Cappadocia (Turkey) is a rare geological feature located in central Anatolia. This mountainous area, hidden in its bizarre rocks underground cities, cave monasteries and churches, is of great historical significance, for which it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first settlements in the bowels of Cappadocia appeared in the 3rd millennium BC, and with the arrival of Christians on these lands, its mountains became a shelter for numerous temples, cells and crypts.
The uniqueness of the local landscapes lies in their natural origin: all these fabulous structures were created not by man at all, but by nature for tens of millions of years. Once the territory of modern Cappadocia in Turkey was covered with lava tongues, bursting out of an active volcanic chain and settling on the layers of the earth along with ash. Over time, the earth’s surface rose by two hundred meters, and ash and lava transformed into volcanic tuff – a light porous rock. Over the course of several million years, wind and rain destroyed the fragile material, creating intricate shapes and rocks, pyramids and canyons.
Today Cappadocia is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Turkey, and hundreds of hot air balloons with tourists fly up every day. The property is surrounded by Goreme National Park, an open-air museum that includes numerous rock sculptures and cave shrines. And next to the park is the village of Goreme, equipped with hotels, restaurants and shops, where travelers coming to Cappadocia stay.
Historical background
The history of Cappadocia in Turkey, which intertwines several peoples and empires, is quite complicated, so scientists still cannot come to a consensus on many issues. It is reliably known that already in the 3rd millennium BC. e. its lands were mastered by the Hatti, who were later completely exterminated by the Hittites. One of the scientific theories says that it was the Hittites who gave the site its modern name, which originally sounded like “Kattapeda” (“place below”). Other scholars claim that the name was coined by the Persians, who came to these lands in the 6th century BC and called the area “Haspaduya”, which translates as”The Land of beautiful horses”. Since the second option sounds more romantic, it is used in all reference books.
In the 1st century AD, Cappadocia became part of the Roman Empire, and in the 4th century, its rocks became a refuge for the persecuted Christians at that time. It was they who discovered the ancient underground city of the Hittites, improved it, and began to dig large monasteries and miniature cells out of the pliable tuff. In the Byzantine era, with the arrival of the 7th century, the Arabs begin to encroach on the area, but the state gives a firm rebuff, attracting the forces of the allied Armenian Empire. However, in the 11th century Cappadocia was invaded by the Seljuk Turks, who brought their traditional buildings in the form of caravanserais, mosques and madrasas to the local landscape.
Despite the arrival of the Turks in Cappadocia, Christians, most of whom were Greeks, continued to peacefully coexist with Muslims on its territory and preach their religion until the 20th century. Everything changed with Ataturk’s decision to exchange Greeks living in Turkey for Turks living in Greece. After that, the local monasteries fell into disrepair, and the remaining locals devoted themselves entirely to agriculture. Interest in Cappadocia was revived in the 80s, when Europeans who found out about the attraction began to actively visit central Anatolia. This was the beginning of the development in the field of tourism, which today lives the entire region.
What to see
The sights of Cappadocia in Turkey cover a huge territory, and it is simply impossible to see them all in a day. So that you don’t waste any time, we have collected the most interesting objects at this point, including:
Goreme National Park
Spread over an area of more than 300 km2, this open-air museum is an entire monastic complex: it includes dozens of churches and chapels. From the 6th to the 9th centuries Goreme was considered one of the largest Christian centers, with more than 400 shrines functioning on its territory. Many monasteries have survived to this day, where wall paintings of early Christianity, as well as Byzantine frescoes, are partially preserved. Most famous in the museum is the Church of St. Basil, inside which you can see the surviving images of saints and scenes from the Gospel. You can also visit St. Barbara’s Church, which is decorated with colorful patterns, and the Apple Church with four columns and a Greek cross.
Avanos City
If you do not know what to see in Cappadocia, then we recommend you to go to the miniature town of Avanos, located near the banks of the longest river in Turkey-Kyzyl-Irmak. Due to the fact that the water in the river is rich in ore and red clay, local residents managed to develop handicrafts and pottery here. You won’t find underground buildings or fancy rocks here, but you will find silence and solitude, harmoniously intertwined with the oriental flavor. In addition, in the town, everyone has the opportunity to go to one of the local workshops and learn the basics of pottery. The attraction is also famous for its carpet factories, the Aladdin Seljuk Mosque and the Women’s Hair Museum, which has more than 16 thousand exhibits – real curls that once belonged to girls from different parts of the world.
Uchisar City and Fortress
The quiet town, located 4 km from Goreme, is more like a small village, where there are no banks or supermarkets. The village itself is not particularly interesting, but the Uchisar fortress located on its territory attracts the gaze of tourists. This tufa structure with a sharp top can be seen from any observation deck in the city. The fortress was built in the era of the Hittite Empire and was able to accommodate up to 2,600 people. The structure is gradually being destroyed, and travelers here can only see a small part of the building. It is definitely worth going up to the observation deck, which offers a large-scale view of the expanses of Cappadocia with its picturesque valleys.
Fairy Chimneys
One of the most popular attractions in Cappadocia and Goreme is the Fairy Fireplaces, which have long been a hallmark of the area. See the unique rock sculptures, shaped like chimneys or giant mushrooms with cone-shaped caps, you can in different parts of the valley adjacent to the town of Zelve. Of course, tourists are told romantic legends that magical fairies live in the pillars, but in reality the bizarre formations were the result of the destructive effects of rain and wind on the tufa rocks.
Kaymakli Underground City
Kaymakli is a huge underground complex with 8 floors. Each of them contains dozens of tunnels and rooms that once served as warehouses, kitchens, stables and cellars. There were ventilation and water supply systems, a private chapel and pottery workshops. Here, scientists discovered a long tunnel that stretches for 9 km and connects Kaimakli with another attraction – the cave settlement of Derinkuyu. It is believed that the underground monastery could accommodate up to 15 thousand inhabitants. Today, tourists in Kaymakli are allowed to see only the first 4 floors of the city, but this is enough to feel the ancient atmosphere of once residential caves.
Derinkuyu Underground City
When visiting Goreme and Cappadocia in Turkey, you should definitely look at the Derinkuyu underground complex. The history of the attraction begins with the 8th century BC. e. For a long time, Christians who were persecuted by the Arabs for their religious beliefs took refuge in the building. To date, archaeologists have managed to unearth 11 floors that extend 85 meters deep. Scientists assume that they will be able to clear 9 more tiers.
It is believed that up to 50 thousand people could live on the territory of the underground attraction at the same time. As in Kaymakli, there is a ventilation system with a half-meter shaft, as well as a water supply system that provided water to all floors. Today, Derinkuyu is the largest underground city in Turkey.
Pashabag Valley (or Monks ‘ Valley)
Pasabag is one of the most picturesque valleys in Cappadocia, often referred to as the Valley of the Monks. Many hundreds of centuries ago, the area became a native home for preachers of Christianity, so today you can see the result of their activities-churches and chapels. The most famous building in the valley was the chapel of St. Simeon Stylites, who came to Pashabag in the 5th century. The temple is located in a rock sculpture with three cone-shaped caps. Several churches have also been preserved here, with old frescoes preserved in the walls.
Zelve Open-air Museum
If you are looking for information about what you can see on your own in Cappadocia, don’t miss out on the unique historical monument of Zelva. The first settlements within the walls of the complex appeared in the 2nd-5th centuries. By the beginning of the 11th century, Christians came to Zelve, who turned a number of its premises into churches and cells, so today you can see their creations here. Until 1952, the caves remained inhabited, but due to the gradual collapse of the rocks, people were forced to leave the complex. The destruction of Zelve continues to this day and staying within its walls is dangerous, so visiting the museum is limited. But even a view of the complex from the outside will allow you to appreciate its grandeur and scale.
