Ulus Square, Ankara

The historic center of Ankara, this square in the Ulus district marks the oldest part of the Turkish capital, near the first parliament building of the republic. Its centerpiece is a bronze equestrian statue of Atatürk on a stone pedestal decorated with reliefs, unveiled in the late 1920s. The square is surrounded by early republican-era architecture and lies below the old citadel on the hill. As the area where the modern nation was proclaimed, it holds a foundational place in the country's history and remains a busy hub.