ani

Ani is a ruined medieval Armenian city now situated in Turkey’s province of Kars, next to the closed border with Armenia.

Forty-two kilometers east of Kars province on the ancient Silk Road, the medieval city of Ani (Ocakli) lies mostly in ruins. Impressive fortified walls still encircle the ruins of numerous churches, mosques and caravanserais.

The city’s many remaining churches are extraordinarily beautiful, even in their ruined state. The minaret newer than many of the churches but still nearly a thousand years old, still stands as a testament to the city’s long history and diverse cultural influences.