ITINERARY

• Cappadocia has a worldwide reputation for its cultural and natural beauties. Fairy chimneys, settlements carved into the rocks, valleys reflecting the dance of colors, extraordinary soil structure, luxurious cave hotels and the Open Air Museum, which has witnessed history, give this destination a well-deserved recognition. There are various panoramic viewing points to explore Cappadocia from the shortest way and witness all its beauties, and among these, Göreme Panoramic View Point continues to be the most preferred. Göreme panoramic viewing point fascinates those who want to watch the beauty of Cappadocia and the sunrise and sunset with its generosity. The most practical way to enjoy the beauty of the Cappadocia valleys, the uniqueness of the fairy chimneys and the balloons that add color to the sky is to go to the panoramic viewpoint of Göreme. The panoramic viewing point, which welcomes those who want to relax with an insatiable view, is quite crowded.
• Guvercinlik Vadisi (Pigeon Valley) earned its name from the countless man made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Since ancient times Pigeons have been used in the Cappadocia region for food and fertiliser for the infertile soil. While pigeons no longer play such an important role in the area, their rocky homes have still been maintained by locals and can be found atop rock pillars and inside excavated cave houses and churches throughout the region, however, they are particularly numerous in this valley. Pigeon Valley is one of the best spots for walking in the marvellous Cappadocia region, Central Anatolia. The valley is located between Goreme and Uchisar, where you can visit Uchisar Castle for a magnificent view, an easy hiking trail connects the two via the valley passing through rock-hewn Christian churches and abandoned cave homes.
• The prime material, onyx is a half precious stone and includes a variety of minerals inside. Following a step by step procedure the onyx master will carve one and explain to you the main steps of the process.
• One of the biggest and best-preserved underground cities in the area is Kaymakli Underground City, which is thought to have been created by the earliest Christians as a refuge to hide from persecution. We discuss the history in the previous section of this article. An intricate system of tunnels, chambers, and galleries has been excavated deep into the volcanic tuff rock at Kaymakli Underground City. There are eight floors in the city, although only four are accessible to the general public today. The underground city can hold up to 3,000 people and is over 85 meters deep. You will come across low, winding passages, steep stairs, and rooms that have seen a variety of uses as you explore Kaymakli. Water wells, storage spaces, and ventilation shafts are also visible. Some of the spaces, including a church, stables, and kitchens, were used as social gathering places. Burial chambers, which were used to bury the dead inside the city walls, are another thing you will see.
• The Ihlara Valley (or Peristrema Valley; Turkish Ihlara Vadisi) is a canyon which is 15 km long and up to 150 m deep in the southwest of the Turkish region of Cappadocia, in the municipality of Güzelyurt, Aksaray Province. The valley contains around 50 rock-hewn Christian churches and numerous rock-cut buildings. The canyon was formed in prehistoric times by the Melendiz River. It lies between the villages of Ihlara in the southeast and Selime in the northwest. At the north end of the village of Ihlara, there is a stairway with almost 400 steps, which descends over 100 m down into the canyon. From the 7th century AD, the valley was settled by Byzantine monks who dug their houses and churches out of the tuff stone, which had been deposited by the eruptions of Mount Hasan.