Ankara & the Anatolia Region - Turkey with Your Family: From Bustling Bazaars to Historic Sites - page 215

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The area around Derinkuyu
contains what are believed to be
dozens of underground cities,
although not all have been exca-
vated. The largest and the most
interesting for visitors is
Derinkuyu itself. It reaches
down some 55m and has eight
levels. It was once home to thou-
sands of fleeing Christians who
were being persecuted in the 7th
century. They carved entrance
tunnels, chambers, bedrooms,
kitchens and storage areas out of
the rock that characterises the
Cappadocia region in the heart
of the Anatolia landscape. You
can even see stables and a
church. Derinkuyu is located
south of Nevsehir and Göreme,
and the underground city is well
signposted. Other underground
cities can be found at Kaymakli,
Mazi , Tatlarin and Özkonak .
Open 8am-5pm daily. Admission
10 YTL.

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A UNESCO World Heritage site,
Divri g i's Ulu Mosque and 13th-
century Medrese (see p. 222)
have some of the finest Seljuk
period architectural carvings in
the region. Divri g i was the capital
of the Turkish Mengücek Emirs
in the 1100s and 1200s. Now
young children may not appreci-
ate the significance of the site and
may be a tad troublesome after
the journey as it is some way off
the beaten track, but if you and
your older children are keen on
ancient history then a visit could
prove interesting for you. There's
plenty of countryside nearby for
you to take a stroll and let your
children let off some steam if
need be.
Erzurum
The ancient city of Erzurum can
trace its history back to Byzantine
times and lies to the east of the
country. It has been developed
into a sprawling modern and

Derinkuyu Divrigi

The underground city of Derinkuyu

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