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There are three cities surrounding Cappadocia which are Nevsehir, Urgup and Avanos. Three million years ago the region was erupted of the Mountain Erciyes and Mountain Hasan. In the middle of these three cities the world famous town Goreme with its rock churches is located. ...
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With the natural effects of the river Kizilirmak and the wind shaped the soft volcanic rocks and formed the Fairy Chimneys. It took millions of years to form a layer of tuff of the ash from the volcanoes. The very hot and very cold water as well as rain and the wind formed the rocks. |
During the beginning of the Christianity many cave churches and monasteries were made here. The Goreme Open Air Museum, Ihlara Valley, Kaymakli and Derinkuyu underground cities, Fairy Chimneys, Avonos, Zelve and Urgup are worth seeing in the region.
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The Bible's New Testament speaks of Cappadocia but in fact this part of Central Anatolia has been important since Hittite times, long before the time of Jesus. Bounded by the towns of Hacibektas, Aksaray, Nigde and Kayseri, it was known as Cappadocia in ancient times, and is still called Kapadokya informally today. |
It's Turkey's most visually striking region, especially the "moonscape" area around the towns of Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos and Mustafapasa, where erosion has formed caves, clefts, "fairy chimneys" and sensuous folds in the soft volcanic rock. The center of interest is the Göreme Valley, filled with rock-hewn churches decorated with medieval frescoes.
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Although the volcanic landscape can appear inhospitable, the mineral-rich soil is excellent for growing vegetables and fruits, making Cappadocia a rich agricultural region. It has always been one of Anatolia's prime grape-growing areas, and still boasts many productive vineyards and wineries. |
The fascinating landscape is perfect for hikes in such places as the Ihlara Valley and Rose Valley; for hot-air balloon flights at dawn; and for visits to the surprising underground cities at Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, and the Byzantine Iconoclastic rock-hewn monastery at Eski Gümüsler near Nigde. Cappadocia was an important district of the Hittite Empire, then an independent kingdom, and was later mentioned in the Bible as a large and important Roman province.
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