Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatoliain West Asia, with a smaller part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east; Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south; and the Aegean Sea, Greece, and Bulgaria to the west. Turkey is home to over 86 million people;most are ethnic Turks, while Kurds are the largest ethnic minority.Officially a secular state, Turkey has a Muslim-majority population. Ankara is Turkey's capital and second-largest city. Istanbul is its largest city and economic center. Other major cities include İzmir, Bursa, and Antalya.
KARİYE MOSQUE, INDISPENSABLE TO THE WORLD OF PAINTING
Formerly Church of St. Saviour in Chora is renowned worldwide for its well-preserved mosaics and frescoes. It presents important and beautiful examples of East Roman painting in its last period. The idea of depth in mosaics and the moving style in figures are of outstanding artistic significance in the Middle Ages, foretelling the Renaissance period.
Balat, Fatih
Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi
Gülhane Park (Turkish: Gülhane Parkı, "Rosehouse Park") is a historical urban park in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey; it covers an area of 9.7 ha,is adjacent to and on the grounds of the Topkapı Palace. The south entrance of the park sports one of the larger gates of the palace. It is the oldest and one of the most expansive public parks in Istanbul.
The Tulip in Turkey
The Turkish love affair with tulips lasted for more than 400 years, passing through two distinct ages of obsession.
The Country that Brought Tulips to the West
As the Ottomans grew more powerful and stable, their cities became known for fabulous gardens. They grew tulips in glorious profusion along with other wildflowers, including violets, roses, narcissus, saffron crocus, and Persian lilac. The tulip was often embroidered as a lucky talisman on garments worn under armor in battle. It also figures in the accounts of an ill-fated battle between Turks and Serbs in the late 14th century, when a field strewn with severed heads in bloody turbans was compared to a field of tulips. The tulip was memorialized in poetry, decorated tiles and ceramics, and woven into the designs of textiles like carpets and shawls.
In the first centuries of Ottoman rule, gardeners made few attempts to alter wildflowers through breeding, but by the time Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ascended the throne in 1520, things had begun to change.
Suleiman adored tulips. His clothes were heavily embroidered with them and he charged his subjects with supplying vast numbers of tulips in tithe. The best of these graced Suleiman’s private garden, know as the Abode of Bliss. A lush sanctuary, it was carefully tended by professional gardeners, graced with musical streams, pavilions and flowers. There the sultan’s concubines, slaves, and retainers spoke a unique dialect, and noblemen frequently decorated their turbans or tulipans with a single tulip. It is from this practice, observed by European travelers and diplomats, that we get the English word for tulip.
The name of the period derives from the tulip craze among the Ottoman court society. Cultivating this culturally ambiguous emblem had become a celebrated practice.[1] The Tulip Period illustrated the conflicts brought by early modern consumer culture. During this period the elite and high-class society of the Ottoman period had established an immense fondness for the tulip, which were utilized in various occasions. Tulips defined nobility and privilege, both in terms of goods and leisure time.
Sultanahmet Park
TOPKAPI PALACE
OTTOMAN IMPERIAL PALACE
it served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans:
Topkapı Palace (Topkapı Sarayı) and harem are likely to have more colourful stories than most of the world's museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. A visit to the palace's opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury and sprawling Harem gives a fascinating glimpse into their lives.
It has many exhibion halls, Treasury section, and Harem.Mehmet the Conqueror built the first stage of the palace shortly after the Conquest in 1453, and lived here until his death in 1481. Subsequent sultans lived in this rarefied environment until the 19th century, when they moved to the ostentatious European-style palaces they built on the shores of the Bosphorus. Before you enter the palace's Imperial Gate (Bab-ı Hümayun), take a look at the ornate structure in the cobbled square just outside. This is the rococo-style Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III, built in 1728 by the sultan who so favoured tulips. The main ticket office is in the First Court, just before the gate to the Second Court.
Fountain of Ahmed III
Carpet Museum
The Baghdad Pavilion of the Topkapi Palace: A Jewel of Ottoman Architecture
The Baghdad Pavilion was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed III in the early 18th century, during a period that marked the zenith of Ottoman cultural and artistic expression known as the Tulip Era (1718-1730). This era was characterized by a flourishing of arts, literature, and architecture, influenced by both local traditions and the broader European artistic trends of the time.
The pavilion was built to commemorate the successful Ottoman campaign to reclaim Baghdad from Persian control in 1733. This military victory was significant, not only for its political implications but also for its symbolic value, representing the strength and stability of the Ottoman Empire. The pavilion served as a retreat for the sultan and his court, allowing them to escape the formalities of palace life and enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.
Architectural Design
The Baghdad Pavilion is a stunning example of Ottoman architecture, blending traditional styles with innovative elements that reflect the artistic trends of the early 18th century. Situated in the Fourth Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace, the pavilion offers breathtaking views of the Bosphorus and the surrounding gardens.
Structure and Layout
The pavilion is characterized by its rectangular plan and a central dome,which is supported by four large arches. The façade is adorned with intricate tile work, featuring floral patterns and geometric designs that are hallmarks of Ottoman artistry. The use of vibrant colors, particularly blues and greens, enhances the visual appeal of the structure.
