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Information about
Afyonkarahisar,
Turkey
Afyon, or Afyonkarahisar (Karahisar means Black Fortress) is a city lying
between the Aegean Sea and the inner regions of Anatolia and is located
southeast of Istanbul within a distance of approximately 500 km. Afyon is rarely
visited by tourists, but there are good thermal spa facilities, ancient ruins
and the city is famous for its Turkish Delight and Afyon clotted cream or
"Kaymak". There are connections by bus and train from Istanbul.
Afyon means 'poppy' and the opium poppy is to be found in this area, was used as
a pain killer during the time that the caravans passed through on the Royal Road,
and is now under strict control for medical purposes.
As noted before Afyon is a spa-center with thermal baths in Gazi Kaplicasi (25
km northwest), Gecek and Omerli Kaplicalari (18 km and 15 km northwest
respectively), and Hudai Kaplicasi 73 km southwest of the town, Sandikli, which
is also famous for its mud baths, too. The best of the thermal hotels is world
class Ikbal Thermal hotel, which was designed by a Finnish architect. Another
great alternative is Orucoglu Thermal hotel. If you are
in Afyon on business there is the 4 star Grand Ozer hotel, which is located
right in the center of town and has a Turkish bath and a pool.
The Citadel of Afyon is located in the center of the old village and it is the
core remaining from a volcanic cone. It has been eroded through time to form a
natural location for a fortress. The present citadel, which was built during the
Byzantine period, was previously used as a fortress by the Hittite King
Mursilius II. Because the basalt stone is black, the name
'Black Fortress' was used for the citadel.
To the north of Afyon there are Phrygian remains such as Aslantas (Lion Rock)
and Aslankaya (Lion Stone). The lion reliefs may be seen on the sides of the
rock and cult temples. If you visit the village of Ayazin, you will find a
smaller and more authentic version of a Cappadocia
village. And you are highly unlikely to encounter other tourists.
You may visit the ancient quarries nearby Afyon at Docimium. This small village
was founded by Antigonus Dokimos, a Macedonian Greek, to cut marble for the
various building projects carried out in western Turkey.
The town of Dazkiri on the Denizli highway is famous for its carpets and kilims.
Contact us for more information on Tours to Afyon or Hotels in Afyon.
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