 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 amelioriation, the city has achieved a remarkable industrial growth since 2000. TRANSPORT The city is served by Kayseri Erkilet Havaalani ( Kayseri Erkilet Airport ). The International Air Transport Association IATA symbol for the airport is ASR. The airport is approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from downtown. The airfield is shared with the military cargo transport division in Erkilet. City is connected to the rest of country with railroad. The transportation within the city relies mostly on Bus es, Dolmuş , and personal vehicles. A Light Rail Transit system called Kayseray is under construction and is expected to open in two years. 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 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. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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