This ancient Christian kingdom of Cappadocia , in central Turkey, sits within a surrealistic landscape of pinnacles, ravines and carved-rock dwellings.

This ancient Christian kingdom of Cappadocia , in central Turkey, sits within a surrealistic landscape of pinnacles, ravines and carved-rock dwellings. It’s one of the most fascinating places in Turkey. Caves in the region were used as shelters and still contain marvellous frescoes. Cappadocia encompasses the area bordered by the towns of Avanos on the north, Kayseri on the east, Nevsehir on the west and Nigde on the south.

About 22 km south of Nevsehir are the underground cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. Spiralling downward for seven stories, these cities housed tens of thousands of people. Essential elements of the aboveground civilization, such as the ability to make wine, were retained by the ingenious underground inhabitants. The Goreme Valley, east of Nevsehir, has churches that were carved out of the rock and decorated with magnificent frescoes and they are still one of the major sights of Turkey.) The fascinating Zelve Valley, north of Goreme Valley, has a multilevel monastery and churches carved inside columns of rock (called tuff) that were formed by volcanic ash.

If you’re travelling independently, we suggest staying in the centrally located town of Urgup or the villages of Goreme or Uchisar. Also nearby is the very scenic Ihlara Valley, which has yet more churches with frescoes.

When to travel to Cappadocia

Cappadocia is generally cooler than the popular coastal areas of the Mediterranean and the Aegean. April to mid June and September to October are the best months for avoiding the intense heat and crowds of summer.