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.
00:22In 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,
00:45the historical region Ankara sits in.
00:48Anadolu, the geopolitical area,
00:52Mesopotamia,
00:53Mısır,
00:55Akdeniz
00:55and the western islands of the West are at the same time.
01:00These are trade and cultural relations between these communities.
01:06They came to come from each other to 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, the legendary Phrygian ruler.
01:31These include items from an ancient royal tomb and even a skull that's over 3000 years old.
01:38Speaking of legendary rulers like King Midas, there's one place I have to see.
01:44Just about an hour from Ankara, Gordion takes us even further back into the past
01:50and it offers a window into the layers of civilizations that have shaped the region over thousands of years.
01:57This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the capital of the ancient Phrygian kingdom in the 9th and 8th centuries
02:05BC.
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 as the center of power in the kingdom.
02:38Across the landscape, dozens of ancient burial mounts, known as Tumuli, mark the Phrygian's legacy
02:45with more than a hundred identified in the region.
02:49Among them, one stands out, a massive 53-meter high mound, believed to be the tomb of King Gordius, father
02:57of King Midas.
02:59So what's this?
03:01This is the chamber of King Midas, King Gordius.
03:04It's the original one?
03:05Original one.
03:06So the body was inside this wooden structure?
03:09Yes, the body and over than 300 objects were inside as a gift for the second life for the kings.
03:17Gordius shows how powerful kingdoms once flourished in Central Anatolia, a story that archaeologists are still uncovering today.
03:29And just as Gordius was a center of ancient power, modern Ankara serves as Turkey's political heart.
03:36Today, the city's diplomatic role shows up in its food scene, known for high standards and refined hospitality.
03:45For over 20 years, Trilje Restaurant has built its reputation on fresh ingredients and high-quality seafood sourced from Turkey's
03:53coast.
04:13Every day fresh fish travels from Turkey's coast right to tables here in Ankara and today I'm the lucky one
04:20that gets to try it.
04:23Wow, this is a dream for me! I love it!
04:28In Ankara, where modern Turkey was founded, food reflects the city itself, elegant, balanced and refined.
04:37Today, Ankara is Turkey's political capital, but also a city with roots that reach deep into history.
04:44A place where ancient heritage, modern life and vibrant culture meet and where the broader story of the Turkic world
04:51continues to unfold.
04:53Gordius!
04:53Gordius!
04:55What else is it?
04:57What else is it?
04:59Ne durable it, it's perfect.
