Cappadocia (History and Relieves)

     The term Cappadocia, which means “the land of beautiful horses”, was called “Katpatuka” by Assyrians, “Kapadokya” by Persians and “Kabadokiya” by Arabians.

    In Cappadocia several civilizations such as Hattis, Assyrians, Frigians, Hitites, Persians, Luviler, Macedonians, Cappadocia Kingdom, Romans, Byzantians, Anatolian Seljuks, Danismentliler, Eretnaogullari, Karamanogullari, Dulkadirogullari and finally the Ottoman Empire dominated.

     The background of the reliefs in Cappadocia is as follows:

     Mt. Erciyes, Mt. Hasan and Mt. Melendiz used to be active volcanoes in the geological era. The lava and ash erupted by these volcanoes later formed layers in the lakes in the area. Later on, the natural effects such as wind, rain, water, etc eroded these tuff layers and finally unique relieves called Fairy Chimneys came to being.

     The most interesting fairy chimneys of the area are seen around Zelve-Çavuşin-Göreme. The other important characteristic of Cappadocia is the “underground cities”, which were used as shelters and for religious use by Christians who wanted to defend themselves from pagan Romans.

     In the underground cities there are churches (built in the period when Christianity was newly spread), monasteries, missionary schools, baptism rooms, sitting rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, wineries, kitchens, food stores, graves, tunnels, huge round rocks look like millstones which were used to block the tunnels and finally ventilation shafts. The most significant underground cities in the region are situated in Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Mazıköy, Acıgöl, Özkonak and Tatlarin.

Festivals and Significant Days

16-18 August the Rememberance Days of Hacı Bektaşi Veli - Hacıbektaş
20 July the Day When the City of Nevşehir was founded - Nevşehir
3-6 October the Festival of Grape Harvest - Ürgüp
2-6 August International Handicrafts Festival - Avanos
21 September Turkoman Feast Festival - Nevşehir