The Wonders of Göreme

Explore the rock-cut churches and monasteries of Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Göreme Open Air Museum

The Göreme Open Air Museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the town of Göreme in Cappadocia, Türkiye.

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The museum is home to a complex of over 300 rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries. The churches and monasteries were built in the 11th and 12th centuries, and they are known for their well-preserved frescoes and elaborate carvings.

The open air museum is located in a valley that is surrounded by fairy chimneys, which are tall, cone-shaped rock formations. The fairy chimneys were formed by millions of years of erosion, and they are one of the most iconic features of Cappadocia.

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Dark Church

The Dark Church in Göreme, Cappadocia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most well-preserved Eastern Roman churches in the region. 

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It is believed to have been built in the 11th or 12th century, and it is known for its vibrant frescoes and vaulted ceilings.

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The church is called the Dark Church because it receives little light through a small window in the narthex.

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This has helped to preserve the frescoes, which are considered to be some of the finest examples of Eastern Roman art in the world. The frescoes depict scenes from the Bible, including the Nativity, the Resurrection, and the Last Judgment.

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St. Jean Church

St. Jean Church in Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest and most impressive rock-cut churches in the region. It is believed to have been built in the 11th or 12th century.

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The church has a cross-in-square plan with a central dome. The entrance to the church is through a narthex, which is a covered porch. The narthex leads to a large nave, which is the main body of the church.

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The frescoes in St. Jean Church are considered to be some of the finest examples of Eastern Roman art in the world. The frescoes depict scenes from the Bible, including the Nativity, the Resurrection, and the Last Judgment. 

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Derinkuyu Underground City

This is one of the largest and deepest underground cities in the world. It is believed to have been built in the 7th or 8th century by the Eastern Roman Christians to protect themselves from Muslim invaders.

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The city has eight levels and is estimated to have been able to house up to 50.000 people.

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The city is accessed through a narrow tunnel that leads to a large central chamber. The chamber is connected to a network of tunnels, rooms, and chambers that are spread out over eight levels.

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The city has a variety of amenities, including a well, a bakery, a stable, and a church.

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Kaymaklı Underground City

The Kaymaklı Underground City is a vast and intricate network of tunnels, rooms, and chambers carved into the soft volcanic rock of Cappadocia. It is believed to have been built in the 8th century by the Eastern Roman Christians to protect themselves from Muslim invaders. 

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Like the Derinkuyu Underground City, the Kaymaklı Underground City has a variety of amenities, including wells, bakeries, stables, and churches. It also has a complex system of ventilation shafts and a water supply system.

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However, Kaymaklı is smaller and shallower than Derinkuyu, and it does not have some of the defensive features that Derinkuyu has, such as secret passages and rolling stone doors.

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