Erzincan is a city in Eastern Anatolia. It's modern, on a grid pattern, as its predecessor was destroyed by an earthquake in 1939. In 2022 its population was 150,714.
The city stands at 1185 m altitude and has a continental climate, with a baking sun in summer and thick snow in winter. It's in a well-watered valley with agriculture and historic trade routes. In antiquity this region was Acilisene, part of Armenia, on the cusp between Persian and Byzantine control. Its heyday was in the 11th century, but it dwindled under Seljuk rule, and was wrecked by war and earthquake in the 13th century. It came under Ottoman control from the early 16th century. For the next 400 years the Ottomans were a mighty force across south Europe and the Mediterranean, and Erzincan was a backwater, but that Empire was collapsing by the onset of the First World War in 1914.
Dolmuşes ply the main streets. Taxis wait along Ordu Cd, or you're sure to find one just dropping off. You need your own wheels to reach the outer sights.
1 Dörtyol means "four roads" and it's the city's main intersection and plaza. Halit Paşa Cd joins from the west and becomes Fevzi Paşa Cd, 13 Şubat Cd joins from the south and becomes Ordu Cd. It's by no means scenic, but it's the obvious reference and rendezvous point. No statue of Atatürk? - don't worry, he's 500 m north along Ordu Cd. 2 Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) has a pleasant courtyard. 3 Terzibaba Mosque at the junction of Fevzi Paşa Cd and 793rd Sk is vast and modern.
Football: 24 Erzincanspor play soccer in TFF Second League, the third tier. Their home ground 13 Şubat Şehir Stadyumu (capacity 13,000) is next to Grand Mosque. Olympic Swimming Pool (Olimpik Yüzme Havuzu) is 2 km northeast of city centre on Yunus Emre Cd, open M-F 08:00-23:00, Sa Su 10:00-23:00. Ergan Dağı the mountain above Yaylabaşı, 20 km south of Erzincan, is a ski resort, and in summer has white-water kayaking.
Erzincan döneri is the local specialty, served as a sandwich or together with rice and fried potatoes. Dörtyol area has the main concentration of eating places.
Places near Dörtyol serving alcohol include Çarşı Izgara, Mozaik Cafe Bar and Çınar Restaurant all on Ordu Cd, The Well within Eliza Hotel, and Safir on Halit Paşa Cd.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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