What To See In Cappadocia If You Only Have 2 Days
Ancient Cappadocia is among such non-standard destinations for outdoor activities in Turkey. Cappadocia is the historical name for a vast area encompassing several modern provinces of Turkey (Kayseri, Kirsehir, Nigde, Aksaray and Nevsehir). In ancient times, several distinctive civilizations were born here. The monuments created by them can be seen today.
Long gone are the days when people associated the phrase “vacation in Turkey” exclusively with a beach holiday on the Mediterranean coast of this country. Now many experienced travelers have discovered exquisite Ottoman palaces and majestic ancient temples on the shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul and ancient cities in the Tigris and Euphrates valleys, the beauty of Lake Van and the greenery of mountain gorges and pastures of the Black Sea region of Turkey.
Ancient Cappadocia is among such non-standard destinations for outdoor activities in Turkey. Cappadocia is the historical name for a vast area encompassing several modern provinces of Turkey (Kayseri, Kirsehir, Nigde, Aksaray and Nevsehir). In ancient times, several distinctive civilizations were born here. The monuments created by them can be seen today.
If you have never been to Cappadocia before, set aside at least two days of your time and you will never forget these incredible places.
Fabulous landscapes in Cappadocia
Millions of years ago, this was an area of powerful volcanic activity. The mountains in this area were then active volcanoes and constant eruptions covered everything around with a thick layer of ash and lava. Later, the frozen lava was exposed to wind, rain and temperature changes for a long time, resulting in the formation of hundreds and thousands of bizarre rocks. To some they resemble fantastic creatures, to others – columns of fabulous temples erected by giants, to others – spaceships. The locals gave these formations a very romantic name – “fairy chimneys”.
Underground cities and monasteries
Not only nature, but also the ancient inhabitants of the region changed the local landscape. There are dozens of underground cities, which are quite complex complexes of tunnels and premises. The labyrinth of the underground city of Kaymakli is buried eight floors underground, the city of Derinkuyu consists of seven underground levels.
These complexes consist of living quarters, stables, warehouses and tombs. Since some of the underground cities were built by the first Christians who were hiding from persecution, there are underground monasteries and churches decorated with beautiful frescoes and paintings.
Cappadocia tot air balloon flights
Cappadocia is one of the world’s centers of aeronautics. Recently, this popular leisure activity among tourists has been fully restored after a long hiatus caused by quarantine restrictions. Just imagine the spectacle of dozens of balloons floating simultaneously over a fantastic, almost alien landscape! Or the opportunity to meet the sunrise over Cappadocia, while in the cockpit of a balloon, tens of meters above the ground.
Closeness to nature
From here, you can travel around the region on horseback. There is an opportunity to choose horse rides of different duration, up to several days. During such a walk, you can see details that you did not see from the balloon basket. By the way, the very name “Cappadocia” in translation from one of the ancient languages means “the country of beautiful horses”. There is also the fabulous Valley of Pigeons, where these birds have been bred for many centuries.
Exquisite crafts
Traveling around Cappadocia, you can stop in small towns and villages and watch the work of local craftsmen. You must admit that it is interesting to look at how hundreds of years ago they made pottery or weaved carpets – after all, even now all this is made here by hand, using old technologies. You can also try your own strengths in pottery, and of course buy artisan products as souvenirs.
Accommodation in rock hotels
Certainly, in order to feel the historical spirit of the region to the fullest, in Cappadocia you will want to stay in one of the many rock hotels. True, the conditions will not be historical at all and will be able to meet the requirements for high-class comfort. An alternative to rock hotels can only be Radisson Blu Kayseri, which is located in the city of Kayseri, a million-plus city and tourist hub of Central Anatolia. Renowned for its high standards of excellence, the stylish Radisson Blu Kayseri has received numerous awards and was honored as “The World’s Leading Radisson Hotel” earlier this year. The hotel is just a 10-minute drive from Kayseri International Airport and a 25-minute drive from Erciyes Ski Resort, in the center of a magnificent and interesting city with a rich history and heritage of great civilizations.
