Isparta is a small city, where kilims and carpets seem to support the economy, with the help of rose essence. It has a good museum (with lots of kilims, carpets, no roses), nice street kids, some old buildings of which I have only one picture: an Ulu Camii or Great Mosque and a mosque and bedesten (Firdevs Bey complex). I did take pictures of the carpet market, held four days a week. The city is close to Eğirdir and Yalvaç and Antioch Pisidian.

In June 2012 I returned and fount the town much more modern than I remembered it, and very pleasant. I stayed for three nights, as I used it as a base to visit nearby towns. I add many pictures and give the (small) museum a gallery of its own.

The towns history in a nutshell:
The city of Isparta was reportedly founded by Greeks from Sparta in the 12th century BC. Its antique history runs through Lydian, Persian, Hellenistic Kingdoms (Seleucid at first, later Pergameese) and Roman rule.
During the following Byzantine Empire, it was known as ‘Baris’ and was a Metropolis (= seat of an archbishop).
1203: Occupied by the Seljuks.
Late 13th century: Becomes part of the ‘Hamitoğulları Beyliği’ (Principality of the Hamidids).
1391: After the death of the last Hamidid bey, the remains of the Beylik are divided between the Osmanlı and the Karamanoğlu; Isparta lies in the Ottoman part.
Late 19th century: Muslim refugees from the Balkans settle around Isparta. The Bulgarian refugees brought the knowledge of rosewater production with them.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Türkiye Tarihi Yerler Kılavuzu’ – M.Orhan Bayrak, Inkılâp Kitabevi, Istanbul, 1994 & Wikipedia.

ISPARTA

Isparta, kilim ve halılarıyla ve gülsuyunun da yardımıyla ekonomiye katkıda bulunuyor. Şehirde güzel bir müze (pekçok kilim ve halının olduğu, ama hiç gülün olmadığı), hoş sokak çocukları ve kimi eski binalar var. Bu eski binalardan sadece bir Ulu Cami, bir başka cami ve kapalı çarşının (Firdevs Bey Kompleksi) resimleri var. Haftada dört gün kurulan halı pazarının resimlerini çektim. Şehir, Eğirdir ve Yalvaç ve Antioch Pisidian’a yakın.

Türkçe çeviri: Melek Emir. Katkılarından dolayı teşekkür ederim.