GAINED TOURISM OF CARAVANSERAI IN CAPPADOCIA THE CONTEXT OF THE SILK ROAD PROJECT

Abstract

The Silk Road, which started in China and ended in Europe after crossing Asia and visiting Anatolia and the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages, was the most important trade route of the time. It was named from "silk" which was one of the most important commodities. The Silk Road was not only a trade route, it also played a role by transporting and uniting of cultures, races and religions that existed along the road. Although it has lost its significance with the building of alternative routes, it has come to nowadays again. Today, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism carries out a number of projects in order to change tourist preferences, to diversify and spread tourism all year, to be refunctioned in all cities of Turkey. One of these projects is the titled "The Silk Road Inn and Caravansaries". In this Project, it is aimed to revive the historical Silk Road and to protect the hans and caravansaries which are the most important elements of our cultural heritage and are defeated by the times. In this context, in the preliminary study11 caravansaries were located on the tour route. Four of these caravanserais are located in the Cappadocia Region. Cappadocia Region includes Aksaray, Nevsehir, Kırsehir, Kayseri and Nigde provinces. Sultan Han, Alay Han and Ağzıkara Han are located in Aksaray and Sarı Han is located in Nevsehir in the project. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the historical Silk Road, situation of these four caravanserai located in the Cappadocia Region and to make suggestions for caravanserai to provide tourism