The Anatolian Civilizations Museum houses the original works of Anatolian civilizations. It is comprised of two historical Ottoman buildings: Mahmutpaşa Covered Bazaar and Kurşunlu Inn. The museum underwent renovations in 2014 and now offers visitors to travel through history via artifacts, virtual tours, animations, and replicas. From Roman Bath to Museum The initial museum in Ankara was established in 1921. It was the brainchild of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who aimed to create a museum dedicated to Hittite Civilization. To achieve this, Hittite artworks were collected from all over the country and brought to the capital city of Ankara. The first step towards this goal was taken by Mr. Mubarek Galip, who was the Cultural Director at the time. He converted the Akkale Bastion of Ankara Castle, along with the Augustus Temple and the Roman Bath, into a museum. The Mahmutpasa Covered Bazaar and Kursunlu Inn in the vicinity of Ankara Castle were converted into a museum due to limited space available in Akkale. Restoration work on the unused began in 1938 and was completed in 1968. The central area of the covered bazaar was completed in 1943 and opened to visitors while the restoration was ongoing. Sheds Light On The History of Anatolia The Anatolian Civilizations Museum is one of the top-rated museums in the world with its unique collections. It was awarded the title of “Museum of the year in Europe” in 1997. The artifacts are displayed in chronologically separated sections. The upper hall area contains exhibits from the Palaeolithic Age, Chalcolithic Age, Old Bronze Age, Assyrian Trade Colonies Age, The Old Hittite and Hittite Imperial Age, Phrygian Kingdom, Late Hittite Kingdom, and Urartian Kingdom. The lower contains exhibits from the Classical Periods and Ankara Through the Ages. While You’re Here While here, visitors can climb to the top of Ankara Castle for a panoramic view of the city, and visit the Rahmi M. Koç Museum. For a historical experience, guests can enjoy breakfast or a drink at And Cafe, located in a historic building in Kaleiçi. In the evening, concerts are held at the Erimtan Archaeology and Art Museum.
MUSEUM OF ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS
