Included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO, Cappadocia

Houses carved into rocks. A mysterious and impressive geography. Unique enough to be almost like a country on its own and precious enough to be imprinted in the memories. We are talking about Cappadocia. Located on the route of Silk Road, Cappadocia developed substantially during the Hittite period by the help of trade. The Hittite Empire, which collapsed in the 12th century BC, and then the Persians took over the region and became the residents.  In the 6th century BC, the Persian Empire gave Cappadocia its current name. Meaning the Land of Beautiful Horses, this name has contained a completely different mystery for centuries.

The most characteristic feature of Cappadocia, a settlement that has survived to date since the Chalcolithic age, is the fairy chimneys standing firmly with their mysterious looks. The tuffs from Mount Erciyes and Hasan shaped and formed fairy chimneys through natural elements such as wind and water. In Cappadocia, nature and history are intertwined. The churches, monasteries and houses carved into fairy chimneys throughout the history carry the traces of the past from centuries ago to the present day. The written history in Cappadocia, which dates back to the Paleolithic age, starts with the Hittites.

Cappadocia is also one of the important crossroads of Silk Road. The spaces carved into the rocks here have an attention-grabbing feature of being warm in winter and cool in summer. In the past, Goreme was a shelter for Christians running from oppression of the Romans. This is why it has become an important center of Christianity at that time. Goreme National Park, Karain Pigeon Houses, Derinkuyu and Kaymakli Underground Cities, Karlik Church, Yesiloz Theodoro Church and Soganli Archeological Site are located in the region. These areas were also included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 1985.

The most characteristic element that comes to mind when it comes to Goreme National Park and Cappadocia Region is the fairy chimneys. The fairy chimneys, which were carved by wind and rain water like a sculptor, fascinate all the visitors. The pigeon houses built on the slopes of the valley and the monastic cells carved into the depths of the valley also add characteristics to the region. Apart from the fairy chimneys, Cappadocia, which draws attention of local and foreign tourists by the mausoleum, hostel and madrasah representing Seljuk stonemasonry and buildings belonging to Ottoman period, is remembered mostly for the balloons flying in the sky.

You must take a balloon tour and horse safari in Cappadocia, which means the Land of Beautiful Horses. This unique experience imprints Cappadocia in the memories with all the colors, scents and lines. In particular, the balloon tours taken when the sun starts to rise are breathtakingly impressive. Included in the List of World Heritage List of Unesco, Cappadocia maintains its top position in the list of must-see places before you die.