Things to see and do Anatolia And Cappadocia

The museum is in fact a valley of about thirty churches with magnificent frescos (^10th and ^11th centuries) and monasteries. The churches bear the names that people gave them in the region.

The Church of the Loop (Tokalı Kilise). It is the largest and most beautiful rock church in the region. It is divided into two parts, the old and the new. The frescoes of the old church (^10th century) represent scenes from the life of Christ in a primitive style. The murals of the new church, on a beautiful blue background (late ^10th and early ^11th century), are of great artistic value. Their long figures are among the masterpieces of Byzantine art.

The Apple Church (Elmalı Kilise). Its name is said to come from a beautifully preserved fresco of the Archangel Gabriel holding an apple. It has four columns. One can distinguish the Crucifixion, the Resurrection of Lazarus and the Deisis. On the central dome, Christ.

Saint Barbara (Azize Barbara kilese). Carved into the rock, it has a cross-shaped plan and two columns. Here, the painters favored red and ochre for the figures and motifs in a naïve style, such as the rooster symbolizing the denial of St. Peter, strange insects, sometimes interpreted as the devil, and stylized cypress trees. There is also a representation of Saint Barbara, the horsemen George and Theodore, and Mary.

The Church of the Serpent (Yılanlı Kilise). The church owes its name to the fresco depicting St. George and St. Theodore slaying the dragon. Note the painting of St. Basil and St. Thomas next to St. Onophrios provided with female breasts and a beard. Next to it is a refectory with a double apse. The seat dug into the wall was reserved for the superior of the convent. Also the kitchen and the cellar are adjacent.

The Dark Church (Karanlık Kilise). Its only window does not allow light to illuminate it, which is probably the reason for the excellent state of preservation of its frescoes. On the dome, Christ Pantocrator, on the narthex, a magnificent Ascension. The paintings represent the birth of Christ and his crucifixion.

At the bottom of the rock , another church, unnamed, decorated with a cross pattern of five circles, unique in the region.

The Sandal Church (Çarıklı Kilise). According to popular belief, it was a sandal track marking the passage of Christ, opposite the entrance, that inspired this strange name.

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is a must-see in the Turkish capital and ranks among the most beautiful museums in the country. The rich collections on display are the perfect introduction to Turkey's turbulent history. Housed in two Ottoman buildings, a bedesten (covered market) built by the vizier Mahmut Paşa in 1471 and the Kurşunlu Han caravanserai, this formidable museum, unique in its rare collections, allows you to follow the different civilizations present in Turkey from the Paleolithic to the Roman era.

The most fascinating finds concern the Neolithic and Hittite periods. The objects are arranged in chronological order. To understand the explanations, a good command of English or the purchase of a guidebook is essential! After the Paleolithic fossils, you arrive at the showcases of the remains discovered at Çatal Höyük (6500-5700 BC). A dwelling is reconstructed here with its wall paintings. The tools show the development of agriculture, but more interesting are the terracotta statuettes of generously proportioned women representing the Great Mother Goddess of Hacılar, a symbol of fertility. Similar figurines have been unearthed in the Greek Cyclades. You then move on to the Chalcolithic period (5500-3000 BC), with the first copper tools and utensils found in Hacılar and Alacahöyük.

The manufacture of metal objects diversified during the Early Bronze Period (3000-1950 BC). The objects exhibited here, beautiful jewelry, sun discs, and electrum animals, were found in Alacahöyük, the capital of the Hattis. In the section devoted to the period of the Assyrian colonies (1950-1750 BC), superb animal-shaped libation vessels are displayed. The Assyrian merchants contributed greatly to the development of the Anatolian civilization by introducing, among other things, writing. Then comes the collection of the Hittite Empire (1750-1200 BC), with tablets with cuneiform writing and exceptional pottery, which complement some visits to Cappadocia, and finally, the Phrygian period (1200-700 BC) and Urartian (1200-700 BC). The Urartes were the main opponents of the Phrygians.

The central part of the museum, devoted to Hittite sculpture, presents friezes inspired by military epics and monumental statues.

Main point of interest of Konya, the monastery was until 1927 (date of the prohibition of the brotherhood), the place of residence of the whirling dervishes, the mevlevis, a Sufi order inspired by the Persian mystic poetDjalâl ad-Dîn Rûmî, called Mevlana. The tekke of Mevlana consists of a large courtyard with a fountain (16th century) and 4 türbe on the left after the door, the building of the cells where the dervishes, after an obligatory period of manual labor could devote themselves to prayer facing the entrance the building where the tomb and the museum of Mevlana are located and, to the right of the entrance, the old kitchens. The convent was restored by Beyazıt II in the 15th century. To enter the türbe where the great sage is buried, one must remove his shoes. Women will cover their heads. The tomb is covered with a velvet cloth embroidered with gold.

