Upon arrival into Istanbul International Airport, we will immediately proceed with a connection to Cappadocia. Depending on your arrival time, we will take a visit to Unesco World Heritage Site of Uchisar Castle, which is one of the town's defence buildings. Here you will be rewarded with a glimpse of the most magnificent, panoramic view of the surrounding towns and endless magical fairy chimneys, which make Cappadocia magical. Its history lies in the Ottoman Period from Rome (Byzantine) Era. At the beginning, the East Rome Time (between 15th and 16th centuries) was a place to sign mirrors or lights to inform the inhabitants of any threat approaching. As trade became vibrant, it served as a center for the connection of Royal Road and Silk Road  during the Persian and Seljuk era. In Ottoman Time, the castle was again a main location for protection and maintenance.

 

We will continue our adventure to Pasabag Valley, which is known as the “Village of the Monk”, when it earned its name from the many monk refuges carving into the soft rock cones for home. Here you can find spectacular cone topped rock pillars known as Fairy Chimneys standing tall throughout the vineyard. Here some of the most impressive pillars are 15 meters tall and split into twin chimneys, some even support three chimneys.

 

St Simeon was one of the many monks to take refuge in Cappadocia, attracted by the solitude and isolation that the region provided, St Simon built his home 15 meters above the ground in one the fairy chimneys, descending only to collect the offerings of food and water that his followers brought to him. By the 4th century, Cappadocia was largely inhabited by monks and many of their excavated homes can be found in this valley. The monks were able to hollow out the soft volcanic tuff inside the pillars and create narrow staircases leading up to the cone-shaped shelters which they used as living quarters. For fantastic views of the area, you can crawl inside the rock and climb the staircases to gaze out over the moon-like landscape. Also in the valley, you can visit a chapel dedicated to St Simeon and abandoned hermit cave homes.

 

We then proceed to another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Open Air Museum. Here you will take a walking tour starting from the main entrance. Inside this fascinating ancient dwelling, you will experience a Byzantine monastic settlement. The settlement has 9 churches and chapels, and a monastery. The fully restored Dark Church, famed for the vivid colours and excellent preservation with walls and ceilings here are fully covered with Biblical depictions including Christ as Pantocrator, Christ on the cross and the Betrayal by Judas. 

 

We will follow the cobble pathed tour, we will reach the 11th-century Chapel of St Basil, dedicated to Kayseri-born St Basil, one of Cappadocia's most important saints. In the main room, St Basil is pictured on the left; a Maltese cross is on the right, along with St George and St Theodore slaying a (faded) dragon, symbolising paganism. On the right of the apse, Mary holds baby Jesus with a cross in his halo.

 

Nearby is the Chapel of St Barbara. Some art historians theorise that Byzantine soldiers carved out this 11th-century church, dedicated to their patron saint, who is depicted on the left as you enter. Look up at the ceiling and note the red ochre motifs – the middle one could represent the Ascension; above the St George representation on the far wall, the strange creature could be a dragon and the two cross the beast's usual slayers.

 

Past the Chapel of St Barbara the lane loops down to the columned and nine-domed Apple Church, which contains a well-preserved picture of The Ascension above the door and Christ Pantocrator in the church center dome.

 

Heading uphill you come to the Snake Church, also called the Church of St Onuphrius, where St George's ubiquitous dragon-foe is still having a bad day. To add insult to fatal injury, the church got its current moniker when locals mistook the pictured dragon for a snake. The hermetic hermaphrodite St Onuphrius is depicted on the right, holding a genitalia-covering palm leaf. Straight ahead, the small figure next to Jesus is one of the church's financiers.

 

The small Pantocrator Chapel and Nameless Chapel with simple red-ochre geometric decorations and Maltese crosses are a little further along the path as well as a series of caves thought to have served as refectory and kitchen areas with a rock-cut table in one cavern.

 

As we walk towards the highest point you will reach the famous Dark Church. Next to the Dark Church will be the little Chapel of St Catherine containing frescoes of St George, St Catherine and the Deesis (a seated Christ flanked by the Virgin and John the Baptist). Heading downhill, the 13th-century Sandal Church is named for the footprints marked in the floor, representing the last imprints left by Jesus before he ascended to heaven. The four gospel writers are depicted below the central dome; in the arch over the door to the left is the Betrayal by Judas.

 

The Rahibeler Monastery is at the bottom of the hill, just before you get back to the museum entrance area. It was originally several storeys high and it's posited by historians that a small community of nuns resided here during the 11th century. All that remains is a large plain dining hall and, up some steps, a small chapel with unremarkable painting. But due to its flimsy situation, this place has been closed to visitors.

 

We will continue to a small village, Avanos next to the Red River. The clay from this river produces those beautiful pots for cooking. Here you may check out the artisan skilled work or probably try spinning one for yourself!

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Check into hotel and overnight in Cappadocia