about
Cappadocia
,
Cappadocia, meaning "the land of beautiful horses"
Cappadocian region is the area where history and nature come together most
beautifully within the world. For millions of year, with a geological structure
of volcanic formations, Urgup was founded within the region which had been
shaped into different fantastic forms known as �Fairy Chimneys�, through
erosions of wind and water. The were formed as floodwater poured down the sides
of the valleys, combined with strong winds which tore away the softer volcanic
rocks, resulting in this magnificent landscape. While geographic events are
forming Fairy Chimneys, during the historical period. Cappadocia is a land of
discovery. Away from Goreme, Zelve and the major tourist places, there are
partially excavated Hittite centers, cavetowns and hundreds of churches that
are seen, gorges to explore and some of the most vivid, pastoral scenes to be
captured in all of Turkey.
During the old Roman Empire territories of Cappadocian Region as a extensive
region lying till to the Toros Mountains at south. Today's Cappadocian Region
is the area covered by Kayseri, Nevsehir, Aksaray, Nigde and K�rsehir cities.
More limited area, rocky Cappadocian Region is composed of Uchisar, Goreme,
Avanos, Urgup, Derinkuyu, Kaymakl�, Ihlara and enviroment. G�reme, which hide
among fairy chimneys, is the heart of Cappadocia. First period settlement
within the region reaches to Roman times from Christianity. Ortahane, Durmus
Kadir, Yusuf Koc and Bezirhane churches in Goreme
Traditional Cappadocian buildings and dovecotes carved into hard stones are
showing the uniqueness of the region. These houses are built on the feet of the
mountain via rocks or cut stones. Rock, which is the only construction material
of the region, as it is very soft after quarry due to the structure of the
region, can be easily processed but after contact with air it hardens and turns
into a very strong material.
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