In the samâ (ceremony room), you can admire a collection of musical instruments, including the famous ney (flute), with the plaintive sound so characteristic of the ritual music of the dervishes. You can also see the original manuscript of Mathnawi, the poems of the master. The next room, an ancient mosque, displays Korans and illuminations. Return to the courtyard and you will see a reconstruction of the life of the followers in the building that housed their cells. In the corridor, objects that belonged to Mevlana are displayed. And in the old kitchens, there are life-size scenes of the dervishes' communal life.

Göreme is known for its park and fairy chimneys. The churches reflect Byzantine art and architecture. Churches and underground towns are within the area of this park. The most beautiful underground sanctuary is the Loop Sanctuary (Tokalı Kilise), decorated with remarkable 10th century evangelical frescoes. And if there is a choice to be made between the many other churches in the valley, opt for the Church of the Serpent (Yılanlı Kilise) with its dragon slain by Saint George and the Church of the Apple Tree (Elmalı Kilise).

This 13th century Seljuk caravanserai is very well restored and has a soothing and mystical atmosphere. The building has kept its superb allure. A whirling dervish show takes place every day at 6pm or 9pm, lasting one hour. This is one of the best places to observe the spiritual dance of the dervishes. Note that the place is a bit out of the way, it is more convenient to buy the tickets in advance through an agency that also offers a bus service to get there.

To reach Zelve de Çavuşin (or Avanos), you cross the Vallée valley. An unmistakable break to admire the magnificent "fées" of fées. The one with 3 heads, right in the valley, is supposed to have sheltered the Saint of Syria, which served as a model for many hermits de of Cappadocia. You can then begin the climb of Boztepe. The duration of this march is approximately 3 hours 30 with a difference of 150 m.

10 km from Kaymaklı to the south, dolmuş from Nevşehir. With a depth of about 85 m, you can see almost every part of a town that is buried underground in order to be able to escape it in the event of a threat: barn, canteen, deposits of food and beverages (wine), wells, churches, ventilation tunnel… It is the deepest and the largest known today, it could accommodate up to 10 000 people. The rooms are often large and the corridors are easy to access. Perhaps the most surprising will be to learn that the visible part would only be 1/10 of its real size!

The Pigeon Valley connects Uçhisar and Göreme. It presents the natural and geological characteristics of the region. Its name was given to it in reference to the multiple colored pigeon houses that it shelters. Please note: it is considered dangerous for some passages, so make sure you are accompanied or explained. 2 hours of walking on a 4 km path. Before arriving in Göreme, several churches can be visited, Kadir Dümuş, Karşı Bucak and Yusuf Koç.

With its 80 m depth and 15 km length, the impressive canyon at the foot of Mount Hasan is carved out of the tuff by the Melendiz River. It connects Ihlara to Selime, with Belişırma in the middle. The first section between Ihlara and Belişırma is marked, possible to continue to Selime. The valley is home to about 100 rock churches and a monastic complex (Kale), many churches have been damaged by the river waters.

Advice: bring non-slip shoes because of the water. There are fish restaurants along the river in Belişırma.

Local youths often offer to be guides for a little money. As part of Cappadocia, the valley then known as Peristremma developed in parallel with Christianity, with the flourishing period beginning in the 6th century and lasting until the 13th century.

Kokar Kilise ("fragrant church", left bank). A single vaulted nave. The apse is partly collapsed (on the side of the entrance). The burial hall joined the church later on. A dominant gray coloring. Dated to the 9th century.

Pürenliseki Kilisesi ("Terrace Church", left bank). Four parts. Vaulted entrance, two naves and two apses, columns. The scenes are very distinct and well separated. It resembles the churches of Kokar and Yılanlı. Dated to the 10th century.

Ağaç Altı Kilise ("church under the tree", left bank). Cross-shaped architecture, vaulted dome, three apses. Dated between the 9th and 11th centuries, it features the traditional themes of the region. Its name comes from the representation of St. Daniel between the lions (just in front of the entrance).

Yılanlı Kilise ("snake church", left bank). Cross-shaped. Vaulted. One apse. The scene on the west wall shows four damned women being attacked by snakes. Dated from the end of the 11th century. A chapel to the north would have served as a burial chamber. Dated to the 9th century.

