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...::: MALATYA CITY :::... Malatya is located in southeastern Turkey, located at the foot of the Anti-Taurus Mountains. It lies at an altitude of 964 meters above the sea level and has hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. However, the constructions of several dams have made the climate milder. This region of Malatya is best known for its apricot orchards. About 50 % of fresh apricot production and 95 % of dried apricot production in Turkey, the world's leading apricot producer, is provided from Malatya and the name of the fruit is synonymous with the city. After having been brought from its homeland in Turkestan in Central Asia and Western China, it reached its most delicious and sophisticated form in the fertile soil of Malatya, nourished from the alluvial soil of tributaries of the Euphrates. Overall, about 10-15 % of the worldwide crop of fresh apricots, and about 65-80 % of the worldwide production of dried apricots belong to Malatya. Malatya apricots are often sun-dried by family-run orchards following traditional methods, and collected and shipped throughout the world. By its relative advance in industrial growth, Malatya is also a pole of attraction for its surrounding regions, in commercial as well as inward immigration terms. The city is at a key junction in Turkey's road and rail network. By rail, it also serves as the junction for Aleppo through Syria - Samsun line. The bus terminal is located 5 kilometers west of the city center and there are regular intercity services to and from Ankara, Istanbul and Gaziantep. The railway station lies at a distance of 3 kilometers west of the city center and daily express trains run to Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Istanbul and Ankara. Both these stations are easily reached by taxis and dolmuş services. Malatya's airport, Erhaç Airport, is 26 kilometers west of the city center and there are daily flights from Istanbul Ankara and Izmir. Malatya is also the home of İnönü University. History Aslantepe, at a distance of 7 kms, was once the capital of a Hittite state and dates back to the first millenium BC. It is the city carrying the old Hittite traditions and styles, and inside the city walls a palace has been found, with statues and reliefs, which are examples of the artistic works of that age. Battalgazi, 9 kms from Malatya, is an ancient city of the Byzantine period, known as "Melitene" in those times. The city walls of this medieval center were constructed by the Byzantines. Inside the town, there is the Ulu Mosque of 1247 which was built by the Seljuks, reflecting their distinct architectural style. » Cuisine Meatballs (köfte) have a special place in the cuisine as do apricots, which are used in many meals from kebabs (meat broiled or roasted in small pieces) to desserts. There are over seventy kinds of köfte (meatballs) usually made with wheat and other ingredients mixed in. "Kagit Kebabi" is one of the most important local specialities. "Kagit Kebabi" is a dish made of lamb and vegetables broiled in a wrapper, which is usually oily paper. » Festivals Malatya Fair and Apricot Festivities has been held since 1978, every year in July, to promote Malatya and apricots and to convene the producers to meet one another. During the festivities, various sports activities, concerts and apricot contests are organized. » Sports Malatya's football team is Malatyaspor, currently competing in TFF Birinci Lig. Malatyaspor's stadium is Malatya İnönü Stadium. » Notable natives Malatya prides itself for having raised two out of the ten Presidents of Turkey to date. These were; İsmet İnönü - 2nd President of Turkey, Prime Minister in ten governments and commander during the Turkish War of Independence, and, Turgut Özal - 8th President of Turkey, Prime Minister between 1983-1989 As such, more than half of the eight decades of Republican Turkey was led or strongly influenced by sons of Malatya, as Presidents, Prime Ministers, key ministers or opposition leaders. Other notable natives of Malatya, in chronological order, are; » Battal Gazi - 8th century Muslim warrior and a legendary figure in Turkish folk literature. » Osman Hulusi Ateş Efendi - poet and Sufi master » Ahmet Kayhan Dede - Sufi master » Emine Sevgi Özdamar - Turkish-German actress and author » Çetin Alp - singer and performer of Turkey's entry in the European Song Contest 1983 » Hrant Dink - assassinated journalist of Armenian origin » Ahmet Kaya - singer » Kemal Sunal - famous actor » Yonca Evcimik - Turkish pop singer » Ilyas Salman - actress » Kenan Isik - actress and poet » Zerrin Özer - singer » Oktay Kaynarca - actress » Belkis Akkale - singer » Hamit Altıntop - football player » Halil Altıntop - football player » Recai Kutan - leader of Felicity Party » Bülent Korkmaz - current coach of Kayseri Erciyesspor » Mehmet Güven - football player » Zafer Şakar - football player |