Cappadocia a Wonder City in Turkey

The ancient and amazing region of Cappadocia in Central Anatolia and the heart of Turkey, which today has different parts in several provinces, is one of the popular attractions of this country. This region, which is more famous for its natural spindle-shaped structures and balloon tours, has made it known as the city of wonders in Turkey.

Cappadocia Region

The ancient region of "Cappadocia (Kapadokya)," which today is mostly located in the province of "Nevsehir (Nevşehir)," dates back to 7000 BC; therefore, throughout history, this region has hosted civilizations such as: Hittites, Frisians, Assyrians, Persians, Byzantines, Romans, Seljuks, and Ottomans, and the remains of some of them can still be seen today. Also, it should be mentioned that the name of Cappadocia in the ancient Persian language means "the Land of Beautiful Horses," which is still known by this name.

It is interesting to know that only about 20 km of the Cappadocia region is located in Nevsehir province, and other parts of it are also in provinces of Kayseri, Aksaray, Kirsehir (Kırşehir), Sivas (Sivas), and Nigde (Niğde); thus, regardless of which of these cities you have traveled to, not only can you easily visit the attractions of Cappadocia, but with a car rental in Turkey and lower cost, you can have the opportunity to explore other areas.

Note: One of the most famous entertainments in this area are Cappadocia balloon tours, which provide tourists with the opportunity to watch the sunrise while seeing the surrounding pristine landscapes from a high perspective.

How to Travel to Cappadocia

In general, regardless of from where you come to Cappadocia (for example, within Turkey or abroad), one of the easiest ways to travel to any part of the world is to book a flight ticket. Thus, you can choose your destination flight to the nearest airport to Cappadocia, namely "Kayseri Erkilet International Airport," and come to this amazing destination from there.

The most common ways to get to Cappadocia from Kayseri, which is about 75 km (one hour and a quarter), are by: taxi, bus, and car rental.

Staying at the Hotel in Cappadocia

According to what was said, in Cappadocia due to the number of tourist attractions and many travelers who come to visit this area, in recent years, it has been easy to book all kinds of hotels in Cappadocia; what makes booking a hotel in this historical place more attractive is some hotels located in the heart of its caves and conical structures.

Note that one of the things you should consider when choosing your favorite hotel to book is the issue of airport transfer. In other words, if you don't intend to drive in Turkey for any reason, you can consider the option of "Booking a Car with a Driver (Transfer)"; because some hotels provide such services for their guests, and some other travelers book this service themselves before their trip.

The History of the Origin of the Cappadocia Region

According to researchers and geologists, the Cappadocia region about 60 million years ago as a result of factors such as: lava, erosion of loose layers of soil, and ash from the mountains of "Mount Hasan (Hasan Dağı)" and "Guldag (Güldağ)" as well as wind effects have been created. Such effects, the most obvious examples of which are known as "Fairy Chimneys/ Hoodoo (Peribacaları)," have become settlements for people of different eras throughout history.

In this way, the residents of this area started to carve inside these natural structures according to their size and usability to build their houses and places of worship, such as monasteries and churches, and live in comfort and safety. This is even though due to the structural features of these chimneys, they are very good insulators against heat and cold, and in some of their older types, paintings can be seen inside them as decorations.

History of Settlement in Cappadocia

According to some archaeologists and historians, the first steps for human settlement in Cappadocia go back to the Paleolithic period and the Hittites. For this reason, this region has always been known as a commercial and social bridge between different regions and governments, especially during the boom of the Silk Road, and it has been very important. Today, the result of these historical events and natural features has made it not only historically and naturally important but also an ideal tourist destination.

Natural Attractions of Cappadocia

According to what has been said so far, Cappadocia is one of the natural wonders of Turkey with stunning and unique landscapes that have attracted many tourists; this region, whose natural attractions have arisen mainly due to climatic conditions and factors such as soil erosion, the most famous of which are:

1.      Fairy Chimneys

Always one of the first attractions of Cappadocia that comes to mind is the natural structures known as “Fairy Chimneys/ Hoodoo (Peri Bacaları)”; these structures which are caused by factors such as: floods from the slopes of the valleys, strong winds, rainfall, and also the erosion of the structure of tuffs (a kind of rock consisting of volcanic ash), are like a set of cones together, and they are different sizes.

