Cappadocia covering a part of the high Anatolian plateau-was called 'Katpatuka' (Land of Beautiful Horses) in old Persian.Its natural borders, i.e. the River Euprates in the east, the Black Sea Mountains in the north, the Salt Lake in the west and the Taurus Mountains in the south, have changed continuously for centuries in accordance with the supremacy of dominating civilizations in the region. Today, however, the 'Region of Cappadocia' which is defined according to its morphological character lies within the boundaries of Nevsehir Province in the Nevsehir-Goreme-Avanos triangle and includes the Ihlara valley within Aksaray Province and the vicinity of Soganli within Kayseri Province. The region can be reached by air by means of Nevsehir and Kayseri Airport and by land from Ankara, Istanbul and other major cities.The distance between Ankara and the region is 300 km and it can be covered in 3 1/2-4 hours via the international E5 highway. The highway network constructed within the framework of tourist roads is in accordance with the geographical layout of the region and facilitates trasport between all settlements and the sites.The geomorphological nature of Cappadocia has been responsible for such treasures as anonymous architecture, rock chapels, cave and troglodytic settlements. In order to preserve and develop its tourist attrativeness, this region as a whole with its unique cultural, historical and natural characteristics, was declared 'Region of major importance in tourist development' by the Turkish Government with a decree promulgated on 23 February 1973 which placed the region under protection against any negative developments and attempts. The geologiacal formation of the Cappadocia region can be summarized as follows: The eruptions of two volcanos on the Anatolian plateau, Erciyas (3917m) and Hasan (3268m) caused the region between to be covered with a thick stratum of lava, volcanic ashes and dust.Consequently, a dense tuff layer formed on the surface.For centuries such natural factors as rain and winds have created extraordinary shapes, deep valleys, natural sculptures and 'fairy chimneys' in the tuff crust.During the course of history men settled in these easily workable rocks and continued to live there peacefully without being directly effected by wars.Cappadocia represents an attractive ensemble with its settlements of the Ottoman period reflecting magnificient examples of civil architecture as well as with its hans, caravanserais, medreses, turbes and mosques of the Islamic art.
The population increase within the region has been more gradual than the general population increase thoughout the contry as a whole. The rise in the urban population considerably exceeds that of the rural population. The exodus from the region has been almost continuous. Migration from villages to cities, from cities to metropolises and to foreign countries has led to a decrease in the region's population.
The tradition of rock-hewn churches laid the foundations for a local school of architecture in Cappadocia. The Christian art of the region was influenced by the metropolis, i.e. Constantinople; however, its local manifestation never achieved the degree of perfection which was the hallmark of Constantinople. In the art of painting, the rules set fort by the Byzantine art of Istanbul were followed by frescoes instead of by mosaics. Due to the fact that the buildings were hollowed out the soft rock, the structural dimensions were reduced and the architectural elements were distorted. Except for two churches in Soganlý, where the outer cone was partially shaped, no other church in the area displays an external architectural element. Besides the religious monuments in Goreme, Soganlý and the Ihlara valleys, examples of traditional civil architecture can still be seen in urgup, Uchisar, Cavusin and Mustafapasa (ancient Sinassos). The Goreme area presents a high concentration of rock-hewn churches. Those structures which require immediate attention for salvage operations during the initial phaases of the 'Conservation Project' are located here. Most of them are easily accessible. Guillaume de jerphanion, a French priest who vesited the area between 1907-1912, published 'Une Nouvelle Province de I'art Byzantine: Les eglises rupestres de Cappadoce', a two-volume book on the rock-hewn churches of the area. This first serious study included a rather detailed map. Some of the churches mentioned in the original map are non-existent today. Rock formations situated closer to level ground belong to later erosion stages.Thus churches cut into these formations are naturally more threatened than churches located in formations in earlier stages of erosion.
Archaelogical records indicate that the region was first populated during the Early Bronze Age (ca 2500-2300 b.c.). The Bronze Age came to an end with the ancient Hittite Kingdom (ca 1750-1450 B.C.) followed by the Hittite Empire (1450-1200 B.C.) Finds representing these periods have been brought to light at Kultepe/Kanis-Karum,the centre of the Assyrian Trade Colonies, and also in Nevsehir and Aksaray. Cappadocia was then occupied by the Phrygians and Persians and was ruled as a kingdom with its centre Caesarea (modern Kayseri) under Greek influence between 380-36 B.C. it became a Roman province, but lost its importance during the Romen rule. It seems probable that St.Paul of Tarsus, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ passed through Cappadocia on one of this missionary journeys in 53 A.D. and encouraged the first Christians to gather in this region. After Christianity was officially accepted as a religion in 313 A.D., three religious figures of Cappadocia, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory and Basil of Nazianzus effectively took part in the promotion of the new religion.Monastic life in the region started after 350 A.D. Cappadocia subsequently came under occasional Arab rule during 7th and 8th centuries. These raids were broggth to an end towards the mid 9th century, when Byzantium succeeding in vanquishing the Arabs. The Empire then established powerful administrative control over the eastern frontiers which was to last until the third quarter of the 11th century, during which the region enjoyed a relatively quiet and prosperous period. In 1071, the sovereignity of the Eastern Byzantium Empire on central and eastern Anatolian Provinces was diminished by the Anatolian Seljuks.From the 14th century onwards, the Ottomans replaced the Seljuks in ruling Anatolia.All three Empires left their cultural and art properties as a precious heritage.Besides the monuments dating back the Seljukid and Ottoman periods Cappadocia owes its historical importance to the monasteries established after the 4th century A.D.,underground cities built by the early Christians to take refuge, more than 400 rock-hewn churches and the remains of Early Christian and Byzantine art.
Touristic activities in the region are closely linked to the tourism sector of the country as a whole. Together with tours along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, Cappadocia also has a 10% share of 'inland' tours. Parties of mainly foreign toursts usually spend 1 or 2 nights in the area. The number of foreign tourists reached about 1.600.000 in 1988, falling to 810.000 in 1990 as a result of the Gulf War. Subsequently, there was an upwarand trend leading to 1.050.000 tourist in 1997.. In accordance with the rising number of tourists, the capacity of recognized touristic accommodation is inadequate. In view of this, the provision of adequate facilities is considered as a priority in planning studies. This year (2001) 3,5 - 4 Million tourists are visiting Cappadocia. If you want to be one of them, click our Contact Page.
