Cappadocia Turkey - A miraculous nature wonder...

Pardeep

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Cappadocia Turkey - A miraculous nature wonder...
Cappadocia which is unique in the world and is a miraculous nature wonder is the common name of the field covered by the provinces of
Aksaray, Nevsehir, Nigde, Kayseri and Kirsehir in the Central Anatolian region.
In the upper Myosen period in the Cappadocia region as a result of the vulcanic eruptions occurred in Erciyes, Hasandag and Gulludag, in the region was formed a large tableland from the vulcanic tufas and together with the erosion of the Kizilirmak river and wind over ten thausands of years there appeared the chimney rocks which are a wonder of the nature. In the old Bronze Age the Cappadocia which was the population zone of the Assyrian civilization later has hosted the Hittite, Frig, Pers, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. The first Christians escaped from the persecution of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century B.C. came to the Cappadocia over the Antakya and Kayseri and they have settled here. The first Christians finding the underground cities from Cappadocia have been hidden in these underground cities which gates were made in such way in which they couldn't be easily observed and they have escaped from the persecution of the Roman soldiers. Due that they had live in the underground cities for long duration without being able to go out they have developed these underground cities by making provisions rooms, ventilation chimneys, wine production places, churches, abbeys, water wells, toilets and meeting rooms.
In the prehistoric periods the first human settlements have begun and the humans have constructed the underground cities in the volcanic rocks in form of tufa due to protect themselves from the wild animals and they lived for long times in these underground cities. There are so many underground cities on the Cappadocia area of Turkey but the biggest is Derinkuyu Underground City.
Derinkuyu Underground City
The Christians hid underground here while persecuted by the Muslims many centuries ago.
Guide shows the amazing ventilation system, when you consider how long ago that was!
More of the many tunnels and passageways
This is the old schoolroom where they had some sort of religious school ...
Derinkuyu Underground City, Turkey.
In these cities made in form of rooms connected to each others some of the rooms were connected to each other only with the tunnels tight and permitting passing of just a person. At the access gates of these tunnels there were huge stone rollers used for closing the tunnels for security reasons.
Cappadocia was one of the most important places in the spreading periods of the Christian religion. The first Christians trying to escape from the Roman soldiers who wanted to avoid the spreading of the Christian religion have settled in the region of Cappadocia which was so suitable for hiding and so they were able to continue their natures and to spread their religions. Saint Basileious from Kaisera and Saint Gregorios from Nyssa had settled in Cappadocia. In 647 A.C. together with occupation of Kayseri by Muaviye Cappadocia has met with the Arabian invasions. Cappadocia which went under the domination of the Seljuks in 1072 has been added to the lands of Ottoman Empire in 1399 by the Ottoman Sultan Yildirim Beyazit.
Cappadocia - Kaymaklı Underground City









Goreme Open Air Museum

First structure is monastery of nuns at the Goreme open air museum. In fact, the monastery of nuns known as six or seven floors but can be visited only three floors yet. The connection between the floors of the monastery is provided with tunnel and tunnel entrance are closed with sliding stones like underground cities of Cappadocia. There is a dining hall in the first floor, second floor has a chapel which decorated with frescoes and third floor also has a church with geometric decoration. There is Monastery of Priests near the Monastery of the nuns. Only a few rooms on the ground floor can be visited for into the rock layers are destroyed. A little later there is Hagios Basileos church which is known a tomb chapel walls decorated with frescoes. Near this church there is Aynali monastery with places around a courtyard. Aynali monastery has a big room which suppositional meeting room, a church and tomb rooms. Elmali monastery, for many years been used as a loft, all entries have been closed and thus without destroying frescoes hardly reached today. Understanding that the church is decorated in two differnet periods by means of red paint figurative decorations bottom of the poured frescoes. There is Barbara Church behind the Elmali monastery, Barbara Church walls are decorated with geometric figures and animal pictures. Just ahead Church of Hagia Katherina' frescoes largely damaged. Yilanli church has a church, refectory, and other places. It has been named as Yilanli Church (Church with snake) for on one of the frescoes St. Georgios fight with a dragon on a horse.
Goreme Open Air Museum is a member of Unesco World Heritage List since 1984. Open everyday between 8.00 a.m and 5.00 p.m. in winter months close earlier.
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Pardeep

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Entrance to the ring-shaped Göreme Open Air Museum. © Dick Osseman.


The recommended route is counterclockwise. Photo © Dick Osseman.


Wall of frescoes in the Apple Church. Photo © Dick Osseman.


Resurrection of Lazarus in the Apple Church. Photo © Dick Osseman.


Painted arch in the Apple Church. Photo © Dick Osseman.


Crucifixion in the Dark Church. Photo licensed under GFDL.


Nativity of Christ in the Dark Church. Photo © Dick Osseman.


Christ Pantocrator in the Dark Church. Photo licensed under GFDL.


Interior of the large Buckle Church. Photo © Dick Osseman.


St. Barbara's Chapel. Photo © Dick Osseman.


Vaults of the Chapel of St. Barbara. Photo © Dick Osseman.


The Snake Church, with snake on left. Photo © Dick Osseman.


The Nunnery. Photo © Dick Osseman


Tufa landscape, Rose Valley, Cappadocia

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Balloon ride, Cappadocia

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Pardeep

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Natural rock Citadel, Cappadocia

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Uchisar, Cappadocia

Uchisar in winter.
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Sumbullu Byzantine Church, Ilhara Gorge, Cappadocia

Exterior of the 11th-12th century Sumbullu Byzantine Church, Ilhara Gorge.
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Snow-capped rock caves, Cappadocia

Snow-capped rock caves and pigeon houses near Goreme.
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Tufa formation, Goreme Valley, Cappadocia

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Grape vines, Cappadocia

Tufa landscape with grape vines, seen from inside a tufa tower.
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Walking trail, Cappadocia

Walking trail through the forest fringing the Ihlara river, Ihlara Valley, Cappadocia, Central Anatolia
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Rock formations, Cappadocia

Rock formations called "fairy chimneys' were troglodyte sanctuaries for residents, Goreme Valley, Cappadocia
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