Tokat

Tokat

Tokat is the capital city of Tokat Province of Turkey, at the mid Black Sea region of Anatolia. According to the 2009 census, the city of Tokat has a population of 129,879.

Tokat was established in the Hittite era. During the time of king Mithradates VI of Pontus, it was one of his many strongholds in Asia Minor. After the Battle of Manzikert the town, like most of Asia Minor, came under the control of the Seljuq Turks. However, after the death of Sultan Suleiman ibn Kutulmish in 1086, the Emir Danishmend Gazi took control of the area, operating from his power base in the town of Sivas. It would be many decades before the Seljuks took control of that region, in the reign of Kilic Arslan II. After the Battle of Köse Dağ, Seljuk hold over the region was lost, and local Emirs such as the Eretna took power until the rise of the Ottomans.

The most important landmark is the Ottoman Citadel, with 28 towers, founded on a rocky hill overlooking the town. Other sights include the Garipler Mosque dating to the 12th century and the Ali Paşa Mosque (16th century) and the Gök Medrese (Pervane Bey Darussifasi), which was constructed in 1270. It was founded as a school of theology, and is now converted into a museum, housing archaeological finds from the area.

The Latifoglu Konak, a late 18th-century Ottoman residence, is an example Baroque architecture. The two-story building has been restored and converted into a small museum. Much of the furniture in the kitchen, study, visitors’ rooms with bath and toilet, bedroom, master’s room and harem is original. The city is also home to Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi, founded in 1992 and named after the local hero, Gazi Osman Paşa.

You can have a very good Tokat kebaps. Ask there where you can eat a good kebap in the restaurant.