Kayseri is a major city in Central Anatolia renowned throughout Turkey for its exceptional cuisine — particularly pastırma (cured beef), sucuk (spiced sausage), and the city's famous mantı dumplings. Dominated by the snow-capped cone of Mount Erciyes (3,917 m), one of Turkey's best ski resorts, Kayseri blends Seljuk and Ottoman architectural heritage with a dynamic modern economy. The city served as the ancient capital of Cappadocia under the name Caesarea and preserves a wealth of medieval monuments including the Kayseri Citadel, the Hunat Hatun Complex, and the Döner Kümbet mausoleum.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Kayseri.
-
1
Kaneš (Kültepe) flourishes as Assyrian trading colony; oldest written texts in Anatolia produced
-
2
Alexander the Great passes through the region; subsequent Hellenistic Cappadocian Kingdom
-
3
City renamed Mazaca, then Eusebeia, capital of Cappadocian Kingdom
-
4
Roman Emperor Tiberius incorporates Cappadocia; city renamed Caesarea Mazaca
-
5
St. Basil the Great (Basil of Caesarea) born here; makes Caesarea a major early Christian centre
-
6
Danishmendid Turks capture Caesarea; city becomes Kayseri
-
7
Seljuk Sultanate of Rum period — golden age of architecture; Citadel, Hunat Hatun, Döner Kümbet built
-
8
Mongol invasion at Battle of Köse Dağ; Kayseri passes to Ilkhanid control
-
9
Ottoman Sultan Selim I incorporates Kayseri; city develops as provincial capital
-
10
Turkish War of Independence; Kayseri becomes part of Republic of Turkey
Historical sites
Places where Kayseri's past comes alive.
Historic
Kültepe
Historic
Kayseri Citadel
Historic
Hunat Hatun Complex
Historic
Döner Kümbet
Historic