Over the last 15 years Ani has been destroyed as an historical site, and it is now almost devoid of interest for an ordinary tourist. I created VirtualAni.org 15 years ago to document that destruction. Foreign visitors to Ani go there because of old descriptions of Ani and guidebooks are always dated. They travel to eastern Turkey under the delusion that they are going somewhere exotic and unusual. It is now neither. 1980s Ani is long gone. Once Ani's current condition becomes the standard description, visitor numbers will rapidly dwindle. About 50% of the visitors are Turks, mostly from the Kars area. The best way to describe them is automatons: there is no thought process involved in their visit, they go to pass an idle afternoon and because they see foreigners wanting to go there.

Breaks my heart.. Once a beautiful city now in ruins, desecrated by the barbaric Turks. Glad to know that the Turks are profiting off destroying our country's history.