The Atakule Observation Tower, located in the very centre of Ankara, is one of the most modern and more than impressive structures of this city. This tower is not to be missed when walking around the Turkish capital, and in clear weather it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, as it reaches a height of 125 metres.
The design of this original structure was developed by the famous Turkish architect Reçib Iuluk. The construction of the tower lasted for four years, from 1986 to 1989. It is located in the Cankaya neighbourhood. In translation from Turkish "Ata" means grandfather and "kule" means tower. For those who want a bird's-eye view of the surrounding area, it's a must climb up to the open terrace at the top of the tower. From the top of Atakule you can see the whole city in its full scale, and if you take a good pair of binoculars, you can even to the smallest detail.
Atakule rises 118.2 metres above sea level. At a height of 115.6 metres there is a multi-purpose cocktail lounge with an area of 600 sq m, and there are also it is possible to install audio and hearing equipment (in case of weddings, seminars, conferences, etc.). At the base of the Atakule Tower, there are several restaurants with outdoor areas. One of the newer ones is the Seville restaurant, located at a height of 111.8 metres. This is Spain in the middle of the Turkish capital, and at such a high altitude. It's famous for its exquisite cuisine. The platform on which the restaurant is located, rotates around the axis of the tower, making exactly one complete revolution per hour, thus giving its diners can enjoy a full panoramic view of the city during their meal. Another restaurant is called "The Dome", which actually speaks for itself, as it is located right at the very dome of the of the observation tower. Just below it, at a height of 99.8 metres, there are numerous cafes, the spacious shopping centre "Tansash" and a cosy modern cinema.
The tower contains many shops, and you can also visit the outdoor terrace located at the top of the tower at a height of 103.8 metres. From this platform, tourists can enjoy beautiful bird's eye views of Ankara from the top of the tower.