Kırkdamaltı Kilisesi (St. George's Church, left bank, at Belisırma). Irregular octagonal shape. Possessing a flat ceiling, it has lost its apse. The basement and the sides have housed tombs. A peculiarity is that there are writings mentioning the Seljuk sultan and the Byzantine emperor. Dated to the 13th century (1283-1295).

Kale Manastırı Kilisesi (St. George's Church, at Selime). Known as one of the largest monasteries in Cappadocia. Very well preserved, it is excavated in several tuff cones. The frescoes would go up at the period going from Xth to XIth century.

Kayseri was a stopover for the caravans that travelled the silk routes. The renovated bazaar (1859) is next to the citadel. It is the second of the country after that of Ankara. The atmosphere is traditional, with a wide variety of excellent quality carpets, cheaper than elsewhere in the country. Note the Bedesten (1497), a closed building, reserved in Ottoman times for precious goods. Today there are merchants of carpets, kilims and pastırma. Nearby is the Vezirhanı built in 1727 by Damat Ibrahim Paşa.

On the Cumhuriyet square, the citadel is accessible by two entrances. Built by Justinian in the VIth century, rebuilt with black volcanic rocks, in 1224, by the sultan seldjoukide Keykubad, the walls are 3 m thick! Today it houses the market. It is a pity that the traders use some facades to display advertising boards... By climbing on its walls, you will discover a marvellous view on the city.

This is a beautiful example of a Seljuk caravanserai, built in 1229. Burned down, the building was rebuilt 50 years later and has been recently restored. There is a beautiful carved portal, in the center of the courtyard, an oratory(mescid), a huge pillared hall(ahır), a hammam, rooms... At its time, it is one of the largest caravanserais in Anatolia. The village of Sultanhanı, in the steppe landscape that separates Konya from Aksaray, offers a few guesthouses.

Located on the hill of Maltepe, this monumental mausoleum lined with columns was built between 1944 and 1953. Guards stand in front of the hall that houses the imposing marble cenotaph of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. In the adjacent museum (Atatürk müzesi) are displayed his personal objects, photographs and his car collection. In the courtyard to the right is buried the second president, Ismet Inönü.

Lake Kovada (kovada gölü) is located in a national park at 908 m above sea level. With an area of 4 km², it is connected to the Eğirdir Lake by the Aksu River (25 km) and is surrounded by expanses of apple and peach trees. Fishy and 7 m deep, it offers an enchanting setting for fishing (between June and the end of September), picnicking and hiking. There is a possibility to camp. Note that the Kasnak forest is nearby.

Pleasant hikes in a deep canyon of 50 to 150 m in perspective! More than 50 churches are dug on both sides of the road, such as Camii Kilise ("the mosque church"), the largest in Güzelyurt or Yüksek Kilise ("the high church"). This valley would have sheltered many people in monasteries and churches. Of the 28 churches, 7 are double nave, 17 single nave and one triple nave. These places date from the Byzantine period and can be visited.

Mount climbing can take place in 2 days, with one overnight camp. Depending on the season, crampons and picks may be necessary, guides on site. The view is incredible! One of the two «founders» of Cappadocia, now extinct, houses a ski resort (between 1 800 and 3 000 m) with 1 lifts and 2 ski lifts running from November to May and about tracks.

With an altitude of 2,640 m and largely dominating the region to the west, Mount Davraz is in the continuity of the Dedegöl, Akdaş and Barla mountains. Still little known until recently, it is a resort installed at 2,160 m. Interesting ski area with a variety of slopes, there are also equipment rental companies, cafes. The Sirene Davras Mountain Resort with its 123 rooms welcomes skiers. To get there, it is best to be motorized, otherwise buses go there from Isparta in season.

This bright blue freshwater lake is the fourth largest in the country (517 km²). Several viewpoints offer exceptional panoramas. There are beaches that allow safe swimming. Until the 20th century, the peninsula and Yeşilada (Green Island) were separated. The peninsula was then an island, occupied mostly by a population of Greek origin, which, after the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923 imposing the exchange of populations between the two countries, was forced to leave. The pensions usually offer boat tours.

Yüksel Kilise and Manastir is a religious complex. As its name suggests, it consists of a monastery and a church perched on rocks overlooking the Güzelyurt Lake. It is especially for the panorama which the area offers, on the water, the mountains and the mount Hasan, among others, that the stroll is worth the blow. Indeed, the buildings that appear massive from afar are unfortunately covered inside with inscriptions and graffiti.

Metin Özcelik is a professional guide working for the municipality but also on its own account. He speaks English but also has French-speaking contacts.