Inside, the pavilion is divided into several rooms, each designed with a specific purpose. The main reception room, known for its elaborate ceiling and decorative elements, served as a space for entertaining guests and holding important meetings. The interior walls are lined with exquisite İznik tiles, which depict various motifs, including flowers, birds, and calligraphy.
Decorative Elements
One of the most striking features of the Baghdad Pavilion is its rich decorative scheme. The use of İznik tiles is particularly noteworthy, as these tiles were produced in the town of İznik, famous for its high-quality ceramics. The tiles in the pavilion showcase the mastery of Ottoman artisans, combining vibrant colors and intricate patterns that create a harmonious visual experience.
In addition to the tile work, the pavilion is adorned with woodwork and stucco decorations that exemplify the craftsmanship of the era. The ceilings feature elaborate floral motifs, while the windows are framed with beautifully carved wooden elements that allow natural light to filter into the space, creating an inviting ambiance.
Cultural Significance
The Baghdad Pavilion is not only an architectural marvel but also a cultural landmark that reflects the values and aspirations of the Ottoman Empire during the 18th century. As a symbol of the empire’s military prowess, it serves as a reminder of the significance of Baghdad in Ottoman history.
A Space for Diplomacy and Culture
The pavilion functioned as a venue for diplomatic meetings, cultural gatherings, and artistic performances. It was a place where the sultan could interact with his advisors, foreign dignitaries, and artists, fostering an environment of intellectual exchange and cultural collaboration. This aspect of the pavilion underscores the importance of diplomacy and culture in the governance of the Ottoman Empire.
Influence on Ottoman Art and Architecture
The design and decoration of the Baghdad Pavilion also had a lasting impact on Ottoman art and architecture. The use of vibrant colors, intricate tile work, and elaborate wood carvings became defining characteristics of later Ottoman structures. The pavilion’s aesthetic principles can be seen in various other buildings constructed during the late Ottoman period, as artists and architects drew inspiration from its beauty and elegance.
Today, the Baghdad Pavilion is part of the Topkapi Palace Museum, which attracts millions of visitors each year. The pavilion has been preserved to showcase its architectural and artistic significance, allowing visitors to appreciate the splendor of the Ottoman Empire.
Kemal Paşa Mosque
DAY3
Süleymaniye Camii
Suleymaniye Mosque
It is also the largest Ottoman-era mosque in Istanbul. Like other Ottoman imperial mosques, the Suleymaniye Mosque is part of a large complex that includes madrasas , imarets , darüşşifâs , sibyan mektebi , cemeteries , and various social buildings . In the covered cemetery behind the qibla wall of the mosque are the octagonal tombs of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife, Hurrem Sultan .
The Süleymaniye Mosque and its surrounding conservation area is one of the four components of the “ Historic Areas of Istanbul ” included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is protected under cultural criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). Located within the Historical Peninsula , this area has received various conservation statuses at different times: it was registered as an urban and historical conservation area in 1981, and re-registered as an Archaeological, Urban Archaeological, Historical and Urban Site in 1995. Within the area, there are 920 registered properties, including monumental structures and examples of civil architecture.
In the center of the mosque courtyard, surrounded by 28 arcades, is a rectangular fountain . On the qibla side of the mosque is a mausoleum containing the tombs of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife, Hürrem Sultan . The dome of Sultan Suleiman's tomb is decorated from the inside with diamonds (or gemstones) set between metallic plates, giving the image of a star-filled sky.
The mosque has a simple structure in terms of its ornamentation. The windows on the mihrab wall are decorated with stained glass. The tile medallions above the windows on either side of the mihrab contain verses from the Surah al- Fath, while the 41st verse of the Surah al-Fatir is inscribed in the center of the mosque's main dome . The calligrapher of the mosque is Hasan Çelebi .
The Suleymaniye Mosque has four minarets. This is because Suleiman the Magnificent was the fourth sultan after the conquest of Istanbul; the ten balconies on these four minarets are a sign that he was the tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Süleymaniye Mosque as described by Evliya Çelebi
The colorful stained glass on the mihrab and minbar is the work of Ibrahim the Drunkard. Each piece of glass is adorned with hundreds of thousands of pieces of colorful scrap glass, flowers, and the beautiful names of God; these are praised worldwide by travelers by land and sea, and their equal has never been seen in the heavens... The master who worked the marble has made a muezzin's platform on a slender column , as if it were one of the platforms of paradise... Above the mihrab, the verse "Whenever Zechariah entered the mihrab, he found food beside him" (Ali Imran: 37) is written in gold and blue in the Karahisari script.
And to the right and left of the mihrab are spiral, ornate columns, and there, on candlesticks as tall as a man, polished with pure copper and pure gold, are twenty kantar each of camphor wax candles. In the left corner of the mosque, on a column, is a high platform, the Sultan's private chamber ... at the corners of the four columns are four small prayer niches... on both sides of the mosque are side galleries... again, on slender columns, overlooking the sea and facing the market on the right... when the congregation is large, they worship in these galleries... on blessed nights they light lamps, all twenty-two thousand lamps and chandeliers hanging. Inside this mosque, at the back, on the side of the Qibla Gate, there is a fountain on two pillars, and under some arches are the Upper Treasury Prayer Niches.
