Why You Should Consider Visiting Derinkuyu, a Mysterious Underground City in Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia is an excellent travel destination you can visit in Turkey. It features a beautiful kingdom not only on the surface but underneath the ground, as well. To be specific, it has many underground cities that were used as hideouts throughout history. One of its biggest underground cities is Derinkuyu, which can house about 20,000 people. In fact, you should consider visiting this tourist destination if you find yourself in Turkey. To give you a better view, here are some reasons to visit Derinkuyu.

To Get to Know an Ancient Civilization

Scholars have different ideas regarding the history of Derinkuyu. A widely accepted theory is that it was built by the Phrygians during the 7th and 8th centuries B.C. The underground city allowed the Phrygians to hide from their enemies.

Afterward, Derinkuyu became a shelter for Christians. As you know, Pagan rulers ruled the ancient Roman civilization before Christianity was accepted in Turkey. As a result, many Christians were persecuted during that time. As a solution, Christians went underground to live and worship their God. As such, Derinkuyu also contains prayer halls, monasteries, chapels, and missionary schools. Additionally, this underground city also has kitchens, storehouses, wineries, living areas, and a Christian graveyard.

To Witness a Magnificent Creation of Humans and Nature

One of the best reasons to visit Derinkuyu is to witness the magnificent creation of humans and nature. Keep in mind that both nature and humans have had a role in building this underground city.

As you may know, Cappadocia has many volcanoes. When the volcanoes erupted back in ancient times, they produced layers of ash. After some time, the ash turned into rock formations. Eventually, the residents of Cappadocia found out that the rocks could be carved, turning them into a magnificent underground city made up of tunnels.

To Have a Unique Travel Experience

As you know, underground cities are not your typical tourist attraction. As such, you will have a unique travel experience when you visit Derinkuyu. However, you have to be prepared because this tourist spot is not for the faint of heart. Additionally, you also have to be physically fit to get through the steep and narrow staircases. Nevertheless, all your efforts will be worth it because you’ll get to see one of the most magnificent places in Turkey.

All in all, these are some of the reasons to visit Derinkuyu, a mysterious underground city in Cappadocia. Here, you will see a magnificent work of art made by both nature and an ancient civilization. Aside from that, it is also an excellent destination if you’re interested in archaeology and history.