Cappadocia A Fairy Tale Landscape
A quick flight from Istanbul to the center of Turkey brings you to Cappadocia, a region filled with pure magic. Located in the Nevşehir Province, the area’s unique geological landscape was formed over 60 millionsof years of volcanic eruptions and erosion creating fairy chimneys and other unique rock formations. Over thousands of years, the landscape has been carved into underground cities and cave dwellings because of the extreme temperatures and invading threats, which in recent times have been turned into luxurious boutique hotels.
Exploring the region took us through valleys, towns, caves and underground cities. Overhead, thousands use the mild morning temperatures for hot air ballooning, but we preferred to see everything from the ground, and underground!
We stayed in the town of Uchisar where Uchisar Castle is perched on the highest point in Cappadocia. It offered panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes. The castle’s rooms and passages are carved into the rock, making it a unique historical site. The most luxurious of all the cave hotels is located here and is the only Relais & Chateaux property, The Museum Hotel. Built on a hillside overlooking the valley below, we enjoyed the thousands of years of Cappadocian history in every corner, the unusual “living museum” concept, and the converted cave rooms. The attention to detail, idyllic charm and impeccably presented traditional Turkish meals were second to none.
To explore the archaeological sites, we highly recommend comfortable walking shoes and clothing as the region consists of slopes, caves and underground tunnels! Our first stop was the Zelve-Paşabağlar Archaeological Site which was home to the largest cave-dwelling community in the region. Next, we visited Goreme Open Air Museum which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site where numerous rock-cut churches with beautiful frescoes dating back to the 10th century can be found.
An unforgettable experience awaited us in the largest and best-preserved underground city of the region, Kaymakli Underground City. Originally home to 3,500 people, this eight-floor underground city served as a refuge from invaders. The city is comprised of maze-like tunnels, living spaces and rooms that include living spaces, stables, food storage, wineries and anything else for underground living.
Cappadocia’s stunning landscapes and unique rock formations, historical cave dwellings and surreal landscape makes it a perfect ESCAPADITA.
