Underground cities of Turkey. Space Cappadocia

One of the most beautiful places in Turkey is located in central Anatolia. This place gained fame due to its unusual cosmic appearance, it looks like the lunar surface. There are also underground multi-level cities and a large number of hollowed-out churches directly in the rocky passages. 

Thanks to volcanic eruptions, we can see fabulous landscapes on postcards, brochures and other types of tourist printing. The territory of Cappadocia has several volcanoes, namely Hassan Dag, Gellyudag and Erciyes.

They were formed as a result of a powerful underground explosion that occurred millions of years ago. A huge amount of lava thrown out through cracks created fabulously beautiful places. As a result of the eruption of these three volcanoes, the earth was covered with a large volume of ash and dust. 

Over time, this formed a porous, soft sedimentary rock called tuff. And thanks to the millennial influence of rain and strong winds, wonderful cosmic forms were formed: pyramids, cones and huge mushrooms.

Cave cities

In soft, porous rocks, a few years ago, people gouged out entire cities. The Bible says about the first villages like this: that it is unlikely to find more rude people than the Tabal and Mushi tribes from Cappadocia in the whole earth. Labyrinths carved into the rocks are probably the most wonderful creation of human hands. Byzantine monks settled here in the 4th century. 

The Bishop of Caesarea the Great (St. Basil) found a place for solitude and prayer. After a while, the city became one of the important centers of the Orthodox religion. The settlement in stone caves grew into a mass one, and this led to the construction of labyrinths of monasteries. You can see what life looked like in the tunnels by visiting the complex in Zevle.

Monasteries and churches, there are about a hundred of them, are located in the caves of the Geremei Ihlara valley. To get to them, you need to think in advance about comfortable shoes. Most of the churches of the 5th century are in a ruined state. Wall frescoes depicting the faces of saints were smashed by Islamic fanatics. 

But one of the most beautiful frescoes, which depicts the crucifixion of Christ, is in the church of Tokali. No less beautiful frescoes are painted on the walls of the Church of the Holy Virgin.

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