The calligraphy of Ahmed Karahisari, both inside and outside this mosque, is neither written nor likely to be written today. Firstly, in the very center of the large dome, it reads: " Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth so that their balance is not disrupted. And if their balance were to be disrupted, none could hold them except Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing, Forgiving." (Fatir 41). Inside the half-dome above the mihrab... is the verse (Enam 79). And at the corners of the four pillars are written the names of Allah, Muhammad, Abu Bakr, Omar, Osman, Ali, Hasan, and Hussein. And above the window to the right of the minbar... is the verse (Jinn 18). Above the upper windows are the beautiful names of Allah.
The aforementioned gates of the mosque and the three magnificent gates of the sacred harem are accessed and descended via stone steps... and all four sides of this courtyard are facing windows, crafted by the blacksmith Davudi with such skill that not a speck of dust has touched their polish to this day; they shine like Nakhchivani gold. And all the glass on these windows...in the middle there is a magnificent pool...the qibla gate of the courtyard is a magnificent gate of happiness, higher than all other gates, with a threshold of white raw marble, and a multi-layered, arched, hooked and ornate gate like it, never seen on earth, it is all raw marble...And this mosque has four minarets, each of which is a place for the call to prayer of Muhammad...four minarets, ten layers...the three-balcony minaret on the left is called the Jewel Minaret...and this mosque has forty taps on each side for refreshing ablution.
The mosque's foundation, its meticulously laid structure, its elegance and beauty, and its captivating array of artistic elements are all present both inside and outside. Indeed, upon its completion, the great architect Sinandeclared: "My Sultan, I have built you a mosque such that on the Day of Judgment, when Hallaj al-Mansur throws the mountains of Makalidi Cibal and Demavend like cotton wool from his bow, the dome of this mosque will praise his rank and glory like a polo ball before Mansur's bowstring."
In front of the mihrab, a short distance away, lies a rose garden spanning half the world, within a wide avenue, the tomb of Suleiman Khan —may his soul rest in peace—under a high dome.
The mosque has an additional outer courtyard on three sides, two flanked by a sandy plain the length of a horse's pace, a large courtyard adorned with various majestic plane trees, weeping willows, cypresses, linden trees, elms, and ash trees, all surrounded by walls with windows and ten gates in total...the bathhouse gate facing east...a staircase leads to the bathhouse, but on this side there is no courtyard wall; instead, a low wall has been built on one side for viewing the city of Istanbul. The entire congregation stands there and can see the Sultan's Palace, Üsküdar , Boğazhisar , Beşiktaş , Tophane , Galata , Kasımpaşa , and Okmeydanı in all directions.
To the right and left of this mosque are four large madrasas for the sheikhs of the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence, a darulhadis (school of hadith) , a darulkurra (school of Quranic recitation), a medical school , a primary school, a hospital , a soup kitchen, a refectory, a guesthouse for travelers, a caravanserai , a palace for the Janissary commander, a bathhouse for jewelers, metalworkers, shoemakers, and half of the world's light, and a thousand servants' houses...
According to the accounts of the building supervisor , overseer, and trustee, when the Süleymaniye Mosque was completed , it cost 8 times 100,000 and ninety thousand three thousand three hundred and eighty-three loads of florins." (Gökyay 343-60)
The medical madrasa and hospital located within the Süleymaniye Complex were centers of learning where ancient medical knowledge inherited from centers such as Ancient Greece, Byzantium, Seljuk, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Transoxiana and Syria was carefully examined, reviewed and corrected, useful knowledge was reproduced, developed, disseminated, original knowledge was created, financed through the waqf system, legitimized at all levels and put into circulation. Among those who founded modern medicine were Osman Saib Efendi, Abdülhak Molla and Mustafa Behçet Efendi , who received their education at the Süleymaniye Medical Madrasa
Denizli Çardak Airport
Denizli Çardak Airport (IATA: DNZ, ICAO: LTAY) is an airport located in Çardak, Denizli Province, Turkey. It is the airport serving the Aegan city of Denizli. The airport is operated by the General Directorate of State Airports, as is the case with many other airports in Turkey.
Kütahya
Kütahya (Turkish pronunciation: [cyˈtahja]) is a city in western Turkey which lies on the Porsuk River, at 969 metres above sea level. It is the seat of Kütahya Province and Kütahya District.[3] Its population is 263,863 (2022).The region of Kütahya has large areas of gentle slopes with agricultural land culminating in high mountain ridges to the north and west.
DAY4
Pamukkale
Pamukkale Melrose Viewpoint Suites
Kadıoglu Cad Cay Sokak No:7 Pamukkale Denizli, Kavakbasi, 20280, Turkey
Pamukkale, (Turkish pronunciation: [paˈmuk̚kale]) meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral left by the flowing of thermal spring water.[1][2] It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.
