| Combined forces of mankind and nature have | | | | Christian churches, chapels and monasteries were built |
| created three wonders of Cappadocia- its "fairy | | | | in Cappadocia during the Byzantine period until the |
| chimneys" (coneshaped pillars of tuff capped with | | | | 13th century. Most of them were hollowed out in |
| basalt) in the unique valleys that look like another | | | | fairy chimneys, hills and in underground caves. The |
| planet, ancient underground cities and 1500-year old | | | | Tokali church is the largest one in the region, it was |
| rock cut Christian churches. All of it is concentrated in | | | | built in the beginning of the 10th century. Decorated |
| the area of approximately 100x100 km in the central | | | | with a cycle containing the life of Jesus, it is located |
| part of Turkey. Humans first set foot in the region | | | | right in the town of Goreme. The Karanlik church, |
| about 10,000 years ago. Then, from 3,500 to 1,200 | | | | also located in Goreme is among best preserved in |
| BC Cappadocia was a part of a powerful Hittite | | | | Cappadocia with lively paintings depicting the |
| state. Phrygians took over the administration in the | | | | consecration of Jesus, the Last Supper, the |
| 8th century BC. Five hundred years later they were | | | | Crucifixion and the apostles. The Eskigumus rock cut |
| replaced by Persians. Alexander the Great occupied | | | | monastery (close to the town of Nigde) is the only |
| the territory in 333 BC. Cappadocia's past history | | | | one where you can see a frescoe with smiling Virgin |
| includes being a Roman state, a part of the Byzantine | | | | Mary. Recent discovery of the monastery in 1963 |
| Empire, a place where many early Christian saints | | | | allowed it to escape vandalism to which many of the |
| including St.Paul found a shelter, where they lived and | | | | Cappadocian churches and monasteries were |
| taught. Finally, Cappadocia has become a noticable | | | | subjected. Well-preserved wall paintings decorate the |
| region of modern Turkey with predominant | | | | spacious main church are known to be one of the |
| importance of agriculture and tourism. WHAT TO SEE | | | | best examples of the Byzantine art in all of |
| AND WHERE: Fairy Chimneys were created as a | | | | Cappadocia. Other attractions in the area include but |
| result of wind and water erosion when small harder | | | | not limited to: - museums in Aksaray, Nevsehir, |
| pieces of rock remained on top of larger and softer | | | | Goreme, Nigde, Kayseri; - fortress of Ortahisar, the |
| rock columns. This out-of-this-world landscape | | | | spectacular Devrent Valley; - Seljuk history relics such |
| impressed George Lucas so much that his original plan | | | | as Karatay Madrasah, many mosques and |
| was to shoot some Star Wars' episodes in this area. | | | | caravansaries in Konya; - hot springs in Nar-Golu and |
| Located in a spectacular valley between towns of | | | | Guzelyurt where also one of the oldest existing |
| Nevseshir and Urgup there are very different, | | | | churches in the area- Kizil Kilise (Red Church) is |
| interesting fairy chimneys. UNESCO declared the area | | | | located, a 6th century artifact; - mountain climbing |
| a World Heritage Site. Some of the fairy chimneys | | | | and mountain skiing at the Erciyes Dagi mountain |
| have been inhabited for many years, with rooms, | | | | (3916m above sea level); - hot air ballooning. WHEN |
| windows and staircases being laboriously curved inside | | | | TO GO: Cappadocia has a steppe climate, there is a |
| creating up to 5-storey structures inside. Today | | | | great temperature difference between day and night. |
| some of these are also providing services to tourism | | | | The average temperature is +23 deg.C (73 F) in |
| as pensions. The largest of 36 underground cities in | | | | summer and -2 deg.C (28 F) in winter. It is cooler and |
| the area is at Derinkuyu. It is at a distance of 29 km | | | | drier than in the popular tourist areas of the |
| from Nevsehir, the provincial center of 7,000 people. | | | | Mediterranean and the Aegean coasts. April to middle |
| Derinkuyu underground city is located under a hill, was | | | | of June and September-October are the best |
| found by chance and opened to the public in 1965. It | | | | months to visit. GETTING THERE: Ankara, the |
| covers a 4 square km area and was calculated as | | | | Turkey's capital city is only 350km away. Tours to |
| able to shelter 2,000 households on 7 floors beneath | | | | Cappadocia are offered by almost all travel agencies |
| the surface, reaching a depth of 70 to 85 meters. | | | | in Turkey, although they are all too short allowing you |
| Archeologists tend to believe that the Hittites were | | | | just enough time for brief sightseeing. Tour guides |
| the starters of the underground communities which in | | | | tend to spend too much of your time at local |
| the 6th and 7th were expanded by early Christians | | | | pottery and carpet shops. We recommend you to |
| into a very extensive complexes with air shafts, | | | | rent a car in Ankara (usually $ 75-100 USD/day) and |
| kitchens, living quarters, churches, water wells, horse | | | | drive to Cappadocia on your own, or put together a |
| stables and wine cellars. These elaborate | | | | little group and hire a minivan together with a local |
| subterranean systems were used by the people who | | | | driver/travel guide (a car and driver would cost you |
| had accepted Christianity against their enemies both | | | | $85- 135 USD/day). TRAVEL TIPS: Local travel |
| as a shelter and as a safe place to carry out their | | | | books, information booklets are available on the spot |
| worship. Next largest underground city is at | | | | in Cappadocia's towns. If travelling on your own, a |
| Kaymakly, 20 km from Nevsehir. Despite of the fact | | | | detailed road map would definitely be a must to buy |
| that only four underground levels have been | | | | before leaving home. Modest clothes are suggested |
| excavated, there are speculations that there can be | | | | for women. The rural Turkey's culture is conservative |
| as many as 11 in total. There is also a tunnel that | | | | and immodest clothing (short skirts, shorts, tight |
| connects the underground cities of Kaymakli and | | | | clothing) can invite unwanted attention. Do not forget |
| Derinkuyu (9 km long!) that has a width of of over 2 | | | | a sun hat, sun protecting lotion, comfortable shoes. |
| meters, but unfortunatley it is not opened to the | | | | Plan ahead to spend at least two full days in the |
| public as parts of the tunnel have collapsed. Among | | | | area. For more information on Cappadocia travel and |
| other significant underground communities in the | | | | useful links visit us at: We wish you a nice and safe |
| region we should mention the underground | | | | trip! For more travel guides, other travel data, online |
| monastery of Ozkonak and the Tatlarin underground | | | | trip reservations visit us: - one of leading discount |
| city with existing Christian frescoes. Rock cut | | | | travel agencies, a source of useful travel information. |
| Christian churches. It is estimated that over 400 | | | | |