Hooded fairy chimneys are mainly around the “Urgup (Ürgüp)” area and consist of a conical body and a stone block on top. Other types of fairy chimneys that are caused by rock and soil erosion in the Cappadocia region include: conical, mushroom, columnar, and sharp chimneys. There are more fairy chimneys in the following areas:

·         Valleys between the Urgup-Uchisar-Avanos triangle (Ürgop-Uçhisar-Avanos)

·         Area between Urgup-Sahinefendi (Ürgop-Şahinefendi)

·         Around the village of Cat Koyu in Nevsehir (Çat Köyü in Nevşehir)

2.      Ihlara Valley

"Ihlara Valley (Ihlara Vadisi)," 40 km away from Aksaray, is a valley that was formed as a result of the erosion of lava scattered from Hasan Dagi volcano. This valley, which was created by the flow of the “Melendiz River (Melendiz Nehri),” over several million years, is 14 kilometers long and 110 meters high, starts from Ihlara and ends in Salima. The height of the Ihlar Valley reaches 100–150 meters in some places, and along the valley, there are many shelters, tombs, and churches carved into the rocks.

It should be mentioned that there are decorations in some churches located in the Ihlara Valley that date back to the 13th-6th centuries and have been well preserved until today. The most prominent of these churches are: Agacalti (Ağaçaltı), Purenli Seki (Pürenli Seki), Yilanli (Yılanlı), and Sumbullu (Sümbüllü).

3.      Devrent Valley

“Devrent Valley (Devrent Vadisi)”, located in Avanos, which is also known as “Hayal Valley (Hayal Vadisi),” which means “Imaginary Valley (Imaginary Vadisi),” is one of the amazing areas of Cappadocia with its interesting scenery; when tourists visit this valley, which has taken on different shapes under the influence of water and wind currents, it makes them see these shapes in interesting ways depending on their imagination and perspective.

In this valley, where rocks and other natural structures were created by strong water and wind, some of its shapes are very similar to animals; therefore, walking among these structures will make you feel like you are in a zoo. On the other hand, due to the fact that the most obvious shape seen in this valley is the "Camel," it has become one of the most important symbols of Devrent Valley.

Historical attractions of Cappadocia

In addition to natural attractions, the historical city of Cappadocia has many places related to different historical periods to visit. Accordingly, the most significant historical attractions of Cappadocia can be considered as follows:

1.      Kaymakli Underground City

"Kaymakli Underground City (Kaymaklı Yeraltı Şehri)" is located 20 kilometers from Nevsehir, in a village of the same name and on 8 floors, which is actually dug in the heart of the tuff rocks. This city, whose history and construction of the first floor goes back to the ancient period, had other floors and parts created during the Roman and Byzantine empires.

The underground city of Kaymakli has the necessary accommodation conditions for a temporary life, and with its rooms and halls, it includes parts such as: narrow corridors, tanks for common drinks, water tanks, food stores, kitchens, ventilation chimneys, wells, water fountains, churches, and large sliding stones; nowadays, only 4 floors of this city are open to the public.

2.      Derinkuyu Underground City

"Derinkuyu Underground City (Derinkuyu Yeraltı Şehri)" is located in a region with the same name, 30 km from Nevsehir, and has places to accommodate a large group and provide for their needs. This city has 8 floors, and unlike the Kaymakli underground city, it has: a religious school, a place for confession, a baptismal pool, and a well, which has attracted the attention of tourists more.

The underground city of Derinkuyu has an area of ​​445 km, and the habitation in it dates back to about 3000 years ago. It is interesting to know that the old name of this area was "Malakopi," and the reason for changing its name to “Derinkuyu” was the necessity to dig wells with a depth of 60 to 70 meters to reach the water; according to the obtained evidence, the first inhabitants of this area were the Assyrians.

