Cappadocia, the City for Ancient Dweller
Cappadocia, located in Central Anatolia, Turkey is an amazing place where ancient dwellers used to live in the natural caves and hollows. This unique landscape was formed by two violent volcanic eruptions from Mt Erciyes and Mt Hasan, which took place almost millions years back. Due to this eruption the surrounding plateau region got covered with lava, ash and mud. Through out the years, wind, rain, streams and rivers have modified this volcanic landscape into numerous caves, cones and pillars in various colors.
Ancient Christian men used these caves and pillars to make their chapels and churches as well as their homes to hide from their Roman counterpart. However, this land got threatened by Arab raids, around 7th century. As the soft volcanic rock was easy to dig into, the saints developed underground shelters as an escape from any attack. These shelters consisted of all types of requirement including rooms, kitchens, churches, stables etc.
Goreme and Urgup are two important destinations, where you will get to see these evidences of cave dwellings. The rock outcrops had been carved by the early Christian saints to build up a monastery. This area has been declared as Goreme Open Air Museum, where you can spot numerous churches and chapels made from carved rocks. Among these Tokali Kilise, Elmali Kilise, Karanlik Kilise and Yilanli Kilise are the most impressive structures, containing beautiful decorative frescoes on Lord Jesus and other saints.
You can find out several man made caves on top of a cliff at Uchisar. The rocky landscape has formed into amazing shapes, cone peaks, pyramid-like towers and so on. An exquisite medieval castle is located on top, from where you can enjoy panoramic view of the Cappadocia valley.
Plenty of cone peaks or Fairy Chimneys have been found also in Zelve valley. Evidences of churches, chapels and dwelling caves too have been found in this fascinating valley. Uzumlu Kilise and Geyikli Kilise are two of the most impressive churches of this valley.
Kaymakli and Derinkuyu are the places, where you can explore the underground shelters. Here you can experience the lifestyle of early Christian saints, who used to live here in case of any outsider’s attacks.
