Turkey is home to Ani, the former medieval capital of Armenia.
Ani is an archaeological site in Turkey’s Kars Province, close to the modern border with Armenia. It became the capital of the medieval Bagratid Armenian kingdom in the 10th century and grew into a major commercial and cultural center on routes connecting Anatolia and the Caucasus.
The city was renowned for its churches, palaces, fortifications, and dense urban life. Its population and political importance declined after earthquakes, changing trade routes, and successive invasions. Ani was captured by the Seljuk Turks in 1064 and later affected by Mongol rule and regional conflicts.
Because the modern country of Armenia lies across the border, Ani is sometimes incorrectly described as being in Armenia. The ruins are in present-day Turkey and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.