The Hidden Heritage of Ankara Citadel: ambiguous Future between Conservation and Transformation

Although Ankara gained international attention mainly after its declaration as Capital of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the city hosts many buildings and monuments from different historical eras. The remains of Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Empires discovered in the centre of the city, clearly bear witness to the rich and diverse heritage of the capital. However, this heritage, compared to the one present in other ancient Turkish cities, appears as less documented, studied and even not properly conserved. The citadel of Ankara (Ankara Kalesi, in Turkish) - which dominates the narrow streets of the old city located in the lowest part of the city - has withstood its long history very well and today houses a small neighbourhood made up of valuable Ottoman wooden buildings. The citadel is surrounded by two city walls (7th and 8th centuries), mostly built with the stones of the ancient city’s constructions, such as the main pagan temples and the Roman theatre. The Hisar gate, a massive tower with a clock, allows penetrating into the lower enclosing wall, which is 1500 m long and equipped with 14 bastions. The ruins of the castle on the top of a hill are connected with all the surroundings. The link to the Roman and Medieval periods is still tangible. The Roman theatre remains at the foot of the hill are still observable, while the stone columns and beams were used in the construction of the walls in a later era. The aim of this paper is to document and present the different historical eras of the castle, focusing on the remains of the Medieval era, especially with the recent announcement of a competition for the upgrading of the castle and its surroundings to be an attraction point for tourists, and an identity element for the city and its inhabitants. Analyzing the key features of the castle and the previous intervention on it will support the identification of the potentials of the site. Finally, recommendations about the most appropriate future work of architectural preservation and transformation will be elaborated on the basis of national and international conservation guidelines and charters.