Walls of Ani
Ani is a ruined medieval Armenian city-site situated in the Turkish province of Kars near the border with Armenia. Between 961 and 1045, it was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches," Ani stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world. At its height, Ani's population probably reached 100,000. Long ago renowned for its splendor and magnificence, Ani was abandoned and largely forgotten in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Ani is a widely-recognized cultural, religious, and national heritage symbol for Armenians.