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NIGDE
Nigde, the Nahita of Hittite times, lies in a valley
flanked by volcanic peaks and commands the ancient
trade route from Anatolia to the Mediterranean.
Nigde's castle owes its present form o the Seljuks,
and the elegant Alaeddin Mosque dates from the same
period. From the 14th century era of Mongol rule are
the Sungur Bey Mosque and the Hudavendi Hatun
Mausoleum, an excellent example of the Anatolian tomb
tower. The 15th century Ak Medrese now houses the
Archaeological Museum. Ten kilometers out of town is
Eskigumus, a Byzantine monastery and church with
massive columns and frescoes. These frescoes, which
date from the 10th and the 11th centuries, are among
the best preserved in the region. Bor, south of Nigde,
was once a Hittite settlement. The town's historical
buildings include the Seljuk Alaeddin Mosque and the
Ottoman bedestan. Farther on, in the same direction,
Kemerhisar s the site of the important Roman city of
Tyana. A few more kilometers brings you to some
Hittite ruins and a Roman aqueduct. Most of the
historical buildings in Aksaray, west of Nigde and
south of Cappadocia, such as the Ulu Mosque, date from
the 14th century. The Kizil Minaret is noted for its
attractive decorative brickwork. Two of the most
famous caravansaries from the Seljuk period remain in
the environs. Just 40 km west of the city is the well
preserved Sultanhan Caravansary built by the Seljuk
Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat, and 15 km towards Nevsehir
is the Agzikarahan Caravansary.
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