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Cappadocia, an ethereal slice of Turkey blemished with ‘fairy chimneys’
(bizarre pointed rock formations) has history which is as intriguing and
dramatic as its landscape. Volcanic activities formed this enigmatic landscape
which strongly resembles moon’s surface, the magma cooled off and made tuff
rocks, which after being weathered transformed into sinuous valleys with
bending cliff faces and soaring high sharp fairy chimneys. The carved out homes
of Cappadocia, pave the way for cave dwellers and urban nomads, and moreover
for the modern fairy chimney hotels.
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The area was at its zenith during the medieval times, when the valleys
were a safe haven for Byzantine Christians. The hermits established
monasteries, and their cave add a spiritual majesty to the world which reminds
us of the Flintstones. The Goreme amphitheatre, a World Heritage Site, has the
best collection of assembly halls and living quarters, most of which date back
to 10th century.
Byzantine Era frescoes
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Surviving centuries of weathering and severe vandalism, most of the
frescoes have hold on to their charm; they continue to be a vibrant and an
enchanting sight. The Dark Church has the best instances: vividly colored
angels cover up the pillars and ceilings along with the depicting of biblical
such as birth of Jesus Christ. The church has very dim natural light as a
matter of fact the enigmatic paintings still look fresh.
Exploring underground cities
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The resident Christians were executed by the Romans and then the Muslim
Knights and they often had to hide from these fierce forces. When they heard
the raider’s horses neighing and swooshing through the sands they would
evacuate the churches and seek refuge in the underground cities. Underneath the
Cappadocia’s rock formations is a complex system of cities, each of which could
hold up to 10,000 individuals at a time. The biggest subterranean city which
has been excavated by has 10 storeys.
Living like a hermit
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Fortunately, unlike olden times, living in Cappadocia has become
synonymous to being delved into luxuries. Numerous caves and fairy-chimneys
have been transformed into boutique hotels, where you can dive into monk’s
lifestyle, but with extravagance. Some of the attractions include, Turkish
baths, arched doors, panoramic balconies overlooking the valley and walls
shrouded up in volcanic hues. The tuff rocks keeps the insides cool in summer
and soothingly warmer in winters.
Courtesy: TraveleZe
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