Turkey-Cappadocia
91 images Created 2 Apr 2009
TURKEY, CAPPADOCIA
Cappadocia's unique geological, historic and cultural landscape around the towns of Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar and Avanos is Turkey's most visually striking region. The volcanic soft rocks around Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars, the fairy chimneys, and in many centuries men have dug into the soft but firm tuff to create monasteries, churches and underground cities. This part of Central Anatolia has been important since Hittite civilisation and Göreme became a monastic center between 300-1200 AD. His Open Air Museum is the most visited site of Cappadocia, and one of the most famous sites in Turkey, a complex comprising more than 30 rock-carved churches and chapels containing superb frescoes (from 9th to the 11th century). The tourists come here to visit historic painted cave churches of monastic valleys like Göreme and Zelve, flying in a hot-air balloon at dawn above the incredible landscape, hiking valleys and sleeping in a comfortable cave room hotel.
Cappadocia's unique geological, historic and cultural landscape around the towns of Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar and Avanos is Turkey's most visually striking region. The volcanic soft rocks around Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars, the fairy chimneys, and in many centuries men have dug into the soft but firm tuff to create monasteries, churches and underground cities. This part of Central Anatolia has been important since Hittite civilisation and Göreme became a monastic center between 300-1200 AD. His Open Air Museum is the most visited site of Cappadocia, and one of the most famous sites in Turkey, a complex comprising more than 30 rock-carved churches and chapels containing superb frescoes (from 9th to the 11th century). The tourists come here to visit historic painted cave churches of monastic valleys like Göreme and Zelve, flying in a hot-air balloon at dawn above the incredible landscape, hiking valleys and sleeping in a comfortable cave room hotel.
