With our expert guide, today you’ll explore the almost “lunar” landscape of Cappadocia – “fairy castles” are just some of the geologic wonders that abound in the Pasagabi (Monk’s) Valley — we’ll visit on our way to Avanos, where we’ll admire the hand-crafted ceramics synonymous with
the town. The afternoon will find you in the Goreme Open Air Museum, a fascinating complex of richly frescoed churches, chapels and monasteries established in the tenth century. From here to a city underground – the Kaymakli Underground City (or possibly that of Ozkonak), a massive structure created by the early Christians of the area in an attempt to escape persecution. Housed completely underground, nearly one hundred tunnels connect floors of store rooms, stables, kitchens, living quarters, a church, graveyards – all protected by ingenious defenses and traps in the event of attack. Before our day ends we’ll visit Pigeon Valley, once home to huge flock of the birds. Early Christian inhabitants in the area prized the birds as a source of food, fertilizer and long-distance communication and chiseled elaborate dovecotes into the rock walls of the valley to encourage them to stay. It’s said that the fertilizer (pigeon droppings…) of the valley account for the superb vintages turned out by local wineries. we’ll share dinner and stay the night in Cappadocia. (B,D)
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CAPPADOCIA