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Beyond hot air balloons: Cappadocia's underground wonders

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<p>Many people say Cappadocia is best viewed from a hot air balloon -- and after experiencing it myself, I&#x27;d have to agree. Nothing will prepare you for the otherworldly landscape as the balloon drifts over rolling hills and towering rock formations, which are more popularly known there as &quot;fairy chimneys.&quot;</p><p>But did you know that underneath all of these, there is so much more waiting to be discovered? Cappadocia has plenty of underground wonders that deserve equal attention -- steeped in history and brimming with natural beauty. </p><p>Here are some of them:</p><div><strong>Kaymakli Underground City</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Cappadocia has many underground cities, but the most well-known (and one of the largest) among them is Kaymakli, originally named Enegup in ancient times. Four floors are accessible to visitors, and you need to be prepared to go through steep stairs, narrow tunnels, and winding passages if you want to explore the area, which would take you around half an hour. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720223698209Kaymakli.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720223790770Kaymakli2.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720223836150Kaymakli3.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>Believed to have been created by early Christians to hide from persecution, Kaymakli has its own makeshift places of worship, burial chambers, social gathering areas, kitchens, ventilation shafts, and even a spot dedicated to making wine. A massive circular stone door that can only be opened from one side protects the underground city from invaders. </p><p>Located in Nevsehir, Kaymakli is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at the entrance for 13 Turkish lira each. </p><div><strong>Guray Muze</strong></div><p>Guray Muze is said to be the only underground ceramic museum in the world -- and for that reason alone, it&#x27;s already worth a look. </p><p>Covering an area of 1,600 square meters, the museum displays a rich collection of ceramic art and pottery belonging to the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, among others. </p><p>It also has a section dedicated to contemporary pieces, as well as an exhibition hall and cafe. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720224094213Guray-Muze1.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720224108772Guray-Muze2.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720224125111Guray-Muze3.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Guray Muze is located in Avanos, with full tickets priced at 200 Turkish lira each. </p><div><strong>Gulor Wine Cellar</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><p>Cave homes have been around in Cappadocia for hundreds of years, and many of these have been converted into hotels, restaurants, and even wine cellars, offering a unique experience to both locals and tourists.</p><p>Over at Urgup is Gulor, an underground cellar with a lovely selection of Turkish wines, some of them served at upscale restaurants around the world. During our visit, we sampled bottles of both varietals and blended wines, paired with a selection of cheeses, fruits, and cold cuts. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720245694560Gulor1.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, </em><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(29, 29, 29);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em>ABS-CBN News</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720245926360Gulor2a.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720224565251Gulor3.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>It&#x27;s easy to understand why Gulor is considered one of the best boutique wineries in the Cappadocia (the Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz were standouts), but the ambience definitely added to the experience -- after all, it&#x27;s not every day that you get to enjoy a glass of wine underground. </p><div><em>ABS-CBN News visited Turkiye as part of a media tour organized by Turkish Airlines and the Turkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency.</em></div>

<p>Many people say Cappadocia is best viewed from a hot air balloon, but the region has plenty of underground wonders that deserve equal attention -- steeped in history and brimming with natural beauty.</p>

Many people say Cappadocia is best viewed from a hot air balloon, but the region has plenty of underground wonders that deserve equal attention -- steeped in history and brimming with natural beauty.

Beyond hot air balloons: Cappadocia's underground wonders

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Beyond hot air balloons: Cappadocia's underground wonders

Karen Flores Layno,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 06, 2024 08:27 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 06, 2024 02:06 PM PHT

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travel

Turkiye

Turkey

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