The heart of present-day Turkey is Cappadocia, a historic district located in the central part of the country that looks as if you are on another planet.
If you go on a trip to Cappadocia, you will be able to experience unique landscapes, snow-capped volcanoes, rocky outcrops and fertile valleys. And one of Cappadocia's most interesting sights is its underground cities.
After the 3rd century, Christians began to actively explore the area between the three major cities in Cappadocia – Nisen, Nazianzen and Caesarea. They used the underground shelters dug, according to historians, before, and gradually expanded and deepened the cave structures and created a real underground world. Today, this ancient underworld is open to visitors and you can see sections on five levels.
Offers to Cappadocia often include a visit to Nevsehir – one of the few cities where people live as they did 500 years ago – in caves turned into modern homes. Goreme is the main attraction of the area – an open-air museum that includes about 30 cave churches. Derinkuyu is an ancient underground city near Nevsehir, built in the 8-7th century BC.
Against the backdrop of ancient landmarks, modern-day Cappadocia is a major tourist destination, attracting more than one million foreign tourists each year, mainly from Western Europe, India, China, Japan and America. There are various quality hotels for tourists – from luxury to basic. Holidays in Cappadocia offer a variety of recreational services – skiing, ethnic festivals, ballooning.
For a first-time visitor to Cappadocia, exploring the region often begins with a visit to the capital Kaiseri (Caesarea). It is a major industrial city and administrative center, with a population of over one million people, with typical modern multi-storey buildings. Here you will find archaeological and ethnographic museums with interesting collections.
Rent a scooter and explore the area with its many landscapes, or hop on a balloon in the sky to see the beauty of the valley with a bird's eye view and take unique pictures.
Take the streets of Goreme, browse the souvenir shops, or enjoy the ancient murals on the walls of the temples dug into the rocks.
In the late afternoon, try one of the local specialties at one of the street restaurants. You can then climb Mount Yuchhisar and contemplate the setting sun above the rocks.
