Amasya Attractions

Central South Pontus (Black Sea)

The provincial capital of Amasya nestles picturesquely in the narrow transverse valley of the Yeslirmak (the ancient Iris) at the southern edge of the Pontus Mountains.

Amasya's impressive setting is best appreciated from the vantage point of the fortress, the remains of which survive enthroned above the town. There are two distinct parts to Old Amasya. North of the river lies the earlier once walled Old Town, still with a large number of old dwelling houses. South of the river is an area which, though less ancient, nevertheless has many historic buildings both religious and secular. Despite the damage wrought by severe earthquakes in 1734, 1825 and 1935, and by a fire in 1915, Amasya remains one of the most rewarding towns in Turkey to visit. The surrounding countryside is also famed for its wealth of fruit trees and its mulberry plantations (silk manufacture).

History

The origins of Amasya's citadel probably go back to pre-Hellenistic times. In the third century B.C. the town became the capital of the Pontic kingdom, after the last of the Greek tyrants of Kos was executed by Antigonus in 302 B.C. His opportunist nephew Mithridates, fleeing with a large following into the Pontus Mountains, captured the fortress at Amasya and proclaimed himself king. The Pontic dynasty he founded lasted until after 70 B.C., ending with the death of Mithridates VI Eupator, killed in the Third Mithridatic War against the Romans, led by Lucullus. Pharnaces, a son of Mithridates, attempted to regain his father's kingdom, but was defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Zela in 47 B.C. Following this the town was absorbed into the Roman Empire.

Amasya was the birthplace of the celebrated geographer Strabo (64-20 B.C.) who, journeying the length and breadth of the ancient known world, recorded his findings in his seventeen volume "Oikomene". From 1243 onwards the region was under Mongol rule, a high-point being reached when Eretua was governor. During this period (1335-52) Amasya prospered. The town eventually fell to the Ottomans in 1392 and was occupied by Bayazit I. His son Mehmet I (reigned 1413-21) successfully defended the Amasya citadel against the Mongol prince Timur Lenk (Tamerlane, the Lame; 1402-04).

In the Middle Ages Amasya's prosperity was such as to warrant comparison with Baghdad. But with political, economic and cultural power concentrated increasingly in the west of the Empire, Amasya gradually declined into a provincial town. A substantial part of its architectural heritage has however been preserved.

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Read More Sultan Beyazit Külliyesi

Built in the late 15th C by Ahmed, son of Bayazit II, Sultan Beyazit Külliyesi contains over 20,000 volumes of Koranic script.

Amasya Museum

Following restoration of the Gök Medrese, Amasya's museum was moved to a new building on the main road facing the Sultan Bayazit Külliyesi. In addition to ancient artifacts it also has an ethnographic collection.
Among the collection are mummies, sculptures, coins, glass works, ceramics, masks, jewelry, weapons, household items, and manuscripts.

Address

Amasya Museum
Atatürk Cad.
Amasya
Turkey

Ayinli Magara

On the left bank of the Yesilirmak, about 2km/1.25mi north of Amasya, there is a rock tomb, later used in the Byzantine period as a chapel, with remains of wall-paintings. As well as inscriptions in Greek its rock facade has corner pillars and string courses to the windows.

Burmanli Minare Camii

This small mosque, erected by the Seljuk bey Necmettin Ferun in 1242 for the Sultan Keyhusrev II, is situated in the southern part of Amasya, a short distance above the Tas Hani. It owes its name to the spiral decoration on the minaret.

Buyuk Aga Medresesi

The interesting octagonal Koranic school, also known as Kapi Agasi Medresesi, was founded in 1488 by Hüseyin Agas, Chief White Eunuch to Bayazit II. An unusually high iwan (central dome with half-domes either side) dominates the rear of the courtyard. The restored building has recently been returned to its original use. Visitors are allowed a brief glimpse into the classrooms.

Darüssifa Hani

Also known as Timar or Bimar Hani this Old Turkish building on the southeast bank of the Yesilirmak was erected in 1308-09. It was originally a hospital (dar üs-sifa = "lunatic asylum") and medical school founded by the Mongol Ilkhan Ölceytü and his wife Yildiz Hatun. By assassinating the last Seljuk sultan, Ölceytü finally brought to an end the long rule of the Sultans of Rum. The hani has a magnificent portal.

Fethiye Camii

This small mosque, on the upper slope of the hill to the south of Amasya, was originally a Byzantine church (early seventh century). It was converted to a mosque in 1117. Badly damaged by fire in 1915, only the apse and some sections of wall survive. The minaret was built in 1812.

Halifet Gazi Türbesi

Halifet Gazi Türbesi is a mausoleum in the Üçler quarter of Amasya, south of the main road, it is believed to date from about 1145. It was built for a vizier of the Damishmendid emir, Melik Gazi. His remains are interred in a superbly ornamented marble coffin (rams' heads and Medusa heads between flower tendrils) presumed to have come from a Late Roman necropolis. Adjoining the türbesi are the ruins of yet another old medrese.

Kizlar Sarayi

The scant remains of the royal palace and gardens in Amasya cannot begin to convey their former splendor.

Mehmet Pasa Camii

Built in 1486 by a councillor of Bayazit II's son Ahmet, the Mehmet Pasa Camii in Amasya stands close to the Timar Hani on the southeast bank of the Yesilirmak.

Old Town

The oldest part of Amasya, at one time walled, extends below the citadel on the north side of the Yesilirmak. Until quite recently many of the houses backing onto the river still retained their massive waterwheels (norias) which scooped up water and deposited it into irrigation channels. Sadly almost all have now vanished. Even so, the partly restored rows of houses along the riverside make a picture-postcard scene.

Sehzade Türbesi

This türbesi, hidden away in an alley to the west of the Sultan Bayazit Külliyesi in Amasya, was probably the tomb of one of Bayazit I's sons. Dating from 1513 it is also known as the Sehzade Osman Türbesi.

Sehzadeler Türbesi

The sons of three Ottoman sultans - Mehmet I, Bayazit I and Bayazit II - lie buried in the Sehzadeler Türbesi (1410), situated on the main road in Amasya opposite the Sehzade Türbesi.

Turumtay Türbesi

Erected in 1279, the mausoleum to the right of the entrance of the Gök Medrese is the tomb of the Koranic school's founder (embalmed).

Amasya Surroundings

Ezinepazari

On the left of the Tokat road about 25km/15.5mi southeast of Amasya stands a simple 13th century Seljuk han, now used as a byre. Built about 1240 by Mahperi Hatun, mother of the Seljuk Sultan Keyhusrev II, it was once the last caravanserai before Amasya.

Goynucek, Turkey

Some 44km/27mi southwest of Amasya the remains of a citadel stand guard over the district town of Göynücek and the gorge-like valley of the Çekerek Irmagi (the ancient Skylax). Two rock stairways are tunneled in the cliffs.

Gumushacikoy, Turkey

The Köprülü Mehmet Pasa Camii and the Mehmet Köprüsü (1666), about 62km/38mi northwest of Amasya, were the work of a single founder. The mosque, like the bridge, dates from the 17th century.

Kocagöl

This little mountain lake, also known as Borabay Gölü, is set in the picturesque eastern foothills of Ak Dag near the town of Tasova about 70km/43mi northeast of Amasya. It is a favorite spot with local people because of its lovely wooded surroundings.