Emirdağ, town in Turkey
Emirdağ is a small town in Afyonkarahisar Province in southwest Turkey, situated on gentle hills with narrow streets winding through the center. The townscape features simple houses with tiled roofs and open squares where residents gather daily.
The area was inhabited in ancient times as Amorium by the Byzantines and later conquered by the Abbasid Caliphate before Turkmen tribes migrated to the region following nearby battles. During the Greco-Turkish War in 1921, Greek forces briefly occupied the town before withdrawing.
The name Emirdağ refers to a Seljuk leader and a nearby battle that inspired Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to rename the town in 1932. Residents preserve traditions through folk songs and communal gatherings, where music and dancing bring the community together.
The town is easy to navigate on foot or by small local buses, with narrow roads and a slow pace that allows visitors to take their time and appreciate local customs. Tea gardens are scattered throughout and serve as common gathering spots for relaxing in the afternoons and evenings.
During the 20th century, many residents left to work abroad in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, with many later opening restaurants and shops and returning for summer visits. This migration history shaped the town, as numerous new apartments and businesses were built with savings brought back by returnees.
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