There are many Ankara Houses from various old periods inside the Citadel. Ankara Houses situated in Kaleiçi Mahallesi were built and planned considering their narrow locations which are steep and surrounded with walls... Those houses known as traditional Ankara Houses had hosted the wealthiest and the richest families for many years...

            Ankara Citadel, symbolizing Ankara, is situated on a hill which is surrounding Ankara like a heart. Narrow valley of Bent Deresi. Because of its steep and secure location, it had always enabled a protective structure. In Romans' Period, it hadn't satisfied the needs and the city was expanded.

            It's unsurely thought that The Citadel was built by Hittites. Ankara Citadel, redecorated many times in Romans, Byzantine and Seljuk Period, has two parts inside and outside the Citadel. There are not so much rest from Outer Citadel having 20 towers before. The Outer Citadel has two doors and the towers are rectangular.

            The Inner Citadel is made of Ankara Stone and mixed material. The Inner Citadel has pentagon shaped towers. There are many old Ankara Houses dated from different periods. Ankara Houses situated in Kaleiçi Mahallesi were built and planned considering their narrow locations which are steep and surrounded with walls. They were all constructed from wooden materials, adobe and brick having two or three floors.

            Ground floors were made from thick wall, small windows for winter season. But upper floors were made from thin walls with airy windows for summer season. Summer rooms called “Pinnacle” and verges are the typical characteristic construction of Ankara Houses.

            Those houses known as traditional Ankara Houses had hosted the wealthiest and the richest families for many years. Now, Kaleiçi District has become a location lets in immigrants whose economic conditions are bad in comparison to wealthy and rich hold times.

            On the other hand; some shops like carpet, textile, ornament and jewelry stores are trying to survive by restoring old mansions and turning them into restaurants. They are drawing attention with delicious foods, coffee and tea houses of Ankara cookery. Handmade handicrafts are waiting for their faithful customers.

            Each corner has an historical value. You had better see the first industry museum in Ankara called Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum. You reach Ankara Citadel from the region called At Pazarı which has steep and sinuous roads. Once you see some gift shops, you understand that the place is touristic. They are all like abandoned to the cruelty of time except some part that is art, history and environment friendly.

            Once you enter to the Citadel, poor but cheerful children welcomes you. “You want me to tell about The Citadel?” they ask with their old and dirty clothes and torn shoes. They show the rosaries while telling about the Citadel those 3 different language speaker children. It's hard not to think to buy those rosaries just to make those children happy.

            Without them, you may find your destination only with a navigation. It's hard to walk in quite narrow streets while you are paying attention to passing cars. An old lady taking a rest on the street says to you that it's a dead end street while you are walking in a cold sweat. Once you enter to another street, you feel that you are stuck in those houses while you are walking away from bastions.

            When you reach bastions, you encounter with a wonderful view. While you are watching Ankara from 1 km high and with a round angle; your own stories are mixed with historical stories. While you are afraid of walking on bastions without fence, you have the chance of watching Ankara with all its beauty. You imagine the livings inside the houses seen from the Citadel while you are facing with the competition of new and old. Lost lives, births, happiness, sadness, wealthiness, poorness, longings and meetings...

            They are thought as old and sophisticated due to being witness of those life experiences. Although you get sad for ruined Ankara Houses left to their fate, poor children while you are stepping down the Citadel out of breath, you enjoy this trip.