I Left My Heart in Sa-fran-bo-lu

Sorry San Fransisco, I have borrowed your song.  But it's so easy to do because this small town is memorable.  The old part of Safranbolu  is a Unesco World Heritage Site, acknowledging its historical and architectural prominence.  Its position on the major spice route made it very weathlty in Ottoman days, and its merchants built "konaks" (mansions) of three storeys or highter, all in timber and stone and based on a similar anatomy.

The town had a han, its size indicating the town's importance. for visiting craftsmen to stay and sell their wares (now a posh hotel). Not far from there was a hamam to get clean after long journeys and to get news from the region (still in operation after 350 years). 

the Han at Safranbolu

There are two mosques, also built in the 17th century. And everywhere lie these lovely houses dotted along the valley and up the steep slopes.  The town now boasts some 60,000 but most of those are up and out of the valley, with only the old town protected.  Although even then there are some renovation projects ready for the picking!

We are staying in the old village, in a konak that has now operates as a hotel, its rooms retaining the same footprint and decor as when they were built. It'sgood being a little way up the hillside as we have great views.  One of the mosque is practically next door, which does get a bit intrusive at 4:30 when the call to prayer blasts through the open windows.  Streets are cobbled, with a clever design to direct water down and out as quickly as possible. 
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the perfect natural rain sluice