Capital of Armenian Rulers: Turkish Media Reports on the Ruins of Ani

The medieval Armenian city of Ani, included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, has once again captured the attention of Turkish media. This is reported by ermenihaber.

In an article published on the news site 'Son Dakika', Ani is presented as a "Cradle of Civilizations", "City of Peace", "City of a Thousand Churches", and "City of Forty Gates". It is noted that Ani attracts the interest of both local and foreign tourists with its architectural beauty.

Notably, the article openly discusses Ani's Armenian heritage, stating: "Located on the border between Turkey and Armenia, Ani served as the capital of Armenian rulers from 961 to 1045." In 2012, Ani was included in UNESCO's provisional list of World Heritage sites, and in 2016, it was incorporated into the World Heritage List.

The article also features comments from Turkish visitors. A tourist from Ankara says: "I came from Ankara, it's my first time here, it’s a wonderful place, I recommend everyone to visit." According to the Turkish website's publication, Ani, located on the western bank of the Akhuryan River (Turkish: Arpaçay), which divides the Armenia-Turkey border, was previously a strictly restricted military zone, and no one had the opportunity to visit the area. After the lifting of the ban, Ani has drawn global attention, becoming a major reason for tourist visits to Kars.