Pamukkale's terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by mineral water from the hot springs. In this area, there are 17 hot springs with temperatures ranging from 35 °C (95 °F) to 100 °C (212 °F). The water that emerges from the spring is transported 320 metres (1,050 ft) to the head of the travertine terraces and deposits calcium carbonate on a section 60 to 70 metres (200 to 230 ft) long covering an expanse of 24 metres (79 ft) to 30 metres (98 ft). When the water, supersaturated with calcium carbonate, reaches the surface, carbon dioxide de-gasses from it, and calcium carbonate is deposited. Calcium carbonate is deposited by the water as a soft gel which eventually crystallizes into travertine.
Pamukkale, directly translated as “cotton castle,” alongside Hierapolis, its ancient city, was rightfully christened together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. From the captivating natural phenomena to the ancient cities surrounding this district, you will surely find yourself mesmerized during your stay in the Pamukkale region. Whether you imagine life as a 2nd-century citizen in Laodicea, floating above white thermal pools illuminated pink by the sunrise with hot air balloon rides, visiting the ancient Greek city Hierapolis, or enjoying a swim in Cleopatra's mineral-filled hot springs and thermal pool, exploring the ancient ruins of Pamukkale is sure to lure you in with its many attractions.
Pamukkale's cascading calcium-laden waters and travertine pools rightfully draw many to visit this city. However, there is much to explore in this city, in addition to its famous Pamukkale thermal pools and hot springs.
Understand
Nearby, the remains of ancient Hierapolis (known as a Holy City) are testimony to what was once an important centre during the Greco-Roman era and later the Byzantine period. Founded in the 2nd century BC, in an area susceptible to earthquakes, this city was rebuilt a number of times during the ensuing centuries as a result of the impact of earthquakes. A major earthquake destroyed the city’s identity in the 7th century and following another powerful earthquake in the 14th century the town was left in ruins and eventually deserted.
Hierapolis-Pamukkale
Hierapolis flourished, reaching its peak of importance in the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., having been destroyed by an earthquake in 60 A.D. and rebuilt. Remains of the Greco-Roman period include baths, temple ruins, a monumental arch, a nymphaeum, a necropolis and a theatre. Following the acceptance of Christianity by the emperor Constantine and his establishment of Constantinople as the ‘new Rome’ in 330 A.D., the town was made a bishopric. As the place of St. Philip’s martyrdom in 80 A.D., commemerated by his Martyrium building in the 5th century, Hierapolis with its several churches became an important religious center for the Eastern Roman Empire.
Criterion (iv): The Christian monuments of Hierapolis, erected between the 4th and the 6th centuries, constitute an outstanding example of an Early Christian architectural group with a cathedral, baptistery and churches. The most important monument, situated outside the north-west wall of the city, is the Martyrium of St. Philip. At the top of a monumental stairway, the octagonal layout of the building is remarkable because of its ingenious spatial organization. Radiating from the central octagon are chapels, polygonal halls and triangular rooms, which combine to culminate in a square structure encircled by rectangular cells bordered with porticoes.
Criterion (vii): Calcite-laden waters from hot springs, emerging from a cliff almost 200 metres high overlooking the plain, have created a visually stunning landscape at Pamukkale. These mineralized waters have generated a series of petrified waterfalls, stalactites and pools with step-like terraces, some of which are less than a meter in height while others are as high as six meters. Fresh deposits of calcium carbonate give these formations a dazzling white coating. The Turkish name Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle”, is derived from this striking landscape.
It’s a bit of an uphill climb to reach the remains of the theatre which was rebuilt in 60 AD following a destructive earthquake. As you enter from the top of the theatre you will be afforded a spectacular view of the semi-circular seating area (which supposedly held 20,000 people) looking down to the theatre’s ornate stage and out to the valley in the distance. It’s worth the climb.
DAY5
Cappadocia, a fairy-tale destination in Turkey
Where Cappadocia is and how to get there
First of all, it’s important to know where Cappadocia is. It is an arid location in the Central Anatolia Region, almost 800 kilometres south-east of Istanbul (and 360 kilometres from Ankara, the capital city).
There are many ways of getting to Cappadocia. Flying is unquestionably the quickest way of travelling. There are no direct flights from Spain to the city of Kayseri, where Cappadocia’s nearest airport is located (just 70 kilometres away). In light of this, your best bet is to make a stop-off in Istanbul. There are various direct flights every day which connect Istanbul’s two airports with Kayseri, with an average flight time of 1 hour and 30 minutes. When booked in advance, these flights can be very reasonably priced.
You can also get there by road, although it will take you many hours to travel the 800 kilometres separating Istanbul from Cappadocia. If you travel by bus, for example, the journey can take up to 12 hours. Despite this, Turkey’s ‘premium’ coach services tend to be very comfortable.
You could also travel by train, although the high-speed rail line only connects Istanbul to Ankara. Once you arrive in the Turkish capital, you’ll need to continue your journey by bus.
Lastly, you can always get there by car. However, this is a more expensive option and the journey is long, tediously so…
There are many ways of getting to Cappadocia. Flying is unquestionably the quickest way of travelling. There are no direct flights from Spain to the city of Kayseri, where Cappadocia’s nearest airport is located (just 70 kilometres away). In light of this, your best bet is to make a stop-off in Istanbul. There are various direct flights every day which connect Istanbul’s two airports with Kayseri, with an average flight time of 1 hour and 30 minutes. When booked in advance, these flights can be very reasonably priced.
