Kızılay Square

The modern commercial heart of Ankara, this square anchors the busy Kızılay district and takes its name from the Turkish Red Crescent whose headquarters once stood nearby. Surrounded by offices, shops and government buildings, it is a major transit interchange and a traditional gathering point for political demonstrations in the capital. A landscaped park with a small pond lies alongside the paved plaza. Crowds of commuters, students and shoppers pass through, making it the everyday center of the city, in contrast to historic Ulus.