Churches of Cappadocia (Turkey) - churches and houses carved into the tufa rocks

Most churches come from the X and XI century, some are much older.

Active volcanoes have created layers of ash, mud and lava here for many thousands of years. Later, atmospheric factors removed the soft material, and the remaining more resistant stone protrudes in strange shapes, sometimes described as fabulous chimneys.

In the Goreme valley in Cappadocia there are supposedly 365 churches and chapels carved in living rock, there are many more in Cappadocia. Some say that there were entire underground cities inhabited by thousands of people seeking refuge from Arab persecution.

Other underground cities are: Kaymakli (dark labyrinth of tunnels and chambers on four levels) and Derinkuyu (has as many as eight underground levels), it is possible that they were connected to each other.

Some churches have exotic frescoes, whose colors have been perfectly preserved due to the fact that daylight did not reach them. In the Church of the Serpent (Yilami Kilise) frescoes depict a serpent, while in the Church of the Apples (Elmali Kilise) they depict scenes from the life of Christ.