Anıtkabit in ANKARA

VisitorA frontal view of the Anitkabir
On 10 November 2007, the 69th Anniversary of Atatürk's death, 546 620 inhabitants, of which 2 420 foreigners visited Anıtkabir were setting an all-time record of daily visitors. In the first 11 months of 2007 was Anıtkabir more than 11 million visitors, surpassing the total number of visitors for any previous year. In 2006, a total of 8.15 million people visited in 2005 and a total of 3.8 million people             Anıtkabir [2]. Architectural ObjectsThrough to the solemn floor.
The period of Turkish architecture 1940-1950 has been classified by architectural historians as the Second National Architecture Movement. This period is mainly by monumental, symmetrical, cut stone clad buildings, with great emphasis given to detailing and design influenced the construction industry. Anıtkabir contains the same features of that era, and is considered by many as the ultimate monument of the epoch. In addition, Anıtkabir Seljuq and Ottoman architectural and ornamentation features. For example, the eaves of the towers and the Hall of Honour all Seljuq-style sawtooth ornamentation. 
Construction
The site was chosen for Anıtkabir as Rasattepe (Observation Hill), which are seen at the time of the architectural competition for Anıtkabir, a central location in Ankara and was known by all parts of the city. Archeological excavations unearthed artifacts from the Phrygian culture, which have been carefully excavated and placed in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, also in Ankara.
The construction of Anıtkabir, which lasted nine years and spanned four stages, on 9th October 1944 with the groundbreaking ceremony began.
The first phase of construction, comprising the preparatory excavation and construction of the retaining wall of the Lions Road, started on 9 October 1944 and was completed 1945th The second stage of construction, comprising the mausoleum and the surrounding outbuildings the ceremonial ground, on 29 September 1945, and was launched on August 8 completed 1950th At this time, because of problems related to the Mausoleum of the masonry and concrete structure foundations, had some revisions are made. At the end of 1947, the excavation and insulation of the mausoleum foundation was completed and steel reinforcements for the new 11 m. (36.1 ft) high concrete foundation, capable of resisting any kind of settlement of the ground, had come close to completion. Entrance towers, most parts of the road, the orchard installations, plantation works were completed and significant parts of the irrigation system in this phase.The ceremonial ground.
The third phase of construction, the building of the roads in the mausoleum, Lions Road, and the ceremonial ground, the mausoleum of the upper-level stone pavement, the Grand Staircase, the placement of the grand tombstone, and the installation of electricity, sanitation and heating systems.
The fourth and final phase of construction was the laying of the memorial hall pavement, vaults under the side casings and honor hall perimeter stone profiles and fringe decorations, which was completed on 1 September 1953.

  Review of the original plans
Anıtkabir The project originally had a vaulted ceiling above the mausoleum of the perimeter columns supported. On 4 December 1951, the government asked the architects about the possibility of shortening the construction time by lowering the 28 m (92 ft) high ceiling of the Hall of Fame. After studying the topic presented by the architects that it was possible to cover the ceiling with a reinforced concrete slab instead of a stone vault. This change reduces the weight of the ceiling and also eliminated certain constructional risks. Surface reliefs and stonesWall relief.
All stones and marble were brought from various parts of Turkey to be a representation of the Turkish People's devotion to the founder of the Republic. Easy to process porous travertine cladding on exterior concrete surfaces and marble is used, is used for the inner surfaces of the Hall of Fame.
White travertine used for sculpture groups, lion figures and the mausoleum columns was brought from Kayseri and the travertine inside the towers was used and placed in Polatlı Malıköy. The red and black travertine for the installation ceremony of the land of the towers used were from Kayseri. Yellow travertine brought from Çankırı, was for the construction of the Victory Reliefs, the Hall of Honour's perimeter walls and columns of the ceremonial ground used. The red, black and cream-colored marble that was used on the floor of the Hall of Honour brought from Hatay, Adana and Çanakkale were, and was used for the internal walls, tiger-patterned marble from Afyon and green marble from Bilecik. The sarcophogus, a monolithic tombstone with a weight of 40 tons, was brought from Adana and the white marble for the sides of the sarcophagus were also from Afyon. 


Layout
There are four main parts Anıtkabir: the Street of the Lions, the Ceremonial Plaza, the Hall of Honor (location Ataturk's grave) and the Peace Park that surrounds the monument.[Edit] Street of Lions
The approach to the monument is a 262 m (860 ft) long pedestrian zone on both sides of twelve pairs of lions in a style that finds the Hittite is lined carved. The lions and Anatolia are shown seated at the same time represent both power and peace. A two-inch gap separating the cobblestones on the streets of the Lions, to ensure that visitors take the time to observe respectful behavior on their way to Ataturk's grave

.Ceremonial Plaza
The Ceremonial Plaza is located at the end of the Lions Road. The area is 129 m (423 ft) long and 84 m (276 ft) wide and was designed to accommodate 15,000 people. The floor is decorated with 373 rugs and kilims (Turkish rug) and is made of travertine in different colors. 

