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August 2013 - Travels in Turkey
On the afternoon of our first day in Cappadocia, we visited an underground city and looked over the Pigeon Valley.
Cappadocia - Kaymakli Underground City
The first caves were carved in Hittite times. By the 4th century Christians were living in the caves and expanding the underground cave cities. There are many other similar cave cities throughout Cappadocia.
Kaymaklı Underground City has nearly one hundred tunnels. The tunnels are low, narrow, and steeply inclined. Only four of the eight floors are open to tourists; each floor is organized around efficient ventilation shafts.
The first floor of the underground city is the stable.
Located on the second floor is a church with a nave and two apses. Located in front of the apses is a baptismal font, and on the sides along the walls are seating platforms.
The second floor also has a big lock stone for closing the passageway during times of attack.
There are also labyrinths without exit tunnels and secret passages for escape.
The third floor contains the most important areas of the underground compound: storage places, wine or oil presses, and kitchens.
Archeologists think that up to 3500 people lived in this particular cave city.
Cappadocia - Güvercinlik (Pigeon) Valley
The name of the valley comes from the thousands of pigeon houses that have been carved into the soft rock since ancient times. In Cappadocia, pigeons have long been a source of food and fertilizer (pigeon dung).
The Turkish evil eye was everywhere in the country. It is believed that the evil eye can scare away demons. Jewelry, decorations and paintings often include the evil eye. At Pigeon Valley even the lone tree was decorated
To see more pictures of our Turkey Travels, click on one of the links below:
Arrival in Istanbul, Travel to Bursa and Uludag
Istanbul Mosques and Cathedrals
Istanbul Palaces and Historic Sites
Streets of Istanbul
Ephesus Area
Pamukkale Area
Aspendos, Perge and Side
Antalya and Konya
Cappadocia – Day 1 Morning
Cappadocia – Day 1 Afternoon
Cappadocia – Day 2 Morning
Cappadocia – Day 2 Afternoon
Final Day in Istanbul
