Ruins of Ani

ni is a ruined medieval Armenian city-site situated in the Turkish province of Kars near the border with Armenia. Between 961 and 1045, it was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches," Ani stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world. At its height, Ani's population probably reached 100,000. Long ago renowned for its splendor and magnificence, Ani was abandoned and largely forgotten in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Ani is a widely-recognized cultural, religious, and national heritage symbol for Armenians.
 ruinsplace with historical importancearchaeological siteinteresting placeUNESCO World Heritage Site
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ani
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:  40°30'19"N 43°34'20"E

Comments

  • www.virtualani.org for details and pictures
  • Currently Turkish government is trying to hide the Armenian heritage in Ani. No single Armenian word is written on the introductory signboard at the enterance of the city and the biggest Armenian Kingdoms are shown as Turkish kingdoms .This is a part of the cultural genocide policy of the Turkish government and the denial of Armenian Genocide. The World Monuments Fund placed Ani on its 1996, 1998, and 2000 Watch Lists of 100 Most Endangered Sites. In an October 2010 report titled Saving Our Vanishing Heritage, Global Heritage Fund identified Ani as one of 12 worldwide sites most "On the Verge" of irreparable loss and destruction, citing insufficient management and looting as primary causes.
  • The historical territory of Armenia