Cappadocia

travel wonder in Turkey

Why Cappadocia

is special

Cappadocia in Turkey has a surreal landscape fashioned by ancient floods and winds that partially eroded a volcanic based plateau. Numerous fanciful formations were created including the conical ones nicknamed fairy chimneys (see photo).

Cappadocia

tips & insights

The Cappadocia rock formations are relatively soft textured. This attribute allowed fleeing persecuted people (mainly early Christians) to carve dwellings and churches out of them.

The new arrivals also dug into the many canyon cliff walls to produce multi-story communities reached only by ladders, steep foot paths and treacherous footholds.

Most of the surviving carved-out dwellings and churches in Cappadocia date from the 10th and 11th centuries.

Some inns have such rooms (with modern amenities). I slept in one of them during my trip to Cappadocia.  Imagine the thrill of sleeping in an inn room that was built nearly a thousand years ago.

Cappadocia offers a host of other interesting experiences including touring the underground city of Derinkuyu.

Local inhabitants temporarily hid in the subterranean Derinkuyu while invading armies marched overhead.

This human warren has complex room mazes going down eight levels. Concealed wells, air shafts and food supplies made it self-sufficient for long durations.

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©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications