In ancient geography, Cappadocia or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya which in turn is from the Persian: Katpatuka meaning "the land of beautiful horses",was the name of an extensive inland district of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The name continued to be used in western sources and in the Christian tradition throughout history and is still widely used as an international tourism concept to define a region of exceptional natural wonders characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage. The term, as used in tourism, roughly corresponds to present-day Nevşehir Province of Turkey.

 

Highlights:  Göreme – Uçhisar – Kaymaklı - Avcilar and Pasabag- Carpet Factory in Avanos

 

Göreme:
Göreme located among the "fairy chimneys" rock formations, is a town in Cappadocia. The Göreme National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. The first period of settlement within the region reaches to Roman period of Christianity era. Among historical sites are Ortahane, Durmus Kadir, Yusuf Koc and Bezirhane churches in Göreme, including Tokalı Kilise, the Apple Church, houses and shafts engraved from rocks.

 

Uçhisar:  
Uçhisar is the name of a town and the fortress in the town. This 60 meter-high fortress was not built but carved out of a natural hill dominating the area with a breathtaking view of all the surrounding Cappadocia formations.

 

Kaymakli:
Kaymaklı Underground City is contained within the citadel of Kaymaklı. First opened to tourists in 1964, the village is about 19km from Nevşehir, on the Nevşehir-Niğde road. The ancient name was Enegup. The houses in the village are constructed around the nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city. The tunnels are still used today as storage areas, stables, and cellars. The underground city at Kaymaklı differs from Derinkuyu in terms of its structure and layout. The tunnels are lower, narrower, and more steeply inclined. Of the four floors open to tourists, each space is organized around ventilation shafts. This makes the design of each room or open space dependent on the availability of ventilation.

 

Avcilar and Pasabag:
These are the perfect places to take photos of a remarkable landscape of tufa cones.

 

Carpet Factory:
Here, you will have a chance to learn about all aspects of this traditional Turkish art and craft, from silkworm cultivation, to spinning, dyeing and the traditional patterns and weaving techniques. Avanos is a small town famous for its pottery and carpets. It is built along the banks of Kizilirmak (Halys) River, the longest river originating and ending within the borders of Turkey.