Erzincan, the principal city of its province, lies 688 km. east of Ankara on a fertile plain. The highly decorated and hand-fashioned copper vessels and wares of Erzincan maintain a long tradition of the area's fame in metalwork. Bolkar, a ski slope 40km to the west, provides facilities for winter sports enthusiasts.

Many of the magnificent bronze objects in Ankara's Museum of Anatolian Civilizations were found earby at the Urartian site of Altintepe, east of Erzincan. At Tercan, the round 12th century maosoleum of Mama Hatun with its beautifully carved stone portal is worth a detour off the main road. Girvelik in the same southeasterly direction, provides ideal picnic spots where you can eat packet lunch and relax to the sound of water tumbling over rocks.

Erzurum 193 km east of Erzincan and the largest city in eastern Anatolia, sprawls on a high plateau at an altitude of 1950 meters. As you enter the city, the large Aziziye monument commemorating the Turkish-Russian war will catch your eye.

Although the collection in the rchaeological museum reveals much of the city's hitory and ancient origins. It is Erzurum's architecture which is in fact the city's best museum. The city walls and fortress are reminiscent of the period of Byzantine rule. And particularly important are the remaining Seljuk buildings brillant examples of a fascinating aesthetic. The Ulu Mosque, built in 1179, has an unusual form with seven wide naves. The Cifte Minareli Medrese, or theological collage, built by the Seljuk Sulta Alaeddin Keykubat in 1253, astonihhes with elaborate stone carvings on its portal and it majestic double minarets. Behind the Cifte Minareli Medrese stands the Uc Kumbetler, a group of three tombs, the most notable; that of Emir Saltuk. The 13th. century Hatuniye Turbesi or mausoleum, was built for Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat's daughter. The beautiful portal and richly tiled minaret of the 13 th century, Yakutiye Medrese reveals another facet of Seljuk architecture. You can also see Ottoman buildings in Erzurum; the great architect Sinan left his mark on the city with the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque.

While wandering around the city, notice the local black stone (Erzurum, Oltu Tasi) which is used i jewelry. The shops on the upper floor of the Tashan (Rustem Pasa Caravansarai) offer the best selection of items.