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The southeastern city
of Kahramanmaras is known for its
long name, its agriculture, and its
ice cream.
For most of the city's long history
it was known simply as Marash (mah-RAHSH,
alt. 568 meters/1864 feet, pop. 250,000).
During the Turkish War of Independence it
fiercely resisted the French occupying
armies. In recognition of its citizens'
bravery and tenacity, in 1973 it
was renamed Kahramanmarash (KAH-rah-mahn-mah-RAHSH,
Heroic Marash).
Its earliest known name was Marqasi in Hittite times.
In fact, armies have regularly flattened
the town so despite its great age only
a few old buildings remain.
Its people
raise a lot of cotton,
peppers and potatoes, weave cotton
textiles, and beat copper
into interesting shapes.
If you stop here for a meal or a bed,
check out the museum,
the Great Mosque (Ulu,
or Acemli, Camii) built in 1502, the
14th-century Tas Medrese and Tas
Han, and the often-rebuilt citadel.
Whatever you do, eat ice cream. Maras
dövme dondurmasi (Marash
beaten ice cream) is famous
throughout Turkey. Because of the
hot climate, it's made with a lot
of gum arabic "binder" to
keep it from melting. This gives
it so
much "body" that
sellers used to hang it
on hooks outside their shops
(or so they say....).
Today, vendors in multi-colored traditional
Marash costume can be seen on street
corners in tourist areas. They scoop
ice cream from a cooler with long-handled
paddles, plop it in a cone,
and serve it with a flourish.
Distances & Travel Times
Adana: 187
km (116 miles) SW, 3 hours
Adiyaman: 164
km (102 miles) E, 3 hours
Ankara: 603
km (375 miles) NW, 9 hours
Antakya: 176
km (109 miles) S, 4 hours
Gaziantep: 80
km (50 miles) SE, 1.25 hours
Istanbul: 1056km
(656 miles) NW, 16 hours
Kayseri: 284
km (176 miles) NW, 5 hours
Osmaniye: 113 km (70 miles)
SW, 2 hours
Sanliurfa: 218
km (136 miles) SE, 3.25 hours
Southeastern
Turkey
Turkey
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