You’ll spot the Statue of Peace right ahead, standing tall in the middle of the pedestrian area, where a young man and woman reach their arms to the sky together-and if you see a flurry of pigeons at their feet, you’re in the right place!
Now, let’s step into a story set in 1979 Ankara, where the city was buzzing with hopes for peace, and people everywhere were dreaming of a new beginning. Imagine you’re here on Sakarya Street, and amongst the chatter and the hum of the city, an incredible stone sculpture has just taken its place. This is the work of Burhan Alkar, a sculptor with stone dust on his hands and a big idea in his heart: to build a monument for peace.
But not just any old peace! Look closely at the figures-there’s a young woman and a young man, side by side, balancing on their toes like they’re about to leap right off the pavement. Their hands are stretched high above their heads, and together they launch a dove into the blue Ankara sky. If you listen closely (well, okay, maybe just use your imagination), you might even catch their laughter mixing with the flutter of wings.
This statue isn’t only about standing still. It’s about movement, hope, and two ordinary people daring to set a dove-and maybe their dreams-free. In a world where peace can sometimes feel as hard to catch as, well, a pigeon in this square, this statue reminds us that peace is something you build together, stone by stone, hand in hand.
