Cappadocia is one of those places, allowing you to leave our planet behind without actually leaving it. Given a chance, this land will definitely fill one with the sense of adventure and mystery
A moonscape region carved by the nature and men, Cappadocia is most famous for its unique geological features and layers of history. This is the name of the region created by the erosion of the soft layers formed by the lava and ashes, and shaped by rain, wind, and ice for millions of years. As the landscape was eroded, basalt stones remained and formed conical structures with some reaching as high as 45 m. Past cultures have dug into them to create dwellings, castles, and even entire underground cities, used as hiding places by early inhabitants.
The local people referred to these unique rock formations as “fairy chimneys”. If nature was the first artist to arrange the decor, it was Anatolian humankind who carved the rock and created Cappadocia as an open-air museum full of unparalleled natural and cultural phenomena.
Cappadocia, “the land of beautiful horses” as one interpretation of the name Katpatuka suggests, is the key to the myriad potential possibilities for exploring and experiencing this fantastic land, from riding to cycling, from exploration to sumptuous cuisine. No matter the season or time of year, this fantasy land has something to stimulate, captivate and invigorate the senses.
SEE
Imagine waking up to a fairy tale landscape, with a brilliant sun rising into the bluest of skies. The same sky is which are peppered with hot air balloons slowly ascending. This is usually the first sight a visitor has when in Cappadocia, but this is just an introduction to the possibilities and adventures that await one in Cappadocia, the land of the beautiful horses.
For most people, the name Cappadocia suggests the towns of Uçhisar, Göreme, Avanos, Ürgüp, Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı and Ihlara, where the land has been shaped into fantastic forms over the course of millions of years. Fairy chimneys that seem mysterious and cities and houses of worship that extend many meters deep into the earth are all enveloped in an atmosphere that is ethereal and unworldly.
This very landscape has been home to innumerable cultures and civilizations, due to the ease with which the soil could be carved out. The area is littered with many underground cities that seem frozen in time. Cappadocia is an open-air museum that was witness and has evidence for the Assyrians, Hittites, Romans, Byzantines, Early Christians, Islam and more.
SMELL
One thing that mesmerizes the senses in Cappadocia is the smell of Cappadocia. The clay in Cappadocia is cherished by ceramic ateliers, of which there are quite a few around. Spend some time here making a pot with your own hands, under expert guidance. The heady smell of wet clay, the texture through your fingers and the rhythm of the potter’s wheel, awakens a primal excitement that we seem to have lost in our fast paced and busy modern world.
The air is punctuated by the smells of Turkish cuisine with its dance of aromas from the delicate use of Turkish spices and herbs. Cappadocia is home to the flos elaeagni, an endemic aromatic tree that fills the air with a wonderful perfume in the spring. Added to this cornucopia of olfactory seductions is the smell of the freshly brewed Turkish coffee and tea, ever present and a hallmark of Turkish hospitality.
TASTE
A day that is so full of adventure and wonder, needs to be fueled, right? In Cappadocia, one is spoiled for choice, as anywhere in Türkiye. Starting from the sumptuous and overwhelming typical Turkish breakfast to the vast varieties of delicious local cuisines, one is surrounded with tastes and textures that leave one spellbound.
Clay Pot Kebab (Testi Kebab) is one unique dish to Cappadocia. Meat, vegetables, and lentils are slow cooked in a sealed clay pot in traditional earthen ovens. When the pot is broken, the smoky aroma and flavour that lies within burst out and fills one with sublime satisfaction. To accompany your meal, please do try the local wine, something the area is famous for.
TOUCH
Cappadocia is home to hand made silk and wool carpets. To sense the opulence in these textures is truly an experience onto itself. One can even witness the miraculous process of silk threads production. The cocoon of the silkworm is delicately unwrapped to present one with the miraculous fiber that is silk. The local silk ateliers produce a dizzying variety of products from this beautiful and rare fabric, ranging from scarfs to even carpets. Come indulge yourself in the decadence of luxury.
