Ani Ruins Of Kars

The ruins of Kars Ani located at a distance of 42 kilometers from Kars. The ancient city of ANİ, located next to the village of Ocakli, hosts many tourists throughout the year. The ruins of Kars Ani are based on the Arpaçay, a tributary of the Aras River in the east. Kars Ani ruins have a unique historical structure.

About The Ruins Of Kars Ani

The history of the ruins of Kars Ani dates back to 3000 BC. The ruins, which used as settlements during this period, were home to 24 different civilizations. This city is in the form of Hurrians, Urartians, Kimmers, Scythians, Karsaks, and Arabs, respectively. The ruins of Ani were built on the Silk Road and are known as the most important commercial center of the region. The Silk Road bridge over Arpaçay, which mostly demolished, connects Turkey and Armenia. However, since the bridge has demolished today, there is no connection.

The ruins of Ani go down in history as the first city captured by the Turks in Anatolia. The Menuçher mosque, with an octagonal minaret, built by the Seljuks in 1072, is still standing and has the distinction of being the first Turkish mosque in Anatolia. One of the area's most spectacular works is the Church of Christ the Redeemer. This place is also known as St. Patrick's Church and Keçel Church. It is a cylindrical planned church built by King 3rd Sambat in 1034. As a result of the lightning strike in the 1930s, this cylinder-shaped church was split vertically down the middle, half of which destroyed, but the other half still stands.

The Great Cathedral, built between 987 and 1010, was used as a mosque after Alparslan's conquest of the city. For this reason, it is also known as the Fethiye mosque. It is the most priceless artifact in today's ruins of Ani.