Erzincan

Overview

It is said that it is "Surrounded by mountains with vineyards in the center" and it really is... With the Keſiſler to the north and the Munzurlar to the south Erzincan has a very special beauty and a different kind of splendour.

Erzincan, o beautiful Erzincan... Everywhere on your grounds there is sadness, separation and pain. Earthquakes appearing time and again have given rise to your evil fate.  The most important  North Anatolian Fault passes in the city. But Erzincan has always put up its own resistance to these hurts; each time having been able to recover itself into an even more beautiful form.

If you watch Erzincan from Esentepe to the south, across you will see a neat image criss-crossed with lovely lines. This is because it has always been planned. People from Erzincan will always say "There's no town with lanes and streets like ours." And they are right. All pleasing lines of geometry have been used in the design of Erzincan.

Eearthquakes have toppled and eradicated the buildings carrying fair marks from the depths of history and they also have struck down the hopes of the people of Erzincan. The only things left are the Urartian remains of Altıntepe to the east of Erzincan, Kemah Castle, the Mama Hatun tomb and caravan-stop, Gülabibey Mosque (Kemah), Orta Mosque (Kemaliye) and the Terzi Baba tomb.

The spiritual father of Erzincan, Terzi Baba, had sanctuaries where "those who did not return from their travels" could find silent but pensive comfort in his sacred lap....more

History