ISTANBUL
By Nilay Kar
The Mini Turkey Park (Miniaturk), Istanbul's first miniature park, attracts the attention of thousands of tourists from across the world by displaying all periods and locations of Anatolia and Istanbul simultaneously in one place.
"There are 126 models being exhibited here right now," Miniaturk Operations Manager Resul Erkan told Anadolu Agency (AA), "When the park first opened, this number was 80."
Models vary from the Hagia Sophia to Selimiye Mosque, Rumeli Fortress to Galata Tower, Safranbolu Houses to Sumela Monastery, and from Qubbat As-Sakhrah in Jerusalem to the ruins of Mount Nemrut.
Of the models, 59 are from Istanbul, 55 from Anatolia and 12 from once Ottoman territories now located outside Turkey. There is also additional space reserved for potential models, to be selected by a council
Rock Houses of Mardin is the most popular model at the park, according Erkan. Mardinin southeast Turkey has often been considered an open air museum due to its historical architecture, with most buildings made of beige-colored limestone rock.
"The Bosphorous Bridge [in Istanbul] also draws great interest. Ishak Pasha Palace [in eastern Agri city] and Canakkale Monument [in west Turkey] are other models which attract visitors' attention," he added.
Approximately 800,000 people visit Miniaturk annually.
"Around 200,000 of them are from abroad. This number is increasing every year," Erkan stated in addressing its popularity among mainly Arab, Russian and German tourists.
The park includes two other museums, the Panoramic Victory Museum which is an artistic interpretation of the War of National Independence, and the other the Istanbul Crystal Museum which houses three-dimensional renditions of 16 precious Istanbul historic monuments.
Miniaturk - the world's largest miniature park - also has other features, such as a 400-seat amphitheater, gift shop, playground, life-size chess board and labyrinth.
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