Kayseri, which is a large industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey, has a great historical background. Kültepe, a center of a complex network of Assyrian trade colonies in the 2nd millennium B.C., occupies a position at which historic and natural routes, leading from Sivas in the northeast and Malatya in the southeast, converge. Kültepe, which emerged as a center of importance in the world of ancient politics and trade, thus became a key center of culture and commerce between Anatolia, Syria, and Mesopotamia by the end of the 3rd millennium B.C. and especially during the first quarter of the 2nd millennium B.C.
Kayseri was originally called Mazaka or Mazaca and was known as such to Strabo, during whose time it was the capital of the Roman province of Cilicia, known also as Eusebia at the Argaeus, after Ariarathes V Eusebes, King of Cappadocia (163–130 BC). The name was changed again by Archelaus (d. 17 AD), last King of Cappadocia and a Roman vassal, to "Caesarea in Cappadocia" in honour of Caesar Augustus, upon his death in 14 AD. The city was called as Kaisariyah by the Arabs. After the Turks conquered Anatolia, they named the city as Kayseriye. As of the Republican period, the city has been called as Kayseri.
A large number of historical works of art such as mosques, madrasas and monumental tombs were constructed and have survived to the present day. The Hunat Hatun Complex, which is comprised of a mosque, a madrasa, a tomb and a bathhouse, is among the important surviving examples of monumental Anatolian Seljuq architecture. Kayseri Castle, Döner Kümbet (a mausoleum noted for its delicate decorative work), Kayseri Clock Tower, Kayseri Camii Kebir [Grand Mosque], Kursunlu Mosque, Atatürk Monument, Kayseri Atatürk Museum, Sahabiye Madrasah, Kayseri Historical Neighborhood, Kayseri High School, Hacı Kılıç Mosque and Madrasah and Ağırnas Mimar Sinan House are among some of the worth-seeing places. In addition, The Kayseri Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest bazaars in Turkey, involves lots of various shops and is open for visits and shopping. A great many large historical inns and caravanserais exist in its vicinity and several of them are still spectacular places to visit. The Sultan Han (inn), 45 kilometers to the east of Kayseri, the Karatay Caravanserai, 60 kilometers to the south-east of Kayseri, and Incesu Karamustafa Pasha Caravanserai, 28 kilometers west of Kayseri, are among the places to visit. Twin Madrasa, which was built by Gıyaseddin Keyhusrev I in 1205-1206 and dedicated to the daughter of Kılıçarslan II; Gevher Nesibe Sultan, is known as the first Medical Center in Anatolia. The Madrasa, called by many different names such as Gevher Nesibe Sifahiyesi, Kayseri Darussifasi, Giyasiye, Kayseri Tıbbiyesi, is today assigned to be Erciyes University Museum of History of Medical Science.
Kayseri is also in a privileged position in terms of tourism thanks to its extraordinary natural beauties, cultural richness, and geographical position. Erciyes Mountain, with a height of 3916 meters, is a volcanic mountain whose peak is almost always covered with snow. It is both a center for winter sports and a cool resort in summer. Mount Ali, one of the most important paragliding centers in our country, has characteristics of an international center for paragliding. The Kapuzbashi Waterfalls and Sultan Sazlığı (Sultan Marshes National Park) are also among the area’s natural wonders. Zamantı River is one of the significant areas to practice rafting sports for a long time. Cappadocia, located in the southwest of Kayseri, is another popular tourist destination which has many areas with unique geological, historic, and cultural features.
There are also recreational-picnic and entertainment areas. Beştepeler Picnic Area, Kıranardı Urban Forest, Fair Picnic Area and Mount Ali Recreational Area. Anatolian Wonderland, which consists of Entertainment and Play Park, Zoo, Water Ski Park, Sports Areas, Ice-skating Rink, Science Center, Horse Riding Area, Laser Play Center, Hobby Garden and Social Facilities, attracts a large number of visitors and positively affects the city’s economy.
Having a rich culture and history, Kayseri has managed to reflect its cultural richness in the food and culinary culture.
