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A rock temple in Cappadocia |
In
ancient geography, Cappadocia (Turkish:
Kapadokya) was the name of the extensive inland district of Asia
Minor (modern Turkey).
Cappadocian
region is the place where nature and history come together most
beautifully within the world. While geographic events are
forming Peribacalari (fairy chimneys), during the historical
period, humans had carried the signs of thousand years old
civilizations with carving houses and churches within these
earth pillars and decorating them with frisks.
Cappadocia contains several underground cities, largely used by
early Christians as hiding places before they became a
legitimate religion. The Cappadocian Fathers of the fourth
century were integral to much of early Christian philosophy. It
also produced, among other people, another Patriarch of
Constantinople, John of Cappadocia who held office 517–520. For
most of the Byzantine era it remained relatively undisturbed by
the conflicts in the area, first with the Sassanid Empire and
later against the Islamic expansion led by Arabs.
The area is a world famous and popular tourist destination, as
it has many areas with unique geological, historic and cultural
features.
The region is southwest of the major city Kayseri, which has
airline and railroad service to Ankara and Istanbul.
The Cappadocia region is largely underlain by sedimentary rocks
formed in lakes and streams, and ignimbrite deposits erupted
from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago
(late Miocene to Pliocene epochs). The rocks of Cappadocia near
Goreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and
minaret-like forms. The volcanic deposits are soft rocks that
the people of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region
carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries. Goreme became
a monastic center between 300-1200 AD. First period settlement
in Goreme reaches to the Roman period from Christianity. Yusuf
Koc, Ortahane, Durmus Kadir and Bezirhane churches in Goreme,
houses and churches carved into rocks till to Uzun Dere,
Baglidere and Zemi Valley carries the mystical side of history
today. The Goreme Open Air Museum is the most visited site of
the monastic communities in Cappadocia and is one of the most
famous sites in central Turkey. It is a complex comprising more
than 30 rock-carved churches and chapels containing some superb
frescoes, dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries.
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