Pink Valley
This is one of the most famous valleys in Cappadocia in Turkey, located closer to the village of Cavusin. The area got its name due to the pink hue of the rocks. The valley has two canyons running parallel to each other and connecting at the approach to the viewing platform on the Aktepe Hill. One of the spurs stretches for 2 km, the other – for 3 km. In the Rose Valley there are 5 ancient temples, the oldest of which is the Church of Saints Joachim and Anna, dating from the 7th century.
Hot air balloons in Cappadocia
The most popular entertainment in Cappadocia is hot air balloon rides, during which tourists have a unique opportunity to look at the lunar landscapes from a height of almost 1 km. Air tours are carried out throughout the year, but a real parade of montgolfiers can be observed here in the summer, when up to 250 ships soar up. Flights are usually conducted in the early morning at dawn and last from 40 to 90 minutes. More detailed information about hot air balloon tours can be found in our separate article.
Where to stay
The nearest settlement to Cappadocia is the village of Goreme, and it is here that the main part of hotels is concentrated. Almost all hotels in this area have no stars, which in no way detracts from the quality of their service. It is noteworthy that many hotels are located in the rocks, so tourists have a great opportunity to experience what it’s like to live in real caves.
The choice of hotels in Cappadocia in Turkey is very rich: only in Goreme you will find more than a hundred different hotels. The average price for a double room per night is 140 TL. Most establishments include free breakfasts in the total amount. The most budget accommodation options will cost 80 TL for two people per night, while the most expensive ones will cost 700 TL.
In addition to Goreme in Cappadocia, there are other, more remote settlements where you can also rent a room: These are Urgup, Uchhisar, Ortahisar, Chavushin and Avanos. The cost of living in these villages varies approximately in the same range as the price of housing in Goreme.
How to get to Cappadocia
There are three ways to get to Cappadocia in Turkey:by plane, by bus, and by self-driving car. There are two airports near the attraction — in the cities of Nevsehir and Kayseri, where daily flights from Istanbul operate.
Interesting facts
Your visit to the city of Cappadocia in Turkey will be much more entertaining if you read the most interesting facts about the attraction in advance:
- The total area of Cappadocia is more than 5000 km2.
- Despite the desert landscapes of the city, the land here is very fertile: here grows a large number of grapes, which supply almost the whole of Turkey. Beets, apricots, chickpeas and other crops are also grown in Cappadocia.
- There is a legend that it was the landscapes of Cappadocia that inspired director George Lucas to create the planet Tatooine in the famous “Star Wars”. In addition, the area has repeatedly become the filming location for famous Hollywood films, such as” Empire of Wolves “and”Ghost Rider”.
- Many local residents still use the caves as their permanent home.
- In total, scientists have discovered 36 underground settlements in Cappadocia, but today only 3 of them are accessible to tourists.
Useful tips
To make your trip to Cappadocia go smoothly, we have prepared a number of recommendations based on the experience of travelers who have already been here.
- If you want to see absolutely all the sights of Cappadocia, then you will need at least 2 days. If you only have 1 day at your disposal, then spend it visiting Goreme Park.
- It is best to go to Cappadocia on your own, and not with a tour. First, you will save money, and, secondly, time. During the tour of the area, guides bring tourists to the factories of onyx, sweets and carpets, which takes up the lion’s share of precious time.
- If you are going to see the valleys of Cappadocia, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the mountain safety rules. Many tourists neglect basic norms of behavior, resulting in injuries.
- The ideal months to visit Cappadocia are May, June, September and October. At this time, it is not so hot, but also not cold, there is almost no precipitation and cloud cover.
- If you decide to look at Cappadocia from the basket of a balloon, then do not rush to buy a flight from the first company you meet. It is always more profitable to purchase a ticket from the organizing company on the spot, rather than through an online service.
Here, perhaps, are all the main points that should be considered when visiting such a picturesque place as Cappadocia, Turkey. We hope that our article was useful for you and will help you in organizing an independent tour of the sights of the region.
