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The ancient region of
Cappadocia lies in central Anatolia,
between the cities of Nevsehir, Kayseri and
Nigde. Here, the traveller finds one of the
most fantastic landscapes in the world. Three
million years ago, violent eruptions of the
volcanoes Mt. Erciyes (3891m) and Mt. Hasan
(3250m) covered the surrounding plateau with
tuff. Wind and weather have eroded the soft
volcanic rock into hundreds of strangely
shaped pillars, cones and "fairy chimneys",
often very tall, and in every shade from pink
through yellow to russet browns.
Since the most ancient of times, men have
hollowed out troglodyte dwellings in this soft
rock, and here, at the dawn of Christianity,
the early Christians made countless cave
churches, chapels and monasteries. There are
over 600 churches scattered through the
valleys. The art style of the churches can
best be considered in two categories: the 8th
and 9th centuries are the iconoclastic years,
with decorations in red earth tones and
symbolism in simple geometric motifs; the 10th
to the 13th centuries saw decorations on a
plaster base and show the lives of Christ and
various saints. Interestingly, in some of the
churches the frescoes of the later period have
fallen off, revealing earlier decorations
underneath. The architectural plan of the
churches is uncomplicated.
Also in this region are a
number of underground cities which were used
by Christians as places to retreat to and live
in until danger from their enemies had passed.
These cities were well-hidden and safe. There
were rooms for grain storage, stables,
sleeping chambers, kitchens and air shafts.
Today they are well-lit and would be an
interesting part of your tour.
Goreme is an important area
for shopping, with its wonderful carpets and
kilims, onyx souvenirs, and very fine local
wines. It is also a wonderful region for
trekking and for photo-safaris. The scenery is
breathtaking in all four seasons: miniature
poppies in the springtime, the touring hot-air
balloons and flowers of summertime, autumn's
grapes and blaze of gold, and the winter
blanket of snow.
Devrent Valley
: The wonderful and impresive valley of fairly
chimneys. A short walk through this enchanting
valley using your imagination to see the
different shapes at the top of the fairy
chimneys.
Pancarlik Valley:
Where you can stop to see the 12th century
chruch with its splendid frescoes.
Mustafapasa (Sinasos):
The traditional stone houses with carved and
decorated facades evoke another age.
Taskinpasa:
The 14th century Karamanid Mosque and
Mausoleum Complex and the remains of a medrese
portal on the edge of town, make for a
pleasant diversion.
Zelve
: An importand and ancient town in Cappadocia
comprised of dwellings in the rocks. An
adventurous hour is spent here walking through
the three valleys in which the town was
located.
Pasabag
: (The Monks Valley) in this spectecular spot
you can see the fascinating fairy chimneys
unique to this location, as well as the
hermitages carved into fairy chimneys.
Avanos
: A charming town divided in to two by the Red
River. This town is a poterry making centre.
The ancient pottery techniques are still use
today in Avanos.
Göreme Open Air Museum
: The monastic complex of rock churches and
chapels covered with frescoes is one of the
best known sites of central Anatolia. Göreme
Town is sitvaled in the middle of the valley
cones and fairy chimneys.
Uçhisar
: The ancient citadel for a panaromic view of
the rocky Cappdocia. The castle is the highest
point in Cappadocia.
Güvercinlik
: (Pigeons Valley) A stop here
for a panaromic view of the valley and to
learn something about the importance of
pigeons in the history of Cappadocia.
Underground Cities
: The most famous, the largest and biggest
under ground city in the region eight levels
open for inspection.
Ihlara
: (Collapsed land) The Melendiz River has
eroded this impressive canyon into the walls
of which Byzantine rock chapels covered with
frescos, have been cut.
Soganli
: 50 km south of Ürgüp, is a picturesque
valley of innumerable chapels, chruches, halls,
houses and tombs. The frescoes, from the 8th
to the 13th century, trace the development of
Byzantine painting.
Devrent Valley
: 4 km north of Ürgüp, is the wonderful
weather has eroded the stone into peaks, cones
and obelisks called fairy chimneys
The
history of Cappadocia began about 10
million years ago with the eruption of
three volcanoes. The eruptions spread a
thick layer of hot volcanic ash over the
region, which hardened into a soft, porous
stone called tuff. Time, wind, water and
sand erosion wore away portions of the
tuff, carved it into elaborate and amazing
shapes.
Water has found its way through the
valleys creating cracks and ruptures in
the hard rock. The softer, easily eroded
material underneath has been gradually
swept away and the sides have thinned out.
In this way conical formations protected
with basalt caps have been created, an
this is the explanation for the formation
of the fairy chimneys seen around Urgup.
Being strategically placed on the cross-road
of major communication and trading routes
like the silkroad, Cappadocia was also
home to many different civilisations over
the centuries, beginning with the Hittite
empire. The tuff was so easy to work even
though with primitive tools thus the
inhabitants quickly carved their dwellings
caves and when the Christianity arrived
they carved many churches with beautiful
decoration.
 The
mixing of these various cultures has built
up a rich tradition of fine workmanship in
handicrafts such you can still see today
in the Avanos pottery or the handmade
carpets. Pottery-making existed here as
early as the Hittite period and carpet-weaving
was brought in by the Turk invaders.
Quality wine-making under the golden
Cappadocia sun has also long been a
traditional occupation.
Many inhabitants still make their
living from agriculture that enable Turkey
to be one of only seven countries on earth
that produce a surplus of food. The fruit
orchards, the plantation of many
vegetables and the vineyards also add
color and diversity to the landscapes.
Cappadocia exports much of this production
such as dried apricots, grapes, plums,
apples. Also its wine has often been
acclaimed in international competitions.
So we invite you to plunge deep into
the Cappadocian culture: its people, food,
music and handicrafts as well as taking in
its landscape and views.
Ürgüp, located in the heart of
Cappadocia, is an ideal place to choose as
your operational base for daily excursions
throughout this superb region .
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