Cappadocia (Turkey) is the very heart of the country, which is interesting for tourists with historical and natural attractions. From our article you will learn about the history of this part of the world and what you can see here.
What is interesting Cappadocia (Turkey). sights
The modern tourist center of the country meets annually thousands of tourists from around the world. For guests, hotels and hotels of various levels have been built, many entertainments and interesting excursions have been thought out. Here you can go skiing, take part in a national holiday, take a trip in a balloon, and also see the true treasures of Christian culture. What can tourists do in Cappadocia?
- Visit the capital of the region of Kayseri (Caesarea) and visit local museums.
- Take the time and money to take a balloon and explore the land from a bird's eye view.
- Take a ride on a scooter and enjoy the local natural landscapes.
- Take a walk around Göreme, look at souvenir shops and buy unusual souvenirs from memory.
- Visit the underground city and learn all about the life of the first Christians.
- Visit the open-air museum and explore the ancient frescoes on the walls.
- Take a trip to Avanos - the city of potters - and admire the handmade ceramic gizmos.
- Climb to the top of the fortress in Uchisar and enjoy the sunset of extraordinary beauty.
The ancient cities of Cappadocia (Turkey)
The first Christians in the third century began to actively develop the area between the largest cities in this area - Caesarea, Nazianzus and Nyssa. They expanded and deepened the cave structures of the time of the Hittite kingdom, created huge cities with a population of more than 10,000 people at that time, and built real underground labyrinths. Cappadocia (Turkey) is known throughout the Christian world for the following cities:
- Ugryup is an ancient settlement located on the side of a mountain. Unique houses are caves and are only partially visible on the surface. It was here, in one of these dwellings, that Saint lived and prayed. John of Russia.
- Nevsehir - is located in the central part of the Anatolian plateau, on the territory of which (according to one version) the ancient city of Nissa was located. To the outskirts of Nevsehir approach the slopes of the mountains, mottled with dilapidated failure houses, in which until recently the townspeople lived. The eruptions of the volcanoes of Erdzhiyas and Hasandag led to the fact that the earth was covered with a layer of tuff. Over time, the soft breed has undergone changes and acquired bizarre forms. “Fairy trumpets” are called by locals amazing pyramids and cones of different colors.
- Derinkuyu - an underground city that served the seventh century Christians as a shelter from the Arabs oppressing them. It is believed that it has as many as 20 floors, but archaeologists have so far been able to study only 11. Unfortunately, visitors can see only a small part of the premises, ventilation shafts and outbuildings. On the surface you will not be bored either. For example, you can explore the beautiful but abandoned Greek monastery and mosque, which was also originally a Christian church.
- Kaymakli is another large underground city, which is connected by a tunnel to Derinkuyu. To date , archaeologists have excavated eight of its floors and opened the top four to visit. Tourists can see here an extensive system of rooms, ventilation shafts, utility rooms and wells.
Pilgrimage Tours
Christians come to this wonderful land to worship the holy places and see the ancient ruins with their own eyes. It was here that the sermon of St. Paul sounded, and it was this land that became the birthplace of many saints and fathers of the church, who made a huge contribution to the formation of the teachings of Orthodoxy. It is not surprising that constant persecution, a sense of danger, and a willingness to die for faith influenced the spread of monastic feat. Monuments of human stamina and spiritual enlightenment can be shown to pilgrims Turkey (Cappadocia). Tours in Goreme are very popular, because here you can see more than 20 churches carved in the rocks and several monasteries. The greatest value of this place is the frescoes created in the 9-13th centuries.
Valley of illahar
This is another famous attraction that Cappadocia (Turkey) values. It is a natural canyon of volcanic origin with a length of 14 kilometers. Tourists who come here need to have good physical fitness and be properly dressed. To go down to the bottom of the canyon, you must go through a staircase with more than 400 steps. And in order to inspect the temples carved into the rock, they will need to climb steep ladders without a railing, squeeze into narrow crevices and make their way along barely noticeable paths at a dizzying height.
Be sure to visit Kirm-Damalti-kilis - the Church of St. George (Cappadocia, Turkey). The tour will be interesting, because you can see the paintings of seven hundred years ago, which are better preserved than in other places. You can also visit the Temple with terraces, the Snake Temple, the Church of St. Daniel and the Fragrant Temple.
Tourists reviews
The Russians who visited the historical region of the country do not regret the time spent in it. They enthusiastically talk about the unusual natural beauties and monuments of ancient architecture. Someone was more impressed by the blocks of stone in the form of mushrooms, someone - underground cities, and someone seriously interested in studying the historical events that are rich in Cappadocia (Turkey). Many tourists say that they learned about this place by chance. Unfortunately, most Russians enjoy a vacation on the coast and have never been to these amazing places.
Conclusion
If you are going on vacation to Turkey, then take the time and visit the central part of the country. We are sure that you will be impressed by the cultural heritage left by the first Christians and will be surprised by the natural beauty of the region. Cappadocia (Turkey) will leave in your memory a lasting impression and many beautiful photographs.