Amasya

Amasya, the Amaseia of antiquity, is the capital of the administrative district of Amasya Province in northern Turkey. The population of the province is 334,786 and the population of the city is 99 905. The mayor is Cafer Özdemir (AKP).

Amasya stands in the mountains above the Black Sea coast, in a narrow valley along the banks of the Yeşilırmak River. Although near the Black Sea, this area is high above the coast and has an inland climate, well-suited to growing apples, for which the province of Amasya is famed. As for natural beauty, Amasya is set apart from the rest of Anatolia in its tight mountain valley and hides its own secret beauty. Amasya is one of the provinces in North - Central Anatolia Turkey which is distinct both with its natural setup and historical values it holds. It was the homeland of the famous geographer Strabo. Located in a narrow cleft of the Yesilirmak (Iris) river, it has a past of 7500 years during which many civilizations left priceless remains of their times.

In antiquity, Amaseia (Αμάσεια) was a fortified city high on the cliffs above the river. It has a long history as provincial capital, a wealthy city producing kings and princes, artists, scientists, poets and thinkers, from the kings of Pontus, through Strabo the geographer, to many generations of the Ottoman imperial dynasty, and up to being the location of an important moment in the life of Ataturk. With its Ottoman period wooden houses and the tombs of the Pontus kings carved into the cliffs overhead, Amasya is attractive to visitors.

In recent years, investments in tourism started to increase and provided that city started to attract more foreign and domestic tourists. Restoration of the traditional Ottoman houses near the Yeşilirmak and other main historical buildings caused to that and these traditional Yalıboyu houses started to use as cafe, bar, restaurant, pub, hotel etc. This is the another point of how city attracted tourists. Ottoman wooden houses and on the background of these houses, you can see King Rock Tombs from Pontus Greeks. This view feels like an open-air museum. In 2011, half million foreign and domestic tourist visited that city. It indicated us tourism is developing as an industry, until June 2012, visitors of the city was nearly 350.000. In related with that many hotels, especially butique hotels are opening to service. Mostly the traditional Ottoman wooden houses was restored and now they are using as butique hotels, cafes, bars.