Underground Cities İn Cappadocia

There are about 200 underground cities in Cappadocia. That's a pretty high number. It is one of the most important pieces of evidence of the extraordinary life and history that went on here in its time. Only a few of these underground cities are open to visitors. Kaymaklı, Derinkuyu, Ozkonak, Tatlarin and Mazı Underground Cities rank first among the most visited in Cappadocia. Carved rock hotels, caves, and dovecotes around Cappadocia reflect the characteristics of the region's rock structure.

Derinkuyu Underground City-Cappadocia

Derinkuyu underground city is located 30 km far away from Nevsehir, the road leading to Nigde City. There are several road signs that point to the city of Derinkuyu. The city of Derinkuyu is the largest underground city in Cappadocia that has been named after the deep wells in the region. This giant city consists of 8 floors, enough to accommodate nearly the number of people who are above the city. The visitor wonders how people lived in the past for a long time without having to get out of it, and it remains a mystery how the city of Derinkuyu was built underground at a time when there was no technology

Check the  private transfer facility from İstanbul to Cappadocia-Derinkuyu

Mazi Underground City

Mazi underground city, the underground is located 18 km from Urgup, is also holding the same from ancient times. Like all the other cities of Cappadocia, the ancients lived there for a long time without going out to find shelter. Mazi underground city is one of the best places to visit in Cappadocia to experience the life of the underground and breathe the air through the ventilation holes. 

Özkonak Underground City, BC. It is thought to have been built in the 400s. The tuffy structure of the region, which is very suitable for carving and shaping, has been transformed into living spaces where food can be stored, since the soft tuff layer hardens in contact with air, maintains the temperature, and does not contain moisture, and has allowed people to settle here and easily shelter here in ancient times. According to the discourses of archaeologists, it is mentioned that the Özkonak region of the late Hittite period was the place of local principalities of federations with 24 principalities called Kabal. Later, it became the territory of the Persians and the Hellenistic Roman Empire. The temple of Zeus, which is rumored to have had 3000 members in the Hellenistic period, is here. After the Roman period, the Christians, who wanted to save their lives from the pressure of the Byzantines and the intense Arab raids, first settled around Özkonak and built underground cities. The Greek philosopher Strabo, known as the world's first geographer, mentions the tomb of the bishop of Nevşehir (Nyasa) on page 538 of her 12th book and the remains of the old temple located on the hill above Avanos.

The underground city in Özkonak Town is in the form of an apartment. The venues are connected by tunnels. Today, not all venues have been cleaned and are able to visit. The bolt stones, which were shaped outside and moved inside, are the product of thought with a developed defense system.