You can also get there by road, although it will take you many hours to travel the 800 kilometres separating Istanbul from Cappadocia. If you travel by bus, for example, the journey can take up to 12 hours. Despite this, Turkey’s ‘premium’ coach services tend to be very comfortable.
You could also travel by train, although the high-speed rail line only connects Istanbul to Ankara. Once you arrive in the Turkish capital, you’ll need to continue your journey by bus.
Lastly, you can always get there by car. However, this is a more expensive option and the journey is long, tediously so…
What to see in CappadociaCappadocia’s history goes back precisely 10 million years. At the time, two nearby volcanoes erupted violently over a sustained period, covering the entire Central Anatolia Region with lava. The gradual action of the rain, wind and erosion sculpted the landscape of this unusual place. Humans also arrived to the area quite early on. The mythical Hittites settled there in the third millennium BC, and prosperous city-states proliferated from this early stage due to its privileged location on the trade routes between East and West. Alexander the Great set foot on this land and Imperial Romeruled over it, with the region becoming a hotbed of different religions and creeds.
THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF CAPPADOCIA’S ‘FAIRY CHIMNEYS’
The region of Cappadocia, in Turkey’s Central Anatolia region, is renowned for its otherworldly beauty. This dramatic landscape consists of high plateaus, lunar-like boulders and the rocky pillars known as ‘fairy chimneys’. The rocky topography changes colour from red to purple when the sun sets, and gleams softly under the full moon.
There’s plenty to explore here for adventure lovers. You could hike through Sword Valley, following the paths that meander between its sharply pointed fairy chimneys. Another spectacular hiking trail takes you through nearby Rose Valley, where the undulating rock formations are striated in different shades of pink. Cross the rifts and folds of this surreal landscape on a mountain bike, or head off on a multi-day horseback ride passing through the region's traditional troglodyte villages. It's the ideal place to try paragliding; drifting on thermals over the region's spires and valleys in the fading light.
While exploring Cappadocia, you’ll see that many of the fairy chimneys have small entrances and openings in them. Explore more closely and you’ll discover the landscape is honeycombed with rooms, which have been painstakingly hollowed into the soft rock. But who first lived here, and how long ago? How were these mysterious rock formations created in the first place? Here's what we found out.
Millions of years ago, volcanic eruptions rained ash across the Central Anatolia region. This volcanic ash hardened into tuff, which is a soft, porous rock. This was eventually covered by a layer of harder basalt. Millennia passed, and the slow process of erosion began. Wind and water slowly wore away the softer tuff to form pillars of rock. The basalt on top eroded more slowly, and formed a mushroom-shaped cap over each pillar, protecting it from further erosion. The geological name for this rock formation is hoodoo, but they’re more often known as fairy chimneys, tent rocks or earth pyramids.
Cappadocia lay on the historic Silk Route (a network of ancient trading routes running from China to Turkey) and so various civilisations have laid claim to the territory. It was an Indo-European race known as the Hittites who first settled the area, in around 1800 BC. They soon realised that the soft tuff could be excavated and carved into rooms. In fact, they created entire underground cities.
DAY6
The region of Cappadocia, in Turkey’s Central Anatolia region, is renowned for its otherworldly beauty. This dramatic landscape consists of high plateaus, lunar-like boulders and the rocky pillars known as ‘fairy chimneys’. The rocky topography changes colour from red to purple when the sun sets, and gleams softly under the full moon.
There’s plenty to explore here for adventure lovers. You could hike through Sword Valley, following the paths that meander between its sharply pointed fairy chimneys. Another spectacular hiking trail takes you through nearby Rose Valley, where the undulating rock formations are striated in different shades of pink. Cross the rifts and folds of this surreal landscape on a mountain bike, or head off on a multi-day horseback ride passing through the region's traditional troglodyte villages. It's the ideal place to try paragliding; drifting on thermals over the region's spires and valleys in the fading light.
Cave Hotel
Goreme village
Early Morning: Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
Late Morning: Stroll Through Goreme Village
Love Valley, Cappadocia
A more modern explanation for the name Love Valley can be due in part to the heart-shaped fairy chimneys that dot the landscape.
The Legend of Love Valley
The valley’s name originates from a local legend of two lovers from feuding families who defied their differences. Despite their union, the conflict persisted, leading to tragedy. According to the tale, divine forces created the valley’s formations as a symbol of eternal love and a warning against discord.
Geological Highlights
Love Valley’s iconic pillars were formed over thousands of years through volcanic activity and erosion. The soft tuff rock, capped by harder basalt, created these remarkable natural sculptures.
Göreme Open Air Museum
Göreme National Park is one of those astonishing places in Turkey that have earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was added to this prestigious list in 1985 as Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia. It is also one of the few such places in the world that have been included on the UNESCO list for both its cultural and natural heritage. The second such place in Turkey is the Pamukkale-Hierapolis complex.
