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Valleys and
Underground Cities
| On the Nevsehir - Urgup road you can't miss Ortahisar and its rock-carved fortress. The
churches in the Balkan Valley are some of the oldest in the Goreme region.
In the neighboring Hallac Valley, the Hallac Monastery displays
decorations from the 10th and the 11th centuries. North of Ortahisar, the
Kizilcukur Valley is breathtakingly beautiful, especially at sunset. In
the valley is the 9th century Uzumlu church. |
Underground City, Kaymakli |
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Zelve |
The underground cities
of Kaymakli,
Mazi,Derinkuyu and
Ozkonak were all used by the Christians of
the seventh century, who were fleeing from persecution. They sheltered
from the iconoclastic strife of Byzantium as well as other invasions in
these safe and well-hidden metropolises. A complete and self-sufficient
environment, these cities included rooms for grain storage, stables,
sleeping chambers, kitchens and air shafts. Today, they are well-lit, and
an essential and fascinating part of a Cappadocian tour. |
| West of
Avanos, Gulsehir has Hittite rock inscriptions, and nearby, at Gokcetepe,
there is a bas-relief of Zeus. South on the Nevsehir road brings you to
the 13th century church of St. John and farther along is Aciksaray, where
the carved rocks hold churches and chapels. |
A disco in the underground city,
Kaymakli |
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