HISTORICAL BACKROUND

The city's ancient name was NAHITA. The tin metal which was excavated in Çamardi-Kestel and finds from Bahçeli shows that the city's history is dating back to 7th centrury B.C. According to Assyr and Hittite inscriptions, the Hittites settled in the region for a thousand year after 18th century B.C. The Phrygians conquered the region in 710 B.C. when the Assyrians took the region back from Hittites. The region was settled by Meds, Pergamon Kingdom, Persians and by Alexander the Great's Hellenistic Cappodecis Kingdom, until the coming of Romans Empire Province (395 A.D.) The Seldjhuk period lasted till 1308 A.D. The city was ruled by the Ottoman Empire till to the foundation of Republic of Turkey.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Niğde is situated in the south of Central

Anatolia. The province is surrounded by Taurus

Mountains. Konya and Emen Plains take part in

the west. Mountainous parts are covered with

pine and fir trees but lakeshores are covered

with pine and fir trees. Flat-lands are covered

with willow ahd poplar trees. Fruit production is

quite much and various. The province takes the

first place with the number of the people

earning their life from agriculture, rural parts

are more populated. Cattledealing, handicrafts

are still very important.

ALAADDIN MOSQUE

It is an original Seljuchian style monument built of typical Cappodocian tufa stone in A-D 1223. The most interesting parts of the mosque are the minareth (tower) and ornamentings on the portal and on the dome.

It is unique example with its Crowned lady's Head on the portal. The figure can just be seen when the sunshines come through. The figure can be seen before noon time throughout summer has got an interesting and sad story. The master of the mosque falls in love with the daiftjhter of governor. But it was a hopeless love for him. That's why he keeps his love in his heart, and ornamented the portal with his lovers face which is almost invisible. Sunshines make it visible.

SUNGURBEY MOSQUE

Built in 1335 during the Đlhanh period by

Seyfettin Sungur Aga, then governor of

Niğde, this mosque is notable for the

out-standing stone craftwork on the

North and east portals. Next to mosque

there is a tomb constructed for Sungur

Bey, but this remains empty. Situated in

the centre of town and recagnisable by

its two minarets, the Sungur Bey

Mosque suffered extensive damage in a

fire in the 18th centrury.

THE MOUSELEUM OF HÜDAVEND HATUN

Hüdavend Hatun, the granddoughter of Seljukian Sultan Alaeddin Keyhüsrev, had this mouseleum built in 1312. She had been buried here in 1332. Its conik domed. There are decorative columns in the

corners well-styled leaves and reliefs on the upper parts of the windows. Its a typical monument with its Seljukian style masterworks. It is completely original.

CASTLE AND CLOCK TOWER

The construction date of Niğde Castle, situated

on Alaeddin Peak in centre of town; is not

known for certain; however, it is known it was

started in the Hittite period and that where was

removation in the Roman, Byzantine, Seljukian

and Ottoman periods. Clock Tower built 19th

century A.D.

TYANA AQUADUCTS

It is rest of the Roman Pool -

Aquaducts is located 4 km south of

Adana-Kayseri motorway. The

structure of the area and the fertile

land mode the region an important

place for seeling since the early

years of the history. The site was

called Tuvanuva in the Hittite

period. The Aquaducts carrying

the water of the Roman Poll to the

city, was built Roman period. The

aquaducts are app. 3 km long.

Today just 1,5 km part of it is

visible rest of it is still under the

ground.

THE ROMAN POOL

It is located in thetownship Bahçeli which is

surrounded by gardens. It is located 1 km left

to the Adana-Kayseri motorway. It is unique

example of Roman Marble art with its

dimension 24x66x2,5 m. It was unearthed by

coincidence in 1960. All the finds unearthed

during the excavations behind the pool are

displayed in the local museum of Niğde.

ALADAGLAR (Demirkazik Hill-Elevation

3756m) It is the most suitable part of Taurus Mountains for mountaineering and trekking. It covers a land of 1024 km2. The seven lakes are located on the mid - plateu of the mountain. The peaks are snowed almost all the yean There are numerous peaks and walleys. The best sran-point for all climbs are township Çamardi, villages Demnkazık and Çukurbağ. Equipments and food can be supported from these places. A 85 bedded mountain house is located Demirkazik as well. A 300 m long ski-lift and a football graund are availeble at the mountain house.

HANDICRAFTS CARPET

Turkish woman created original

carpetstyle since time she used to

live in Central Asia. The carpets

whicn are women at the koms

which can be found almost in

houses and which are women and

dyed with original material shows

the beauty of Turkish motifs.

About 2000 young girls weave big

size carpets at twenty looms which

was found by the province

goverment to meet the woll

Turkish carpets which are famous

all around world.

FOLKLORE

Niğde is very rich when it comes to folklore and has managed to preserve its original

character. Thanks to the isolation due to the mountainous terrain around it and pi

transportation difficulties, central Niğde and its surrounding small towns and villages

have become a natural museum in which all kinds of folkloric values have survived.

We are living in Eminlik village in Ovacik valley between the mointains. Its a lovely

small village.its about 750 people living here and they are mostly farmers. Sometime we

are helping the farmers after classes. Our school is very beautiful. Arcitecture faculty

students built our school and its project was planed by professor and this professor gave

some lecture about our school abroad and scientists liked our school so mush hope you

will like it too.