If you need a freelance travel writer or you would like to see your country, city, flight, etc., presented on the blog, drop me an email.
Find our more on Freelance Travel Writer page.
Cappadocia is truly indescribable (hence, Things to do in Cappadocia travel series). Thankfully, we have cameras, because trying to capture the essence of the Cappadocia houses – which aren’t really houses in the traditional sense, but spaces carved into the mountains – would be a challenge in words alone.
Cappadocia is truly hard to describe. Luckily, there are cameras. How else could one capture the essence of these houses that aren’t really houses, but spaces carved inward from the rock, creating rooms as needed?
These unique dwellings feature low ceilings, a few rooms separated by stone pillars, and from the outside, all you can see is a small opening in the rock.
Some of these entrances are adorned with ornaments, often symbols of Christianity, fertility, or prosperity. If the residents didn’t carve stairs into the rocks to access their homes, they would use wooden ladders, which were pulled up at night to prevent intruders, whether human or wild.
One such settlement is located in the Zelve Valley. As you gaze upon the stone hills, pierced with countless openings, it’s hard not to think of these ancient structures as the precursors to modern buildings.
The paths for tourists are well-marked, and it’s important to stay on them, as the ancient Cappadocia houses are vulnerable to erosion, and their ceilings could easily collapse.
Wandering among the fairy chimneys – the surreal natural formations that people once inhabited – is an overwhelming experience. The inhabitants of this area ingeniously organized their lives and safeguarded themselves from danger.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that Turkish authorities managed to relocate the last of the residents, as these Cappadocia houses were no longer safe due to frequent erosion. Over time, the hollowed rocks became increasingly fragile, leading to periodic collapses.
As you follow the path among the fairy chimneys, you can even climb stairs into one of the “apartments.”
Inside the first room, faint daylight barely filters through, leaving the space cool, cozy, and slightly damp. The underground water flow contributes to the ongoing erosion, slowly reshaping these homes.
In this area, you’ll find small churches and monasteries, evidence of centuries of Christian and Muslim coexistence. A well-preserved minaret still stands here, a testament to the village’s history. After the Christians left, the Turks inhabited this remarkable place.
If you’re planning to visit Cappadocia in winter, be prepared for snow in December and January, with temperatures plunging below minus 15°C. Snowfall typically ranges from 30 to 40 centimeters, and tour guides often highlight the rare sight of snow blanketing just one side of the fairy chimneys and valleys, creating a breathtaking winter landscape.
And they are absolutely right!
Next: CARRYING A RUG HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD
The full Cappadocia SERIES
PIN IT FOR LATER:
If you need a freelance travel writer or you would like to see your country, city, flight, etc., presented on the blog, drop me an email.
Find our more on Freelance Travel Writer page.
I am looking forward to working with you.
© 2024 Glimpses. All rights reserved. No part of the site may be copied or reproduced without written permission. Web Design & SEO Services – Lavit Solutions.
0 responses
I had no idea anything like this existed. You are right though, it is a good thing you can capture it with a camera because it seems almost impossible to describe! Loved your pictures, really got a good sense for the area!
It is amazing, surreal. Thanks, so glad you’ve enjoyed it! 🙂
Cappadoccia looks truly amazing, visiting places where there has been human habitation for such a long time is just mind-blowing.
And when you consider the conditions they lived in… It makes it even more interesting!
Cappadocia is on my bucket list .. I can’t wait to go there and stay in a cave hotel and then get up early to go on a balloon ride. Next time I’m in Turkey, I’m definitely going to take the time to visit. ~ Jay @rovingjay
And I’m sure you’ll have great time there! Thanks for visiting! 🙂
I’ve never heard of this before now. Looks incredible.
Glad you like it, thanks! 🙂
It’s so crazy how a person could be a continents away and yet find something similar in Arizona. To know these continents were connected at one point, with inhabitants, and then inhabitants took some shelter traits with them is mind-boggling. Beautiful pics, by the way. 🙂
Such amazing things to stumble across if travelling, don’t you agree? It’s great how we get to know this vast and diverse world. 🙂 Thanks!
“There are small churches and monasteries in this area and a lot of traces to Christian-Muslim cohabitation.”
Trap for young players there. The English word “cohabitation” has a primary meaning which is out of place here. In theory, your use of it is correct and the meaning is clear, but I guess most will be startled until they work out that the secondary meaning is intended.
Having said that, what a fascinating place. I visited Kandovan near Tabriz last year, which has similar structures, still occupied.
Thanks, will consider changing it. 🙂
I’m really liking this series! You’re giving all these amazing facts (and stories for some). Keep it coming 😀
Good note on sticking to the paths for both safety and of course, conserving the site. I always imagined Turkey to be relatively warm throughout the year, so I’m really surprised it can get down to -15! I wonder what it would have been like to live here back in the day…
Yes, just imagine winter in those conditions! Thank you very much for your kind words, so glad you like the series! 🙂
This is definitely somewhere on my bucket list and your photos make it that much more interesting. We travel with our 3 kids and I think they would absolutely love wandering around the fairy chimneys.
They would love it, it’s like a place from a fairy tale anyway! You would just have to keep them close for safety reasons. Hope you’d get there some day! 🙂
I want to go to Cappadocia so badly! It seems like a beautiful part of Turkey. And I would love to see the fairy chimneys. I think they are so quaint. I wouldn’t like to go in winter though.
If you do go, there’s no way to miss those chimneys, they are everywhere! 😀
Cappadoccia is HIGH on my travel bucket list and I had never seen any of these photos! You just got me wanderlusting, lol. I love how history can dictate the future, especially when its this preserved!
Feel free to browse the blog, the Cappadocia series was on for the whole month, you’ll find more photos. 😉 Love places like this as well, beautiful landscapes rich in history. Thanks!
Cappadocia is truly amazing. I loved spending a few days there, though I didn’t get to see much as I had sun poisoning. So i really enjoyed your photos!
Sorry to hear that. Next time, maybe? 🙂 Thanks, you’ll find more photos in the series!
Wonderful article, well written and very nice informative.
Oh, thank you so much! 🙂
Amazing photos. I really like it.
Thank-you so much sharing this kind of amazing pictures.
Thank you for stopping by, so glad you like it! 🙂