Ankara Roma Yolu (Cardo Maximus)

The Roman Road of Ankara is a Late Roman street that was the north-south main artery of Roman Ankyra and is therefore called the cardo maximus. It was uncovered in 1995 during foundation digging for the Ulus City Bazaar under Prof. Dr. Cevdet Bayburtluoğlu; it lies two to three metres below today's ground level and runs parallel to Atatürk Boulevard. The 216 metre section exposed has a 6.7 metre wide andesite paved road, kerb blocks 1.5 metres wide on both sides, and on the western side a portico with mosaic paving and rows of shops. Its continuation was found in 2006 during digging for the Governor's Office car park. A 640 square metre section, laid out jointly by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Metropolitan Municipality with walkways, railings, lighting and information panels, opened to visitors at the end of 2024. The finds are in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.