Turkish Media Highlights the Ruins of Ani

The medieval Armenian capital of Ani, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, has once again caught the attention of the Turkish media. This is reported by ermenihaber.

In an article published on the news site “Son Dakika,” Ani is presented as the “Cradle of Civilizations,” the “City of Peace,” the “City of the Churches of the Thousand,” and the “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 explicitly acknowledges Ani's Armenian heritage. It states, “Ani, located on the border between Turkey and Armenia, served as the capital of Armenian rulers from 961 to 1045.” In 2012, Ani was included in UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage status, and in 2016, it was officially inscribed on the World Heritage list.

The article also features comments from Turkish visitors. A tourist arriving from Ankara says, “I came from Ankara, it’s my first time here, it's a wonderful place, I recommend everyone to come.”

According to the Turkish site, Ani, situated on the western bank of the Akhuryan River (Turkish: Arpaçay), which separates Armenia and Turkey, was previously a heavily restricted military zone, and no one had the opportunity to visit it. Since the lifting of restrictions, Ani has captured global attention and has become a major reason for tourism in Kars.