Things to see and do Anatolia And Cappadocia

Several information about the city. Also a cultural centre trying to preserve the Kurdish musical Tradition Dengbêji. Every Saturday between 17 a. m. and 19 p. m., dengbêjs meet to sing together or alternately on the themes of love or heroism. Event (free) very expected and guaranteed emotions.

Zelve's open-air museum offers an incredible setting of rocky peaks and valley sides. If the place is less famous than Göreme, the setting is no less picturesque. Great walks in sight, punctuated by churches and abandoned houses. The three valleys were inhabited until 1952. Don't miss: the mosque built in the rock, the Fish Church (Balıklı Kilise), the Grape Church (Üzümlü Kilisesi) and the Deer Church (Geyikli Kilise).

Much less tourist, it was discovered by chance in 1972 by the owner of the land which is also the imam of the village. Gradually released, two levels are visible and open to the public. According to them, it would extend under the village. There are some differences with the most visited underground cities such as the strange "telephone system" or larger rooms. Nestled on the flanks of the Idiş mountain, Özkonak is worth a visit. The underground city can be a pretext, because the typical village can observe the rural life of the region. The population, increasingly accustomed to tourism, is very welcoming.

Located in the center of Gaziantep, this huge park offers you the opportunity to take a breath of fresh air. With games designed for children, it is a paradise for parents to lounge on the terrace or lawns and is very popular with sportsmen. The morning walks are a delight. If you are traveling with children, you can visit the city's zoo or treat yourself to a day at the amusement park, which is the first of its kind in Turkey.

The legendary Mount Ararat, the highest peak in Anatolia, is a volcano reaching 5,165 m. Its last eruption dates back to 1840. It has two beautiful peaks: the Great Ararat which rises to 5 137 meters and the Little Ararat at 3 896 meters. Experienced climber, you want to try the ascent? Make sure you are prepared (equipment, physical condition, guide), and make sure you plan ahead. The border area with Armenia is controlled by the army and it takes weeks to obtain a permit. The best time to climb is between June and September.

Abraham would have been born in this cave located south of Akarbaşı and would have resided there for the first ten years of his life, hiding from the pagan king Nimrod who had ferociously ordered the execution of all newborns. Today, the birth cave of the Prophet Abraham has become a Muslim place of pilgrimage. Modified over the centuries, it has two separate entrances: one is for men, the other is for women.

85 m deep, one can see the rooms of an entire city recreated underground in order to entrench oneself in case of threats: barn, canteen, food and drink stores, wells, churches, ventilation tunnel... It is the deepest and the largest known underground city. It could accommodate 10,000 people. The rooms are wide and the corridors easy to access. The most astonishing thing is to learn that the visible part would constitute only one tenth of its real size.

The village of Kaymaklı dates back to ancient times, when houses were built above and around the underground city, which provided a permanent link. Consisting of 10 levels, we discover in particular the following rooms: food depository, kitchens, barn, church, ventilation tunnel... Its visit is more difficult than Derinkuyu which has larger rooms but it provides stronger sensations when we cross the narrow galleries.

The interest of Ürgüp does not lie in its museum but rather in the charm of the old town's alleys: the walk there is very pleasant. The archaeological museum presents a small collection of objects as well as superb historical artifacts (figurines, pottery and some statues) discovered in the region. Most impressive are the tusks of an ancestor of the elephant family, more than 10 million years old, discovered in Mustafapaşa.

Less touristy and smaller than the other underground cities, Özkonak was discovered by chance in 1972 by the owner of the land who is also the imam of the village. Two levels are currently visible and open to the public. There are some differences with the most visited underground cities, such as the strange "telephone system" or the more spacious rooms. Nestled on the slopes of the Idiş Mountain, the charming village of Özkonak is worth a visit.

With its churches and rock shelters, the valley is known as Şeytan Deresi ("Devil's River"). The walk is done following the river and, at times, fairy chimneys. In addition to enjoying the beauty of the valley, you will find several churches in Alakara, Cambazlı, Tavşanlı, Balkan Deresi. The most important, despite its condition, is Aziz Basil (Saint Basil), flanked by two apses. Note the frescoes of the Holy Bishop of Caesarea and St. Gregory of Nazianzus.

It is the birthplace of saint Hacı Bektaş Veli, a thinker who influenced Islam and founder of the dervish order Bektaşi. You can get an idea of their daily life in the monastery (tekke). At the Meydan Evi, where the novices entered the orders, costumes and musical instruments are now on display. The tekke consists of three courtyards with the beautiful lion fountain in the second one. The saint's türbe is erected in the third courtyard. It is a place of pilgrimage. In August, a festival is held there with a poetry and singing competition.

The underground city of Özlüce has a slightly different architecture from the other discovered cities as it tends to spread out more evenly in depth, as evidenced by the lack of successive layers. This visit can be a very good idea if the queues in the other underground cities are too long or perhaps it is its tranquility that will seduce you. For a bakshish, the guard will give you a tour. Negotiate the price!

It's hard not to find a museum or a souvenir of Atatürk in a province... So Kayseri has its own museum dedicated to the great man of the nation. During his visit to the city in August 1919, Atatürk stayed in a wealthy 19th century Ottoman house, which today bears his name. The place is worth a visit, if only for its architecture: it is a two-storey house, with a very small mezzanine and typical Ottoman-style decoration. The historical building is located near the square.

In a valley planted with poplar, it is a cave called palace opened by the local population. It comprises fées, tombs of the Roman era, houses and rock churches (th and th centuries).

Built in 1223 during the reign of Keyqubad I of the Sultanate of Rum. With its finely carved doors, the historic Alaeddin Camii Mosque is located inside Niğde Castle, the most sheltered place in the city. It is a beautiful yellow ochre building, very nice example of Seljuk architecture. It is said that between 10:00 and 11:00 (depending on the season), you should go to the gate on the east side. At that time of the day, the light effects caused by the sun's rays would allow to discern the shape of a crowned woman's head.

Discovered in 1963, the Eski Monastery Gümüşler contains beautifully preserved wall paintings (7th-11th century) depicting the Virgin, a beautiful Christ Pantocrator, Saint Michael and the Apostles. The monastery seems to be hidden behind a rock face. The inner courtyard and the church can be reached through a corridor dug between two rocks. You can visit the kitchen, the bedrooms, the baths, the cellars. The church is in the shape of a cross with a dome.

Founded by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad at the beginning of the 13th century, the citadel underwent two major restorations, one in 1470 by Ishak Paşa the Ottoman, the second much more recent, in 1955. It is probably built on the site of an earlier building, perhaps dating back to the Hittite era. The octagonal bell tower serves as a landmark. The enclosure houses a mosque, tombs and a green garden with a beautiful view of the old town. The building is easily accessible and well restored.

The underground city of Mazikoy, which in reality is only partially underground, is located on the western side of the valley. Six levels have been dug. This underground refuge resembles a bit the anthill of Özlüce. So far, four entrances have been uncovered. Its greatest particularity comes from the more numerous spaces reserved for the animals. The visit will not be crowded because it is the guard who accompanies you. Be sure to negotiate the price in advance.

The visit is not to be missed. The city museum includes an archaeology department and an ethnography department and a fine selection of objects discovered in the Assyrian city of Acemhöyük, near Aksaray. Approximately 10,000 pieces are on display dating back to the^5th millennium BC. The mummy of a woman, a nun with blond hair, found in the valley of Ihlara in the 1960s, remains one of the highlights of the visit.

At the entrance, the ladies will offer you dolls and other souvenirs (woolen socks and slippers for the winter, extra!) They are adorable and we are far from the solicitations in the ultra tourist places. The children of the village will not fail to offer their assistance, but here the route is simple and the churches well indicated.

Visit Soğanlı, it is splendid! And the landscape changes a bit from the center of Cappadocia. The tour goes along the banks. You start from the right bank up to the snake church where you cross over to go down the other side and back to the village. The most remarkable churches are, following the direction of the visit: Karabaş Kilise ("Church of the Black Head") from the ^11th century, part of a monastery with some frescoes; Yılanlı Kilise ("Church with the Snake") name given because of one of the frescoes of St. George slaying a dragon, many outbuildings and nooks and crannies all over. As you change banks, you come across Kubbeli Kilise ("the church with the dome"): dating from the ^10th century, it is very remarkable for the architecture of its dome carved directly into the cone. Right next to it stands Saklı Kilise ("the hidden church"), which has no frescoes but a vast basilica and many tunnels. Then comes Tahtalı Kilise ("Church of St. Barbara") to the west of the village, with its well-preserved frescoes and Geyikli Kilise ("Deer Church") particular for its iconostasis. They date from the ^11th and ^13th centuries.

This red colored church, one of the oldest in Cappadocia, is the place where Saint Gregory of Nazianzus is buried. Unlike the majority of the churches of Cappadocia, it is not dug in the rock but built in the middle of the fields, It contains some remains of frescos. Thanks to the association of the Friends of Cappadocia, a restoration program has been launched. The building stands out from the dreary environment and the sad land, you can see it from far.