A visit to Cappadocia cannot be considered complete without visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (tr. Göreme Açık Hava Müzesi), a one-of-a-kind museum with the most spectacular rock-cut Mediaeval churches. In a relatively small area, there are about 350 churches and chapels from the Byzantine era, carved in the soft rock characteristic of Cappadocia. Of this huge number, a dozen or so are located in the open-air museum, called the Göreme Open Air Museum.
In the 4th century CE, the first small communities of anchorites emerged in Cappadocia. They were ascetics, leading a life dedicated to prayer, mortification, and contemplation. They lived in rooms that they themselves carved out of the Cappadocian rocks. These communities based their functioning on the guidelines created by Basil the Great, also known as Basil of Caesarea in Cappadocia.
This early Christian writer, born in 329, is considered one of the fathers of the Church. He was a bishop who devoted particular attention to charitable activities: he built a shelter for pilgrims, and in times of famine he sold church property to feed the poorest. At the same time, he was a famous theologian, combating Arianism, and the creator of one of the first monastic rules. In the following century, Cappadocia became renowned as the hometown not only of Basil of Caesarea, but also two other prominent clergymen - his brother Gregory of Nyssa and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus. These three men are now collectively referred to as the Cappadocian Fathers.
Rahibeler Manastiri/Kızlar Manastırı (Maidens' Monastery)
Many floors were carved into the rocky cliff, containing the nuns' cells and the monastery's common rooms: the refectory and kitchen. The floors were connected by tunnels, which could be cut off using millstones if necessary - similar solutions were used in Cappadocian underground cities.
Although the monastery originally had several floors, today only a large dining room with stairs leading up to a small chapel with several frescoes can be visited.
Karanlık Kilise - Nevşehir
The Dark Church, which is considered to be the most significant structure of the Göreme Open Air Museum, is entitled to a special entrance. In the valleys of Cappadocia, where religious tourism is prevalent, there are over 600 carved churches constructed into soft lava rocks. The Dark Church stands out among them due to the vividness of its frescoes. The church is located in the church complex in Goreme and was constructed in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. The church is known as the "Dark Church" due to the limited amount of light that enters through a small window in the narthex. However, the lack of light has allowed the colours of the frescoes to remain vivid over time. The cross-planned church comprises cross arms, cross vaults, a central dome, four columns and three apses. The curved staircase in the north leads to the rectangular barrel-vaulted narthex of the church. To the south of the narthex is a tomb. The church and the narthex are richly decorated with stories from the Bible. As in the churches of "Elmalı" and "Çarıklı", scenes from the Torah are also depicted. The scenes depicted are as follows: Deesis, Annunciation, Journey to Bethlehem, Birth, Worship of the Three Magi, Baptism, Resurrection of Lazarus, Transfiguration, Entrance to Jerusalem, Last Supper, Betrayal, Christ on the Cross, Christ's Descent into Hell, Women at the Empty Tomb, The Presentation and Commissioning of the Apostles, The Ascension of Jesus Christ, The Hospitality of Prophet Abraham and The Burning of the Three Jewish Youths.
Visitor tips:
Entry to the Göreme Open Air Museum is subject to a fee, and unfortunately, crowds of tourists visit it during the summer season, which means that visiting the small rooms is not a pleasant experience. Flash photography is not allowed inside the churches due to the protection of valuable frescoes. It should be expected that some of the churches will not be open to visitors due to the damage caused by the ravages of time and mass tourism or due to renovation work.
It is best to organize a visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The museum is open from 8:00 to 17:00. In 2025, the entrance ticket costs 20 euros. Entry to the most magnificent of the rock churches - Karanlık Kilise - is paid extra. In 2025, the additional fee of 6 euros must be paid. At the entrance to the museum, there is a bookshop, currency exchange office, souvenir shop and post office.
Göreme Historical National Park
s a national park in Cappadocia in central Turkey. It occupies an area of nearly 100 km2 (39 sq mi) and is located in Nevşehir Province. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 under the name Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia. The park features a rocky, water- and wind-eroded landscape with a network of ancient, interconnecting underground settlements.
The National Park is located in the volcanic region of Mount Hasan and Mount Erciyes in Central Anatolia, in the vicinity of Ürgüp, Çavuşin, and Göreme. The park area consists of plateaus and high hills, dissected by streams and river valleys carved by water, with steeply sloping sides. Part of this rugged area consists of basalt and thick beds of tuff. The tuff is the result of ash emitted from volcanoes millions of years ago, which solidified into soft rock, and has since been overlain by solidified lava, which forms a protective capping. This has been eroded over the millennia to form the multi-coloured cliffs, rock towers, pillars, tent rocks and fairy chimneys present in the park. Love Valley is known for its fairy chimneys. [1][2] This area experiences annual precipitation of 380 mm (15 in) and there is little vegetation except in riverine corridors.
People have used the soft tuff rock to hollow out underground dwellings. The earliest monastic activity in Cappadocia is thought to have occurred in the fourth century, when anchorites began hewing out cells from the rock. To resist Arab marauders, they linked these cells and created underground communities with chapels, storerooms, and living quarters. Villages and small towns were developed in this way, and by 842, underground churches were being richly decorated with coloured paintings.
