On our long drive out to Cappadocia from Istanbul, I was captivated by the changing scenery – from green hills that reminded me of New Zealand to salt lakes and golden fields.
But nothing prepared me for the sight of the fairy chimney rock formations stretching skyward from the pale striated rock, or for the beautiful hot air balloons floating silently overhead.
First sight of the balloons from the hotel balcony
Makes me laugh every time – so excited about balloons I miscalculated the jump slightly the first time…
The fairy chimneys are formed by a hard rock partially protecting the softer rock below, with the softer rock being gradually eroded into these chimney-like shapes. Can you see the father, mother and baby chimney above?!
The soft rock that lends itself so well to producing these fairy chimneys was utilised from the tenth century by the people of the Göreme region as a safe haven. Monastic communities began to settle in this area from the fourth century, and to protect themselves from Arab invaders they banded together. From around 900 AD, many churches were dug into the rock and richly decorated inside. The Göreme Open Air Museum is home to many of these churches, and it was incredible to wander the hillside and picture the communities living and worshipping here.
Because they were so shielded from the elements, the colours in many of the cave churches are still incredibly bright. Unfortunately they’ve suffered more from human-inflicted damage, including during the iconoclastic period, when the faces of many of the saints were damaged as it was forbidden to show them in the image of men.
Rightly so, it is now forbidden to take photos in most of the caves, in order to protect them as much as possible from future damage. Restoration is ongoing, but it’s still easy to appreciate the craftsmanship of the images that are unrestored.
Image via Frank Kovalchek
The valley of Göreme
Near Göreme we were able to climb up again to the level of the fairy chimneys. I found these landscapes absolutely incredible – as stunning as New Zealand’s Fiordland or the French Alps!
What’s the most stunning natural landscape you’ve seen?
Bits & Pieces
Göreme is a 12-hour plus drive from Istanbul – but it’s also possible to fly in if you’d like to save some time
The Göreme Open Air Museum is less than 2km from the town centre, for more info click here
Want more Cappadocia balloons? Check out my post: Hot Air Ballooning at Sunrise – one of my all-time favourite experiences!