Kayseri is a city having long-standing past in industry apart from its educational institutes, infra and super structure opportunities, qualified R&D facilities. The development of public investments in the city has started as from the first years of the Republic. Kayseri Tayyare (Aircraft) Factory (opened in 1926 and has been Air Supply and Maintenance Center since 1950). Kayseri Sumerbank Textile Factory (1935) initiated the industrialization movement in Turkey. As a result of “liberal economic policies” applied between 1923–1930, we are witnessing three important private sector investments in Kayseri: Bunyan Carpet Yarn Factory (private sector); Bunyan Hydroelectric Power Plant, which was established to produce electricity by “Kayseri ve Civarı Elektrik Türk A.Ş. (KCETAS)”, the first privately owned company, in 1926, and the flour mill factory (1932), the first flour factory established by local entrepreneurs that is still active. In the years 1950–1960, as private sector investments, Birlik Mensucat Factory, Orta Anadolu Mensucat Factory and semi–public quality Sugar Factory. After 1950, the weight of the private sector in Kayseri’s industry increased gradually. Establishment of small industrial site or old industrial zone in 1950, Kayseri Chamber of Agriculture in 1963, Trade Exchange in 1965, Kayseri Chamber of Industry in 1966 and Kayseri Anatolia Fair in 1967 were opened. In 1968, besides many private bank branches, the Central Bank Kayseri Branch opened. From the 1970s onwards, we see that the manufacturing industry has diversified, scaled up, fabrication has been overtaken, and most of them have gained a legal entity. In 1974 HES Cable was established to export the electrical, electronic and communication cables. Cinkur Factory was opened in 1977 and Taksan Factory in 1976. The industrial production in Kayseri is carried out in 3 organized industrial zones, namely Kayseri Organized Industrial Zone (OSB), İncesu OSB, Mimarsinan OSB. Established in 1976, Kayseri OSB is one of the most significant production and attraction centers in the region. The Kayseri Free Zone (KAYSER) is located on the 15th kilometer away from Kayseri-Ankara highway at the end of the Kayseri OSB. The most significant facilities of the region are composed of manufacturing facilities as in the following; office furniture, sheet metal pipe and profile, electrostatic powder paint, bed base, bed, durable consumer goods, aluminum conductive wire facilities, white goods production factory. The metalsmith sector is one of the first manufacturing sectors in Kayseri. Since the 1950s, the producers started to manufacture or crafted electric ovens, aluminum kitchenware, churns and stoves with simple technology, then they started to manufacture the enamel stoves and kitchenware, particularly steel doors, metal furniture (office furniture, shelf etc.) production has been very popular later on. A significant portion of exports consists of copper wire, steel wire, steel spring, steel rope, etc. In the wood furniture sector, home and office furniture such as sofas, armchairs, panel furniture are dominant. In recent years, Kayseri became a furniture-manufacturing center in Turkey since it manufactures 70% of the furniture production in Turkey. The region has a serious historical experience in weaving and the production of yarn and fabric. One of the increasingly developing sectors in recent years is the chemical plastic products and promotional materials. While the sectors such as bags, packaging nylon, PVC packaging materials are developing, the main production started with a sector of powder and liquid detergent at the beginning of 2000’s. Kayseri Sugar Factory, as being the sugar factory with the highest production capacity, is the city’s most dynamic actor in the food industry.
The city consists of 16 metropolitan districts. The transportation within the city depends mainly on buses, personal vehicles and light rail transit. The city is served by Erkilet International Airport, which is a short distance from the center of Kayseri. There are 2 modern sports venues. One is Kadir Has Stadium, which has the capacity of 33,000 spectators. The other is Kadir Has Sports Arena, which has a seating capacity of 7,200 people. There are 3 state and 1 private universities in the city. The state ones are Erciyes University, the largest one; Abdullah Gul University, which started enrolling students in 2013; Kayseri University, established in 2018. Nuh Naci Yazgan is a private university founded in 2009.
In the past, known as “the city of the scholars”, Kayseri has become a center of science and culture at the same time, integrating the possibilities of modern science with the traditional values it inherited from history.