Nowadays, people don't live far underground as they did in the past, when they were hiding or fleeing enemies. But some people still live in cave dwellings that have been made into homes, with a door/opening to daylight at ground level. Unfortunately, it has been found that long-term cave dwellers experience an unexpectedly high incidence of mesothelioma, a form of cancer. This has been linked to the inhalation of erionitefibres, a mineral common in tuff formations.[3][6][7]
Goreme Tarihi Milli Parki
UCHISAR CASTLE AND VILLAGE
Cappadocia Cave Dwellings
Rock-cut architecture in Cappadocia in Central Turkey includes living and work spaces as well as sacred buildings like churches and monasteries, that were carved out of the soft tuff landscape.
Mount Erciyes south of Kayseri, Mount Hasansoutheast of Aksaray, Mount Melendiz in Niğde, and some smaller volcanoes covered the region of Cappadocia with a layer of tuff stone over the course of a twenty million year period ending in prehistoric times, after which erosion created the well-known rock formations of the region.[1] The process is a special form of the rill erosion which affects much of Turkey, in which the solidity of the volcanic tuff and ignimbrite creates particularly deep and steep-sided streams, which create tower-like shapes were they meet at right anglesSince this soft stone is comparatively easy to work, people were probably carving it into dugouts by the early Bronze Age. In the course of time, this progressed to living complexes, monasteries, and whole underground cities. Since 1985, the 'rock sites of Cappadocia' have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pigeon 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. Adventures may also choose to explore Pigeon Valley on horseback or with a jeep safari.
In ancient times, people lived within these caves and scenic rock formations and raised pigeons as essential messengers and pets.
Pigeon Valley is a picturesque maze of exceptional rock formations, cave dwellings and a distant volcano. The diverse terrain, which seems like it comes from another planet, stretches for miles between Göreme and Uçhisar. Take a break midway through your hike at a charming café in the middle of the valley.
The site is named after the many pigeon houses carved into the rocks. The birds served as important messengers for the former inhabitants of the caves they were also kept as pets.
Imagine you are skipping across the surface of Mars as you hike through some of the strangest terrain you are ever likely to see. Take photos of the unusual rock formations with a backdrop of the snow-capped Erciyes Volcano. Stop in at the tea garden for a break and a chat with the owner, who may take you for a guided tour of the valley.
Uçhisar Castle is a highlight at the southern end of the valley. Climb to the top to enjoy astonishing views of houses and caves in every direction. Visitors can enter the valley for free. Make sure to bring sufficient water to last several hours and appropriate footwear for the walk, which is considered relatively easy.
DAY7
Cave Hotel
Capturing a Cappadocia Sunrise
Witnessing the sunrise in Cappadocia is one of those bucket list travel experiences.
Seeing the hot air balloons glide across the sky is one of the most magical moments I have ever had. I stepped out from my amazing cave hotel room into almost darkness at 5am to see the first balloons floating by, just above my head.
Cappadocia is something out of a fairytale. I’ve never been anywhere like it. It is really is just one of those out-of-this-world places, even if more and more tourists are visiting these days.
Capturing an epic sunrise photo in Cappadocia is almost a right of passage for tourists visiting. Other bloggers are writing plenty of guides on the best photo locations in Cappadocia, but for me, nowhere can beat the panoramic viewpoint .
Prehistory and antiquity
From traces of settlement it is known that the region of Cappadocia was inhabited in prehistoric times. Whether rock-cuttings had already been made at that time is not clear. It is probable that in the Bronze Age at the latest, when the region was in the middle of the Hittite empire, the first passageways and rooms had been cut into the rock, as well as reservoirs and possibly even refuges in the cliffs. In Derinkuyu underground city, only one tool of Hittite origin has been found and it might have been brought there at a later date.The earliest attestation of these structures is in Xenophon's Anabasis, which mentions people in Anatolia who had built their houses underground.
The underground cities were well designed for protection against attacks. The few entrances were hidden by foliage and not easily spotted from outside. Inside, they took the form of a labyrinth of passageways which were unnavigable for outsiders, and could be sealed with large rock doors, around a metre high and shaped like mill-stones. These doors were built such that they could be rolled into a closed position relatively easily, but could not be moved from the outside. They had a hole in the centre which was probably used as a kind of peephole. In some cities there were holes in ceiling above, through which the enemy could be attacked with spears.
On the deeper floors there were also monastery cells and churches. The churches in the underground cities are very simple and seldom or never decorated. There are no wall paintings like those found in the later, larger churches like Göreme. Most of them have a cross-shaped ground plan, often with one or two apses. In the rooms near the churches, tombs were cut in the walls. In order to supply the people within with fresh air for breathing, heating, and lighting for a siege of up to six months, there was a complex system of ventilation shafts, which still function today. These also served as the outlet for the smoke from cooking fires in the kitchens.
In many of these places, dovecotes are carved in the high cliff walls, often with colourfully painted entrance holes. The colour would attract the birds, which then made their nests in them. These dovecotes were accessed once a year by difficult climbing manoeuvres and the birds' excrement was collected for use as fertiliser.Pre-existing holes were converted into dovecotes by cutting niches for nests and walling up entrances.
