Cappadocia

General Information

Cappadocia: the site of nature’s wonderful formations, a central Anatolian and world heritage with a history dating back to 3000 B.C

This awesome geography where history and nature intertwines has been host to many civilizations throughout the centuries. The unique volcanic landscape of the region took shape as a result of the erosion of the volcanic layers which spread through the area with the eruption of Erciyes, Hasandag and Güllüdag mountains about 60 million years ago.

Cappadocia, which means “land of beautiful horses,”in Persian language, has been the hub of many civilizations and a gigantic shelter and center for Christians who fled from the Roman Empire during the Hittite period and hid in the houses and churches carved inside of rocks.

With the formation of fairy chimneys in time, the local communities carved houses and churches into these rocks and made frescoes inside of these structures connecting the past with the present.

A district of Nevşehir and one of the key points of the Silk Road, Cappadocia is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

If you are ready to go on a journey to dreamland, Cappadocia is waiting to introduce you to all of its mysteries!

Attractions

Cappadocia, one of the most generous regions of Anatolia, was formed by nature’s magic hand.

Cappadocia and its surrounding area began to take shape 60 million years ago when the volcanic layer of lava and ashes covered the landscape upon the eruption of the volcanic mountains Erciyes, Hasandag and Güllüdag. The volcanic landscape took its final shape within time due to erosion caused by wind and rain.

The fairy chimneys of Cappadocia took form over millions of years and are among the most beautiful examples of nature’s own design. The fairy chimneys and the houses and churches carved by settlers out of these rocks have been preserved for centuries with great care. The fairy chimneys and magnificent frescoes carved inside are among the must-see sites.

The Goreme Open Air Museum, has a large collection of relics and structures of the Christian culture that presided in Cappadocia over a long time. Especially the churches carved into the rocks are monumental structures and forerunners of natural architecture. More than 250 churches, such as the Tokali Kilise (Church of the Buckle), Rahibeler Manastırı (Monastery of Nuns), Yilanli Kilise (the Snake Church) and the Chapel of St. Barbara wait for their visitors.

Ortahisar Castle carved into the rocks at an altitude of 1200 meters during Hittite period was built to protect the city but also used as a settlement. It is possible to take amazing pictures of Cappadocia from this height.

Çatalhöyük is another historical site worth seeing. It is close to Cappadocia and one of the first pro-city settlements of the world. The mound with the world's oldest landscape painting sheds light to the Neolithic period when the transition to settled life occurred.

Populated with, underground cities and caves the region harbors a great variety of artifacts and ruins that provide invaluable information on all historical epochs dating from the prehistoric periods. Mounds such as Alacahöyük and Karahöyük as well as seven-layered underground cities such as Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Mazı and Civelek Cave are among the witnesses of history located in this region.

Additionally, Cappadocia has many relics belonging to Seljukian and Ottoman cultures. The tomb of Haci Bektas Veli, Balım Evi, Cuma Mosque are among the structures worth visiting.

One of the most popular and enjoyable aspects of Cappadocia are the spectacular ballon flights unfertaken in the area. The balloon cruises start early in the morning and offer awesome views of the landscape populated with fairy chimneys. You will experience unforgettable moments observing the ever-changing colors of the sunrise illuminating the historical beauties of the region.

Cappadocia has a variety of specialities identified with the Nevsehir cuisine. Especially Testi Kebabı, a unique local dish will leave an unforgettably delicious taste in your mouth with its juicy soft meat cooked in special, covered crocks. Once the meal is cooked, the crock is cracked to get the meal out. Apart from that the region is also known for its large vineyards and tasty wines.

Visitors who want to explore the history and natural wonders of ancient times are more than welcome in Cappadocia.

Events

Cappadocia, the site where nature and history harmonize, organizes various festivals and events to entertain its guests all the year round.

Haci Bektas Veli Memorial is held in August every year and offers entertaining activities to participants from many countries of the world.

Sports enthusiasts show great interest in the Cappadocia Cycling Tour
organized with the participation of contestants from all over the world every year in June. Both competitors and the audience have a great time.

Organized annually in September, the Avanos International Tourism and Crafts Festival is another important event promoting the touristic assets of the region.

Cappadocia offering many activities, natural wonders and historical sites is surely worth the visit.

How can I get there?

Cappadocia is located in the Central Anatolian region and easy to reach.

One way to get to Cappadocia is to take a direct flight from any of the major airports in Turkey to either Kayseri Airport or Nevsehir Cappadocia Airport both of which are quite close to the region. The shuttles and other transportation vehicles stationed outside of the exit gate will take you to the right destination in a short time.

Alternatively Cappadocia can be reached via highway. Nevsehir is located at the intersection point of highways and offers regular transportation between any city of Turkey and Nevşehir. The shuttles and similar transportation devices leaving from the Nevşehir Central Bus station will take you to Cappadocia shortly.

Cappadocia is waiting for its visitors who do not want to miss the chance to explore its mysteries.

Source: http://goturkey.com/

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