Cappadocia
Travellers experience another world in the ancient region of Cappadocia in central Turkey.
In the heartland of Turkey, Cappadocia is dotted with towns that bridge both ancient and modern times, including Mustafapasa, Avanos, Uçhisar, Göreme and Ürgüp. Regular airline and rail services are available from the Turkish capital of Ankara, and from the eastern metropolis of Istanbul to Kayseri, the largest city close to the most frequently visited sites in Cappadocia.
Cappadocia, known also as the ‘land of beautiful horses’, presents a kaleidoscope of varied activities. Millions of years of erosion carved extensive caves in the soft sedimentary rock, and its earliest dwellers transformed these natural phenomena into homes, churches and other useful areas that constitute underground cities. In Göreme, the waters left impressive formations, such as minarets, soaring pillars of stone, and spectacular chimneys wrought by the hand of nature. Recorded history conveys stories of inhabitants of the region dating to Roman times, and their legacy brings thousands to Cappadocia each year. Accommodation is readily available, and a number of unique cave hotel options are reasonably priced.
Erosion, active from three to nine million years ago, also created the Cappadocian moonscape, a spectacle like nothing else on Earth. Such vistas are a short distance from several towns in the region. Travellers typically enjoy the monasteries and painted cave churches of the Göreme Valley, horseback riding across the countryside, hiking along the network of trails, and even a thrilling hot-air balloon ride to observe the landscape in an unparalleled panorama.
Full-day excursions are common in Cappadocia, and guided tours are recommended. Visitors can choose from several that include the ‘fairy chimneys’ in the Devrent and Pasabag valleys, the Göreme Open-Air Museum, Uçhisar Castle, the Derinkuyu and Kaymakli underground cities, and Anatolian churches. Göreme National Park and the underground cities are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Göreme Open-Air Museum is one of the most famous attractions in all of Turkey and among the most visited of Cappadocia’s monastic community attractions. Dating from the 9th and 11th centuries, more than 30 churches and other centres of worship carved from the sedimentary rock are accessible at the museum, and several contain beautiful frescoes.
Ecologically minded travellers can find tours, activities and hotels that are environmentally aware, leaving minimal impact on the ancient beauty and timeless monuments of nature found in this striking location.