The most extraordinary place on Earth... an alien world with lunar landscapes.
Valleys and underground cities.
“On the UNESCO World Heritage List”
The history of Cappadocia goes back centuries. For many centuries, people rushed to Asia Minor, and from there they scattered around the world. European and Asian conquerors crossed this land from end to end, leaving behind unique cultural monuments.
The history of Cappadocia goes back centuries. For many centuries, people rushed to Asia Minor, and from there they scattered around the world. European and Asian conquerors crossed this land from end to end, leaving behind unique cultural monuments.
But the kingdoms are not eternal - about 1200 BC. e. the Hittite empire fell under the onslaught of the "sea peoples" and the Phrygians.
The Persian era that replaced them stretched out until the invasion of Alexander the Great. And by the way, the very name of Cappadocia goes back to the Persian “katpatuka”, which means “Land of beautiful horses”. Alexander the Great flashed through the history of Cappadocia like a meteor. In an incredibly short time, he managed not only to free Anatolia from the Persians, but also contributed to the rapid spread of Greek culture. Rome put an end to the continuous internecine wars that began after the death of Alexander the Great, annexing Anatolia to its vast empire.
Speaking of Cappadocia, it is impossible to leave aside Christianity. Having originated in Roman Palestine, it surprisingly quickly gained a foothold in these places, which was largely the result of the missionary activity of Saints Peter and Paul, who lived and preached at that time in the lands of Anatolia. And in the III century Cappadocia becomes one of the main centers of Christianity, but reaches its greatest prosperity during the Byzantine Empire. Cappadocia, as a "country of churches", as the spiritual center of the whole of Anatolia, existed until the 11th century.
Under Emperor Roman IV Diogenes in 1071, a decisive battle took place with the army of the Seljuk Turks led by Alpaslan. Despite the huge numerical superiority over the irregular Turkish cavalry, the Byzantine troops were defeated. Diogenes himself was captured and bought life at the expense of part of his lands. Cappadocia was one of them...
The Seljuks professed Islam, and with their appearance a new religion came to the territory of Cappadocia, but at the same time, many churches survived and even new ones were built. The capital of the Seljuk state was the city of Konya, which was then part of the Cappadocian lands. And a little later, the first mosques and a medresse were erected in the city, and we will hear the philosopher Mevlana with the words “Come, come, whoever you are, come anyway, Unbeliever, fire worshiper or pagan, come anyway, Our house is not a place of despair, Even if you I broke my oath a hundred times, come anyway...”
From the 13th century, the Ottoman state continued to develop the culture begun by the former states, and until the founding of the Republic of Turkey in the 20th century, Christians, Muslims and Jews settled here to live, preserving their traditions to this day.
Fairyland Cappadocia
Erciyes, Khasandag, Melendiz and Gulludag mountains were active volcanoes 60-70 million years ago. The peak of their activity fell on the period of the late Miocene and the ash they threw out covered the vast territory of Cappadocia.
Lava ejected from volcanoes, in turn, covered the tuff cover with a thinner basalt layer. After a few million years, the activity of volcanoes decreased and a period of rainy climate began. The final formation of the bizarre appearance of the current Cappadocia was completed by rivers, streams and streams, crossing the plateau in all directions. Due to the sharply continental climate of Cappadocia with sudden and significant temperature changes, cracks formed in the rocks. Where the tuff was covered from above with a basalt crust, the water could not wash it off and the famous stone pillars or stone mushrooms were formed ... the so-called fairy fireplaces (in Turkish “ peri bacaları”).
People also put their hands on this transformation, having lived here for hundreds of thousands of years and adapted a significant part of the stone formations for housing and outbuildings.
Goreme center of Cappadocia
The town of Goreme, like dozens of neighboring valleys, was formed as a result of volcanic eruptions.
There are many natural attractions around the city. Göreme, is the center of the "National Historical and Natural Park" of the same name, which covers an area of 300 km². Valley of Love, Pigeon Valley, Meskendir, Red and Pink valleys, all of them are within the national park. The national park and cave settlements of Cappadocia are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Open-air museum
There are about 400 churches in the Goreme region and the immediate surroundings. It is the largest, most famous and most visited monastery complex in Cappadocia. In the first centuries of Christianity, believers fled here from Jerusalem and other places to escape the persecution of the Romans. There are 10 churches and chapels of the 9th-12th centuries on the territory of the museum. They are built in the Byzantine style - with arches, columns and capitals, and decorated in a unique Cappadocian style. Due to the moisture resistance of the tuff and the constant climate inside the building, not subject to fluctuations in the temperature of the external environment, the colors here have retained their brightness over many centuries. Biblical and gospel stories are accompanied by inscriptions made in Greek, Cyrillic and Latin
Rock Fortresses
In Cappadocia, large monolithic rocks are very common. We can say that the largest and most visited in our time, three of them: Bashhisar, Ortahisar and Uchisar.
Since the material of these rocks is volcanic tuff and can be easily processed, almost all of these rocks, as early as the Hittite period (1800 - 1180 BC) were used as fortifications.
Rock fortresses carved into the tuff to protect against advancing enemies were often used in the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods.
Underground Cities
The dry and barren highlands of central Cappadocia in Turkey provided an ideal refuge for the early Christians who established their first settlements here. In the soft volcanic rocks they carved halls, vaults and labyrinth-like tunnels, building churches, houses and stables here. Of the 40 underground cities and towns discovered in Cappadocia, the cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli are the largest and most interesting. They were inhabited by Christians who fled from the religious persecution of the Romans in the 1st-4th centuries and the invasions of the Arabs in the 7th century.These underground cities were hidden from prying eyes, well-organized, safe and self-sufficient residential complexes that could accommodate up to 30,000 people.
Hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia
There are events and adventures in this world for which it is worth waking up at half past four in the morning. Meeting the dawn in a hot air balloon over the picturesque landscape of Cappadocia is one of them. Over the course of several minutes, sunlight gradually fills the cliffs, valleys and gorges, changing around the colors from hazy blue to orange, pink and finally yellow. This is one of the most stunning sights in Turkey.
Flying in a hot air balloon is one of the most incomparable thrills that Cappadocia can give you.
Program:
Excursion to Cappadocia starts early in the morning. Traveling in the Taurus Mountains, we come to the city of Konya. This is the capital of the Seljuk state and here we visit the Mevlana Museum, where you will feel mysticism, feel the spirit of the dervishes of the 13th century.
The road will continue along the Silk Road, and this time we will stop at the Caravanserai, built every 40 km throughout the entire territory of the Seljuk state. After that we will arrive in Cappadocia.
Tour details
Duration: 2 days
Route: Antalya - Manavgat - Akseki - Konya - Aksaray - Nevsehir - Kaymakli - Yurgup - Goreme
Included:
- Professional licensed guide
- Private transport
- Mevlana Museum
- Caravanserai
- Göreme Open Museum
- Kaymakli Underground City
- Zelve Valley and Pasha Baglary
- Accommodation in a 4* hotel half board.
- 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and dinner.
For additional Fee:
- Dark Church Museum
- Hot air balloon ride
- Turkish night
- Dervishes dance
- drinks
With you:
- passport
- warm clothes
- hats
- sunglasses and creams
- comfortable shoes
- cameras
- money for extra. expenses
Start: 05:30
Return: 21:00 +1 day
***Don't forget to order breakfast at the hotel the night before and pick it up from the reception in the morning!