The medersa dates from the time of the Karamanids (14th), a Seljuk branch. It was used until the beginning of the 20th century. Closed for a while, it became a prison in the 1940s and finally a museum in 1969. Stemming from different cultures, several settlements radiate at one time in the arid steppes of central Anatolia: Aşıklı Höyük (25 km to the southeast, near Kızılkaya), Musular (close to the first one), Güvercinkayası (1 km away near the villages Çatalsu and Apsarı Köyü), Acemhöyük (13 km to the northwest).

Located 1 km from the village, the church, made up of three floors, dates from the 12th century. It is suspended on the edge of a ravine. The interior is endowed with frescoes (which are not of great interest) restored by the Greeks in the 19th century. To visit the monument, if the church is not open, someone on site should give you the key. If not, the key should be picked up at the tourist office or you can go to the town hall for information.

It is the first Seljuk külliye (religious complex) in Anatolia, built in the 13th century by Sultan Alaadin Keykubat. Near the citadel stands the mosque of Hünat Hatun (1228). Next to it is the türbe (Muslim funeral building) of Princess Mahperi, wife of Sultan Keykubad, a double hammam (still in use) and a 13th century medersa, which today houses a café in its shaded courtyard, a perfect example of Seljuk architecture.

Located in Mimar Sinan Park, the complex consists of two buildings: a hospital built in 1206 and a medersa (medical school) built in 1219, one of the first medical schools in the world. The complex was built at the request of Sultan Keyhüsrev and his sister Gevser Nesibe Sultan. Today, the complex has been transformed into a museum that exhibits different sections on Seljuk civilization, history, art and culture. Interesting.

Gülşehir unveils two superimposed churches in the same cone of tufa, the higher church offers beautiful frescoes, which are very well restored recently.

Located 10 km south of Mustafapaşa, on the road to Soğanlı, and indicated by a yellow sign on the right, the monastery is about 2 km past the village of Cemil. It is difficult to access without a vehicle and still not much visited by tourists: it is worth seeing. Built in the ^13th century, it has a large refectory and two churches: Kara Kilise ("the black church"), which hides many frescoes damaged by smoke, and Aios Stefanos ("the church of St. Stephen") whose frescoes in yellow and orange represent mainly bunches of grapes.

Built in the ^13th century, on the road that connected Konya to Persia, this caravanserai is particularly well preserved although it has not been restored. A small mosque also called "mosque-kiosk" is located in the courtyard with around stables, dormitories, rooms and bathrooms. At the back, there is a magnificent monumental portal decorated with small columns and niches with motifs reproducing natural stalactites.

The Ethnological Museum traces the traditions of Cappadocia in scenes of daily life, ideal for getting acquainted with local customs and habits. As the museum is also a restaurant and café, it is very pleasant to eat quality Turkish food and to visit the museum before or afterwards. Interior room and terrace. Perhaps only one drawback: the place is spacious and can accommodate groups, which consequently make a stopover there.

In the center of the village, on the main square, the pediment of the imposing church shows painted grapes. The building has a dome and was built in 1729, before being restored in 1850. The interior is less interesting than the exterior architectural structure, but it nevertheless houses frescoes a little worn by time that date from the nineteenth century. If you want to visit it, you have to get the key at the tourist office.

The valley is located 6 km northwest of Nevşehir. The walkers are more rare because the path is recent. You will find yourself in a fascinating nature with beautiful greenery. This area is full of churches and thousands of pigeonholes dug into the cliffside. The gigantic rocks are riddled with holes or drawn. Hiking in these places is an impressive experience. After 4 km, a hairpin turnoff leads to the Fırın-Asma valley, where you can visit the church of the same name.

It is a religious complex(külliye) founded in 1726, comprising, in addition to the mosque, a medersa, a hospice and a library. The mosque is also called Kur unlu ("with lead") because its dome is covered with this metal. Opposite, the hammam is still in use and welcomes mainly tourists. Open from 6am to midnight, it is possible to get all the traditional treatments at very good prices. Note that the men and women sections are not separated.

This museum was originally located in the 13th century medersa of Hunat Hatun Külliyesi. Its contents have been housed in a historic 15th century house since 1998. And it is indeed the building that is worth seeing with its black and white stone facade and its splendid ceilings. Otherwise, you can admire a collection of ceramics, costumes, weapons and usual objects as well as a reconstruction of a house and a nomad tent (yurt).

Kayseri has magnificent Seljuk mausoleums, two-storey buildings that housed the remains of nobles. The most famous and beautiful is the Döner Kümbet (revolving mausoleum) in Talas Caddesi. Built in 1276 to house the tomb of a princess, it is spiral-shaped and appears to turn around. The fine outer ornaments with animal motifs are superb. Nearby you can also see the Sırçalı Kümbet which was originally covered with coloured earthenware.

