Hattusha Hittite Capital Tour from Cappadocia

The recorded history of Cappadocia traces its origins to the Hittites. If you find the information you’ve encountered about the Hittites in Cappadocia intriguing and wish to delve deeper into Hittite history, you may consider embarking on a day trip to the Hittite capital, Hattusha. This private full-day tour includes transportation to Boğazkale in Çorum, where you’ll explore the historical sites associated with Hattusha. Here, you can gain insights into its history and the construction of this ancient city, which was orchestrated by the Hittite emperors. This tour offers a fascinating opportunity to connect with the rich historical tapestry of the Hittites in their capital city.

Hattusha, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, stands as a compelling motivation for visiting Çorum. With reconstructed walls, tunnels, ramparts, and ancient gateways, the Hittite capital is indisputably the most remarkable Hittite site uncovered thus far.

Hattusha served as the Hittite capital for approximately 500 years, from the 17th century BC until the empire’s eventual collapse around 1250 BC. During this period, the city accumulated substantial wealth and undertook the construction of massive walls, temples, storehouses, palaces, and libraries. Exploring the vast ruins of Hattusha provides a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the grandeur and history of this ancient civilization.

Indeed, while exploring Çorum and Hattusha, you can also savor the delights of Black Sea cuisine and indulge in local specialties. Some of the mouthwatering options to consider include İskilip dolma (featuring caramelized onion, rice, and lamb), hingel mantı (a regional variation of Turkish dumplings), and the renowned chickpeas from the area. Sampling these culinary treats adds an extra layer of enjoyment to your visit, allowing you to experience the flavors of the region’s rich culinary traditions.

Hattusha Hittite Capital Tour from Cappadocia

ITINERARY

Starting your day with a hotel pickup at 08:30, you’ll embark on a fascinating journey that spans approximately 2.5 hours to reach the Hattusa Archaeological Site. This tour is a unique opportunity to explore three distinct attractions: the ancient city of Hattusha, the Hittite holy site of Yazılıkaya, and the archaeology museum, which showcases a wealth of artifacts discovered in the region. This excursion promises to be an enriching and immersive experience into the history and culture of the Hittites.

The reconstructed walls of Hattusha serve both as a visual representation of the ancient city’s scale and appearance and as an experimental reconstruction that helps archaeologists gain insight into the construction and maintenance methods employed by the Hittites. This unique feature allows visitors to appreciate the architectural achievements and historical significance of the Hittite civilization while providing valuable archaeological insights.

The Great Temple in Hattusha, constructed on top of an earlier settlement, features massive stone blocks and a paved area with exceptionally large, tightly fitted stones, some of the largest found in the city’s ruins. Additionally, visitors can observe the well-known polished green stone, the exact purpose of which remains a mystery, adding to the enigmatic history of Hattusha.

Lion Gate: The first of the decorated gates that you’ll come across as you follow the road upwards is the Lion Gate. This gateway was built with two large lion statues set on either side of the portal, and as symbols of strength, they are believed to have been set to guard the entrance to the city.

Yerkapı and The Sphinx Gate: Yerkapı, meaning ‘earth or ground gate,’ gets its name from the 70-meter-long tunnel that runs beneath a massive, man-made hill, at the highest point in the city. At the top of the rampart is the Sphinx Gate, which is an unusual gate that was built with four sphinxes guarding the two sets of doors that were set in a tower.

The King’s Gate: Beyond the rampart of Yerkapı, you’ll come across a gate known as the king’s gate, with a figure carved in high relief on the left side.

The Great Castle, also referred to as Büyükkale, is a high and easily defendable acropolis within the city. The royal family and the king’s small army of personal guards lived in this fortified complex.

Yazılıkaya: The site consisted of three parts; two natural chambers and a set of small buildings cutting off the chambers from the outside world. Both chambers are actually naturally formed gullies, with the surrounding rocks reaching up to 10 meters high. The sheer faces of the rock have been carved with long processions of Hittite deities and rulers totaling sixty-six individual figures.

Boğazkale Museum: Within the modern town of Boğazkale, there is a small museum displaying a fine collection of artifacts from the digs at Hattusha. While the museum is primarily focused on the Hittite period, it does an excellent job at connecting the city of Hattusha to the older civilizations and what came after the Hittites disappeared.

After the visits, return to Cappadocia. You will be dropped off at the hotel.