Ortahisar Panorama
Mustafapaşa (Old Greek Village)
Keşlik Monastery
Sobessos Ancient City (Roman Mosaics)
Soğanlı Valley
Mazı Underground City
Pick up in the morning from your hotel for full day Cappadocia tour. Pick up time is between 09:30a.m and 09:50a.m, depends on your hotel’s location. The tour starts with visiting Mustafapaşa Village, an old Greek village which is famous for its beautiful arthitecture, where the warrens of grottos are hidden behind statuesque neo-clasical facades. It’s former name during the Ottoman Empire was Sinassos (“city of the sun”), and it was one of the largest Greek settlements in Cappadocia until the beginning of the 20th century. Throughout the region the town is known for the ornate carved stonework of its houses. The next stop is Keşlik Monastery, which is consist of 3 churches, refectory, sleeping and living quarters that were carved out of the rock.
The monastery is known as a one of the rare Iconoclastic examples of Cappadocia frescoes and it was used in Byzantine Era until the end of Ottoman Empire. Then we will continue to Taşkınpaşa, a typical Cappadocian village, where we will visit to Taşkınpaşa Medrese (theological school) and an antiquated mosque, both built in a classical Seljuk style. The Medrese was built by the Karamanids, a 14lh century dynasty in Konya, that dominated this part of Anatolia for almost 250 years. In Taşkınpaşa Village we will have our lunch.
After the lunch break our tour will continue to Sobessos Ancient City, the only late-Roman/early-Byzantine settlement in Cappadocia. İt is originally a Roman settlement from the 4lh century AD. We will visit the excavation site where you will be able to see, among other typical Roman buildings, a 400 m2 meeting hall, the main attraction of which is the beautiful mosaic flooring. By sightseeing the excavation site you will realize how finding Roman ruins of this sophistication provides evidence that there is still a lot we don’t know about the history of Cappadocia. İt is known that Christians were hiding from Roman soldiers, but there has never been any evidence of a full-scale Roman settlement here.
After visiting the excavation site we will proceed to Soğanlı Valley, a deep valley with interesting hiking trails. Soğanlı was once the third largest monastic center in the area and hosts many cave churches and monasteries, most of which are from the period between 9lh and 13lh century. Soğanlı is famous for its worldwide known dolls that have become the Symbol of the village. We will spend the afternoon hiking through the valley, enjoying the beautiful and untouched nature.
Our tour will end by visiting Mazı Underground City, where we will descent towards the center of the earth by exploring underground city in Cappadocia; whose capacity was approximately 4.000 people. This city is about 20 metres deep and contains all the usual rooms founded in an underground city (kitchens, storehouses, living quarters, vvine cellars, church, ete.). Anticipated return to your hotel is approximately between 6:00p.m and 6:30p.m
Also, a chance to get the same tour with private quality. Professional tour guide and vip transportation included 200€ from 1 to 12 people. Museum entrance fees and lunches are excluded.
Time: 09:00a.m/09:30a.m-6:00p.m/6:30p.m