Camii Kilise or Aşağı Camii or Büyük Kilise, the Byzantine church of St. Gregory of Naziance (theologian, one of the fathers of the Greek Church) dates from the 4th century. It became a mosque after the population exchange of the 1920s. It houses a magnificent pulpit and an iconostasis of chiselled wood.

Sivişli Kilise or the Church of St. Annargiros has a dome and columns carved into the rock as well as 19th century frescoes. On leaving, take the stairs on the left to enjoy a superb panorama of the village.

This building is an old Seljuk Koranic school built in 1267 by Ata Ata Fahreddin Ali, entirely in ashlar. With its particularly remarkable and beautifully decorated portal, it is now a place where a book market is held. The place hosts a small exhibition on Seljuk art. A Roman tomb is located nearby. The mosque no longer exists and the fountain has been moved from the interior to the front of the building.

This valley allows you to reach Göreme and its open-air museum from Ürgüp. The dolmuş, departing from the center of Ürgüp, will drop you off on the Nevşehir-Ürgüp road, at the starting point of the hike, which is south of Müze Caddesi. This 6 km long hike, also known as the "valley of love", contains beautiful specimens of phallic formations, some rock churches, including El Nazar Ikilesi at the end of the walk. This quiet walk will be an opportunity to meet the inhabitants who will offer you açay or a bunch of grapes.

Located in a 15th century building with a beautiful white marble portal, this medersa has two floors and a flat roof which is not common. The inner courtyard (8.5 meters by 9.5 meters) is open and lined with porticoes, there is a well in the center. The name of the architect of the Ak Medrese, which was commissioned by Ali Bey during the Karamanid reign, is not known. The monument now houses the music classes of the university. The entrance is reached by descending twelve steps from the street on the north side.

Located 2 km south of Özkonak, Belha Monastery is located in the middle of nowhere and is completely rocky. It is the largest and oldest known monastery in Cappadocia, probably dating from the 6th century. Note the remarkable portico overlooking a courtyard, and a basilica which must have been the meeting point for the hermit monks of the surrounding area, a storeroom and two funeral chapels that make it a place not to be missed. Another point of interest is the view from the top of the hill. Follow the road for 4.5 km that leads to the top. Superb.

The excavations that have been carried out in the region have mainly fed the museum in Ankara, but some of the finds have been transferred here. These remains concern mainly the Neolithic period (about 9000 BC), the Chalcolithic period (about 4000 BC), and the Assyrian settlements (end of the third millennium BC). There is also a small ethnographic section and a collection of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman coins.

Built between 1408 and 1409 by Kılıçarslan's son, Rükneddin Mesud, on a rectangular plan, and then enlarged and restored during the Karamanoğulları period, this mosque reflects the architectural traditions typical of the beylicat era following the Persian-influenced Seljuk period. Inside, note the beautiful carved wooden minbar. The mosque is built of smooth cut stones and some yellow stones of the portal have been preserved.

The Great Mosque was built in the twelfth century by the Turkish emirs and completed in 1205 by the Seljuks. It is also known as the Sultan Mosque or Cami-i Kebir. It is the oldest building in the city. Thanks to successive restorations, it has remained in very good condition. Note its rectangular shape, its beautiful cylindrical minaret of red bricks which is one of the highest in the country and the particular minbar in carved wood. Its fountain built near the south wall dates back to the beginning of the 18th century.

The Nevşehir museum is very small but it is free. There are two exhibition halls, archaeological and ethnographic. The latter displays objects from different periods going back to the Bronze Age, and some interesting sarcophagi. On the second floor there is an ethnographic collection of carpets and jewelry. The museum conducts excavations in the village of Şahin Efendi (near Ürgüp), the ancient Sobessos. Friendly staff, especially the director of the museum.

The archaeological museum in the city of Kayseri reminds us how Anatolia was the cradle of great civilizations that shone at various times. His collection includes finds from the Hittite city of Kanesh (Kültepe), tablets engraved with cuneiform inscriptions as well as Hellenistic and Roman objects. In the garden are two impressive lions from the 7th century BC. Although the museum is not very big, it is quite interesting.

Built in 1312, by the daughter of Rukneddin Kılıç Aslan, Hüdavend Hatun, it is one of the most beautiful mausoleums in the country. In Anatolian Seljuk style, the burial chamber is located halfway up and has three openings. It is a tiered and octagonal tomb, built from white marble for the doors and windows, yellow trachyte stone and red stone. The general style and that of the reliefs suggest strong influences from Persia and Central Asia. The mausoleum has preserved its original style to the present day.