Karaman: Turkey
Karaman is a town in south central Turkey, located north of the Taurus Mountains, ca 100 km south of Konya. It is the capital of the Karaman Province. In 2000 it had a population of 105 384. The Karaman Museum is one of the major sights.
In ancient times Karaman was known as Laranda. It was destroyed by Perdiccas about 322 BC and later became a seat of Isaurian pirates. It belonged to the Roman and later Byzantine Empire until it was captured by the Seljuks in the early 12th century. It was occupied by Frederick Barbarossa in 1190. In 1256 the town was taken by the Turkish warlord Karamano?lu Mehmed Bey and was renamed Karaman in his honor. From 1275 Karaman was the capital of the emirate (and later Ottoman province) of Karamanid. In 1468 Karamanid was conquered by the Ottomans and in 1483 the capital of the province was moved to Konya. Karaman has retained ruins of a Karamanid castle and some walls, two mosques and a Qur’an school (medrese) from that age. An exquisite mihrab from a mosque in Karaman can now be found in the inili Pavilion near today’s Archeology Museum in Istanbul.
Related Travel Information
Kastamonu: Turkey
Kastamonu is the capitol district of the Kastamonu Province, Turkey. It has a population of 103,340 (2000 census), and an area of 1482 km2. It is located to the south of the province.
Near the city (approximately 10 miles) is the village of Kasaba with an important mosque, the Mahmut Bey mosque, from 1366, built in the Seljuk tradition. It is considered to be one of the finest wooden mosques in Turkey. The door has excellent woodcarving.
Çorum: Turkey
Çorum is a town in the Corum Province of Turkey. As of 2004, the population was 178,500. It is located at Latitude of 40.56° North and a Longitude of 34.96° East. Corum is also home to the Famous Ertugrul, who's family is one of the biggest and oldest. The Karadeniz dynasty first started in the early 12th century, and the family ruled in corum since the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in the early 20th century after which all powers were stripped. The only surviving member of the family is Ertugrul who currently resides in London, UK.
Isparta: Turkey
Isparta is a city in Turkey and the provincial capital of the Isparta Province. Its population is 150,000 and elevation from from sea level is 1035 m.
The city is famous for its roses and Süleyman Demirel University. The football team of the city Ispartaspor is in the third level league.
Important Persons
Süleyman Demirel, former prime minister and president of Turkey, was born in the village Islamköy close to Isparta.
The Islamic thinker Said Nursi spent the last decade of his life in this city.
Aksaray: Turkey
Aksaray is a city in Turkey located in middle Anatolia.
Bart?n: Turkey
Bartin is a small province in northern Turkey on the Black Sea, surrounding the city of Bartin. It is to the east from Zonguldak.
The town of Bartin contains a number of very old wooden houses which are no longer extant in other places.
In Bartin province is the ancient port town of Amasra (Amastris). This town is on two small fortified islands and contains many interesting old buildings and restaurants.