Hall of Honor
The Hall of Honor is the iconic symbol Anıtkabir and the location of Ataturk's grave. The structure is 41.65 × 57.35 m (137 ft × 188) in the planning and rises to a height of 17 m (56 ft), with the columns themselves measuring 14.4 m (47).
Ataturk's grave is located directly below the symbolic 40-ton sarcophagus in the ground floor of the Hall of Honor located and Atatürk's corpse is below that in a special Tomb room buried in the basement. The room has an octagonal plan in Seljuk and Ottoman architectural styles, and its pyramidal ceiling is decorated with golden mosaics. 

Peace Park
The park surrounding the monument is called a Peace Park in honor of the famous saying of Atatürk "Peace at home, peace in the world." It contains around 50,000 decorative trees, flowers and bushes in 104 varieties, shown from about 25 countries. 

 Towers, statues, museum
Within the site there are ten towers Anitkabir in a symmetrical arrangement set up. These symbolize the ideals that influenced the Turkish nation and the founding of the Republic of Turkey. The towers are in terms of planning and structure similar: they are rectangular, close to a square, with pyramidal roofs. Bronze arrowheads are placed on top of roofs, as in the traditional Turkish nomad tents. Inside the towers, inspired geometric decoration of the traditional Turkish carpet (kilim) patterns and motifs can be found on the towers' ceilings in fresco technique. There are also inscriptions of quotes by Atatürk that correspond to the theme that tower. 

Independence Tower
The relief inside the Independence Tower shows a young man is standing and holding a sword with two hands while an eagle perched on a rock beside him. The eagle stands for power and independence in mythology and in Seljuk art, and the young man with the sword represents the Turkish nation defending its independence. 

Women statue group
Before independence, Tower is a statue group of three women in Turkish costumes. The two women on the sides are holding a large wreath reaching to the ground. This wreath made of sheaves of grain, represents the abundant country. The woman on the left side with a cup in her outstretched hand for God's mercy for Atatürk, and the woman in the middle, covered her face with her hand, crying. This group represents the pride of the Turkish women, and their solemnity and determination, even in the deepest grief of losing Atatürk.[Edit] Freedom Tower
 
The relief inside the Freedom Tower shows a figure of an angel, the one piece of paper and a horse beside it. The angel figure symbolizes the holiness of freedom and the leaf symbolizes the Turkish Declaration of Freedom. The horse figure is a symbol of both freedom and independence. 

Men statue group
Before the Freedom Tower is a statue group of three men made. The man at the right side with a helmet and jacket is a Turkish soldier on the left with a book in the hand is a Turkish youth and intellectual, behind those two in the village of clothing, is a Turkish farmer. The serious faces of all three statues, the solemnity and willpower of the Turkish people. 

Mehmetcik Tower
The Mehmetcik Tower is located on the right side of the end of the Lion's Road. The relief on the facade shows a Mehmetcik (Turkish foot soldier), leaving home for the front. In this composition, a sad but proud mother holding her hand on the shoulder of her son sends him after the war for the country. There is a bookstore and gift shop in this tower for visitors to purchase articles about Atatürk and Anıtkabir interested. 

Victory Tower
The dates of the nation's most important three victories and Atatürk's words about these victories are inscribed on the walls of the tower. Inside the tower, the gun carriage which carried Atatürk's coffin from Dolmabahçe Palace to Sarayburnu will and the navy on 19 November 1938 handed over to the display.  

Peace Tower
A relief composition expressing Atatürk's principle of peace at home, peace in the world inscribed on the inside walls of the tower. to this relief, peasants and soldiers protecting them figure by the sword are depicted. This soldier symbolizes the Turkish Army, the strong and genuine keeper of the peace, enable the people to live their daily lives in peace secured by the Turkish army. 

23 April Tower

 Atatürk's Cadillac on the display
On the inner walls of the tower is a relief to the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 23 April 1920. The woman was standing in this relief is holding a paper in hand, with an inscription of the date. The key in the other hand symbolizes the opening of the meeting.
Atatürk's Cadillac car, which is 1936-1938, on display in this tower
.Tower of reforms
This tower is the extension of the museum and Atatürk's garments are exhibited here. The relief inside the tower wall shows a weak hand holding the torch about to delete symbolized the downfall of the Ottoman Empire. Another, strong hand raising a radiating torch to the sky symbolizes the reforms with which the new Turkish Republic and Atatürk raised the Turkish Nation to the level of contemporary civilization.[Edit]  

Misak-ı Milli (National Pact) Tower
The tower is located at the entrance of the museum (see below) and the discharge in this tower symbolizes the binding in unity. The relief shows four hands in joining hilt. This composition symbolizes the nation's common oath to save the Turkish fatherland. 

Anıtkabir Atatürk Museum
Anıtkabir Atatürk Museum opened on 21 June 1960. Ataturk's personal items, his wardrobe, and some of the gifts presented to him can be seen in this museum. Atatürk donated medals, decorations and some personal items to the museum by his adopted children are also exhibited in the museum.