3.      Avanos Old Village

“Avanos Village (Avanos Köyü),” 18 kilometers north of Nevsehir, was previously known as "Venessa," "Zuwinasa," and "Ouenasadir (Ouenasadır)," today is one of the tourist attractions of Turkey. This village, one of its distinctive features is the old-style pottery industry, dates back to the Hittites. Accordingly, after shaping, the pottery is placed in front of the sun to dry, then potters put them to ovens with a temperature of 800 to 1200 degrees Celsius to be fired.

Another attraction of Avanos village is the vineyards, whose grapes are taken to the natural caves and warehouses in the town for processing, and are popular all over the world in terms of quality. On the other hand, this village has historical attractions such as a marble sarcophagus discovered in a cemetery belonging to the ancient Roman period near Avanos, which was found in 1971.

4.      Tokalı Church

As the largest stone church in the region of "Goreme Valley (Göreme Vadisi)," “Tokali Church (Tokalı Kilisesi)” has four sections with beautiful paintings and decorations. One of the most important features of this church is the 10th-century paintings on the walls, some of which are taken from the Bible and are engraved in the old part of the church. Tokali Church has a rectangular and wide plan with large taluks and corridors for easier access to different parts of the church, such as the nave.

Among the most important paintings and decorations on the walls of this church are scenes from the Bible in the new part of the church with concepts such as: the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, the presence of three astronomers, the massacre of innocent children, escape to Egypt, the image of Jesus in the temple, the descent of Jesus into heaven, the ascension of Jesus into heaven, etc.

5.      Yilatli Church

"Yilanli Church (Yılanlı Kilisesi)," belonging to the 5th century AD, is part of the open-air museum of Goreme, and in terms of its structure and decorations, it is considered one of the must-see places in Cappadocia. Among the most obvious examples of paintings in this church are: Jesus with the Gospel in his hand, the founder of the church, St. Onesimus, St. George, St. Theodore, and St. Onofius.

The plan of Yilanli church has a cross plan, and in its prayer room section, there are a number of tombs related to the monks who served in this place; at the same time, there are other parts in this church, which include the main courtyard, beautiful columns, and arches, prayer hall, monk's room, etc.

6.      Uchisar Castle

"Uchisar Castle (Uçhisar Kalesi)," located at the highest point of Cappadocia, has the most beautiful view compared to other areas, and for more than a thousand years, even until the 50s, it was the residence of many people in the rooms dug in the castle. On the other hand, due to the location of the construction of this fort, which provides the possibility of controlling and encircling the surrounding area, it has a high strategic advantage.

Also, it is said that Uchisar Castle is connected to different parts of the region by dug tunnels, but no traces of these tunnels have been found yet. In addition to the numerous valleys in the area, the amazing view of the Hassan Mountains and Erciyes Lake, which play an important role in the formation of fairy chimneys, attracts many tourists at sunset.

7.      Goreme Museum

"Goreme Open Air Museum (Göreme Müzesi)," is a small stone town 13 km from Nevsehir and 2 km from Goreme city, which was one of the old settlements in this area during the 4th to 13th centuries AD. This old city, where life is done in the style of monasteries, was very difficult and had its own features. Therefore, it can be said that in almost every part of this place where there are stone blocks, its people have been built: churches, places of worship, dining halls, and places to rest.

This open-air museum, which was previously a place for religious education in the monastery, later shared its method and system to other places; also, it should be noted that in the churches of this region, there are mainly decorations and paintings from the life of Jesus and the topics mentioned in the Bible.

8.      The Town of Ürgüp

"The Small Town of Urgup (Ürgüp'ün Küçük Kasabası)," 20 kilometers east of Nevsehir, is one of the most important areas of Cappadocia, and at its ends, you can see the stone houses that are one of the most prominent features of this area. This area, which is very prosperous in terms of tourism, is one of the most pioneering cities in Turkey in the popularization of "Boutique Hotels".

It is interesting to know that Urgup has been called by different names throughout history, such as: during the Byzantine period as "Assiana," during the Seljuk period as "Bashisar (Başhisar)," during the Ottoman period as "Borgut Castle (Burgut Kalesi)," and during the early years of the republic with the name "Urgup". Today, the small town of Urgup is a convenient starting point for visiting Cappadocia's underground cities and rock churches.