Ani - city in Eastern Anatolia, which at its peak served as the capital of the Armenian Empire under the Bagratid Dynasty

Ani - the city was built 10thC and said to be the largest and most magnificant city in Europe at the time

Ani - rivaling the most powerful cities of the Middle East

Ani - an olive press

Ani - became known as the City of Forty Gates and the City of a Thousand Churches

Ani - Church of the Redeemer under restoration

Ani - Church of the Redeemer under restoration

Ani - a public bath house

Ani - The Cathedral of Ani built 1010

Ani - The Cathedral of Ani

Ani - The Cathedral of Ani

Ani - The Cathedral of Ani

Ani - The Cathedral of Ani

Ani - The Minuchir Mosque of Ani

Ani - first rose to prominence in the 5th century A.D., as a hilltop fortress belonging to the Armenian Kamsarakan Dynasty

Ani - a mosque, a cathedral and a church

Ani - the ravine of the Akhurian River with the bridge brining the road into the city, possibly the Silk Road in its time

Ani - the ravine of the Akhurian River with the Church of Saint Elia atop fortress ruins in the gorge

Ani - the Church of Ashot

Ani - the ruins of another great church

Ani - ruined fortifications

Ani - ruins of a Zoroastrian fire temple

A truckies road side stop for lunch, lovely food and all grown by the owner

A truckies road side stop for lunch, lovely food and all grown by the owner

A truckies road side stop for lunch, lovely food and all grown by the owner

A truckies road side stop for lunch - the specialty was salted chicken kebabs and here is the left over caked salt

Ani - a panorama of the walls