Anıtkabir, Mausoleum complex in Çankaya district, Ankara, Turkey
Anıtkabir is a mausoleum and museum in the Çankaya district of Ankara, Turkey, spreading across a large terraced complex on Rasattepe hill. The construction uses pale travertine for exterior walls and marble for interior spaces, with ten towers surrounding the rectangular courtyards.
Construction began in 1944 after an international architectural competition won by Emin Onat and Orhan Arda. Work took nine years to complete, finishing in 1953 when the remains of Atatürk were transferred here from their temporary location at the Ethnography Museum.
The name Anıtkabir means "memorial tomb" in Turkish, reflecting its purpose as a resting place for the founder of modern Turkey. Visitors approach the main plaza through rows of columns that frame the central building, where ceremonies mark national holidays.
The complex opens daily and can be entered through several gates, with the main entrance on the southern side. Pathways through the grounds are paved and lead through open courtyards that offer little shade during hot weather.
The Lions Road guides visitors through a ceremonial path lined with 24 marble sculptures representing the Oğuz tribes. Below the main hall lies a museum displaying personal belongings and gifts presented to the founder from different countries.
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