Christian settlement
The initial Christian settlement of the region came in the first centuries AD, starting with hermits who retreated into the seclusion of the tough landscape from the Christian community at Caesarea. They either settled in caves that already existed or dug their own residences in the cliffs. Since they were seeking solitude rather than protection from enemies, they largely made their homes above ground level.
After the Christian church was re-organised under the Cappadocian Fathers (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus) in the fourth century AD, ever larger groups of Christians followed them over the next few centuries, settling in Cappadocia and building cloistered communities, which meant that they needed ever more and ever larger residential and religious spaces.
Meanwhile, in the fourth century, the Isaurians invaded, in the fifth century the Huns, and finally in the sixth century the Sassanid Persians; in 605 the city of Caesarea was conquered during the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628. These incursions sparked the intensive construction of rock-cut buildings below and above ground, including whole cities. The design of these structures was principally shaped by security and defensive concerns.
From 642, the Arabs began to invade the region and these concerns grew increasingly significant, with the result that Christian communities continued to live in the region for three centuries, secure from raids. Eventually, the Byzantines regained control over Cappadocia and under their rule Christianity and Christian architecture in Cappadocia entered a golden age.
The rock-cut houses continued to be used by the Turkish inhabitants in the twentieth century – partially because of the continuously pleasant temperatures under the rock. In 1832, the population had to make use of the underground cities for safety against Egyptian armies during the First Egyptian-Ottoman War. The last remaining Christians left the area in 1923 as part of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey.
The final Turkish inhabitants moved out of the cave settlement at Zelve in the 1950s after earthquakes had done significant damage and made the structures increasingly dangerous. Even today, some caves in Uçhisar, Ortahisar, and the Soğanlı valley are still used, at least during the hot summer months, usually with a house attached to them.
El nazar church
This church dates to the late 900’s, a period of Byzantine political expansion and cultural renaissance. El Nazar is a fairly typical Cappadocian cave church in many regards¾a small, frescoed, cross-shaped church carved into a fairy chimney. Yet the iconic setting and some unique features distinguish El Nazar.
Painting
The painting style of El Nazar is soft and pleasant. On a dark blue background, the artist used soft red and light green paints. This gives a soft, pastel feel to the interior space. Frescos only remain on the upper portions.
El Nazar includes rows of saints under the arches and along the lower sections. The church originally had over one hundred saints, of which sixty-two remain. The long, flat, and serious faces create a cartoon-like appearance in the paintings. Writing is limited in the church interior. Some saints are labeled by name.
El Nazar is a domed cruciform church. The middle section has a central dome, and four arms extend out. The unique geological shape of this vertical fairy chimney limits this size of El Nazar Church. The insides measures 7 by 7 meters and there is no entrance room (narthex).
The cross arms are not symmetrical. The left (north) arm has an adjacent storage room, but the right (south) arm has a small, broken apse. Both extensions seem part of the original design work.
Apse
The main sanctuary area features Mary sitting on a throne shaped like a lyre (U-shaped harp). The Christ Child sits on her lap. The dark hand above Mary’s head represents the protection and blessing of God. Next to Mary are two archangels and two unidentified figures (perhaps deacons or martyrs). Mary's presence in an apse is rare for Cappadocian cave churches.
The underside of the front arch has ten saints. The first two are labeled Jonah and Ezekiel. The other unlabeled saints are likely Old Testament prophets as well.
Dome
The central dome rises from an irregular circle. The triangle area between the arches (pendentives) features the four gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The broad arches and pronounced molding (cornice) lead up to the dome.
El Nazar was designed to make the dome its central feature. With few windows, Cappadocian cave churches are naturally dark. Light enters laterally from the entrance and shines upon apse, making it the most visible and prominent space. The dome and arms are much less illuminated, but El Nazar’s features an elevated window that illuminates the dome. Such architecture emphasized the dome’s artwork, a fresco of Christ’s ascension in heaven forty days after his resurrection. The Bible explains, “As the apostles were watching, Jesus was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them"(Acts 1:5–6). The resurrected Jesus sits in a holy roundel, which four angels lifted from the edges. At Jesus’ feet, Mary stands flanked by two angels. The other twelve people are Jesus’ apostles. They look perplexed as their Lord departs to heaven.
Back Side (West Arm)
The west arm has two important moments from Jesus' life—his baptism and transfiguration. In both of these gospel stories, God says about Jesus, “My beloved son, in whom I’m well pleased.” This declaration affirms the supernatural nature of Jesus’ ministry. The third fresco is Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena holding the true cross. The two bearded men at the apex of the rounded ceiling are Abraham and his son Issac.
The arch immediately to the right of the entrance was a tomb, perhaps for the church donor. We could surmise the opposite wall had another burial space.
A trip to Turkey offers a, mix of ancient history, surreal landscapes, and vibrant culture. Key experiences include exploring Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar, flying in a hot-air balloon over Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, walking through the Ephesus ruins, and relaxing in Pamukkale’s thermal pools
Thanks Wikipedia for very useful information.
