00:02I'm in Ankara, the tourism capital of the Turkish world of 2026.
00:07Here, history isn't just a thing of the past.
00:10Ancient kingdoms and modern life come together,
00:13making this city a vibrant crossroads of cultures.
00:21In the heart of Turchia, Ankara stands as a symbol of the country's modern identity.
00:27Long before it became the capital, it was already a crossroads of civilizations,
00:33each leaving a trace behind.
00:36To understand the city's deeper story,
00:39I headed to Ankara's Museum of Anatolian Civilizations,
00:42a place that traces thousands of years from Anatolia,
00:46the historical region Ankara sits in.
00:48Anadolu, from a geopolitical area,
00:52Mesopotamia,
00:53Mısır,
00:55Akdeniz,
00:56and the western islands of the Middle East.
01:02The trade and cultural relations between these communities,
01:06are constantly reaching each other from Anadolu.
01:15The museum shows artifacts from prehistoric times to today,
01:20pieces that show Turkey's connection to the wider Turkic world.
01:25Among them are objects linked to King Midas,
01:29the legendary Phrygian ruler.
01:31These include items from an ancient royal tomb,
01:34and even a skull that's over 3000 years old.
01:38Speaking of legendary rulers like King Midas,
01:42there's one place I have to see.
01:44Just about an hour from Ankara,
01:47Gordion takes us even further back into the past,
01:50and it offers a window into the layers of civilizations
01:53that have shaped the region over thousands of years.
01:57This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the capital of the ancient Phrygian kingdom
02:02in the 9th and 8th centuries BC.
02:06It served as a strategic hub linking Anatolia with the wider ancient world.
02:12At the heart of Gordion, the citadel shows the city's role
02:16as a center of power in the kingdom.
02:18This area has an unique unique feature.
02:21This is called the center of the war,
02:22which is the center of the city of the city.
02:22It's a center of the city for about 3000 years ago.
02:27It's a center of the city here.
02:27It's important to the center of the city.
02:29It's important to the center of the city's land,
02:29because it's the center of the city to north,
02:30and the south, and the south,
02:32the center of the city's land.
02:34and it's a center of the city.
02:39Across the landscape,
02:40dozens of ancient burial mounds,
02:42known as Tumuli,
02:43marked the Phrygian's legacy
02:45with more than 100 identified in the region.
02:49Among them, one stands out,
02:52a massive 53-meter high mound,
02:54believed to be the tomb of King Gordius,
02:57father of King Midas.
02:59So what's this?
03:01This is the chamber of the King Midas,
03:03King Gordius.
03:04It's the original one?
03:05Original one.
03:06So the body was inside this wooden structure?
03:09Yes, the body,
03:10and over than 300 objects were inside,
03:14as a gift for the second life for the kings.
03:17Gordius shows how powerful kingdoms
03:20once flourished in Central Anatolia,
03:22a story that archaeologists are still uncovering today.
03:29And just as Gordius was a center of ancient power,
03:33modern Ankara serves as Turkey's political heart.
03:37Today, the city's diplomatic role shows up in its food scene,
03:41known for high standards and refined hospitality.
03:44For over 20 years, Trillie restaurant has built its reputation
03:49on fresh ingredients and high quality seafood,
03:51sourced from Turkey's coast.
04:13Every day fresh fish travels from Turkey's coast
04:16right to tables here in Ankara,
04:18and today I'm the lucky one that gets to try it.
04:23Wow, this is a dream for me!
04:26I love it!
04:28In Ankara, where modern Turkey was founded,
04:31food reflects the city itself,
04:34elegant, balanced and refined.
04:37Today, Ankara is Turkey's political capital,
04:40but also a city with roots that reach deep into history,
04:44a place where ancient heritage,
04:46modern life and vibrant culture meet,
04:48and where the broader story of the Turkic world continues to unfold.
04:53Gordius!
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