The classic Cappadocian tourist village,
a bazaarville set in a fantastic landscape of fairy chimneys and
strangely shaped rock. Grown in the backpacking 70s,göreme has found it
hard to shed its downbudget image. A number of classy recent additions
point the way to change.
The upper sections hide some
surprisingly quiet and picturesque nooks, which reward a stroll if you
can slip the persistent squands of carpet sellers and self-appointed
guides.
Monastery Valley
A 10- minute walk up from the village centre is the entrance to the Göreme Cave Churches Open Air Museum,
the chief tourist sight of Cappadocia. The fenced-in valley once hosted
a community of Byzantine monks, who settled into a magnificent cluster
of fairy chimneys.
They build more than 20 churches, of
which about 12 retain their paintings. Some are barely large enough for
20 people. In the summer they receive an avarage of 7000 visitors a day.
Most frescoes date from the 11th and
12th centuries. Their style varies from church to church: some betray
the influence-or the presence-of imperial artist sent down from
Costantinople. The finest are in the so-called Dark Church , which
reopened in 1998 after many years in restoration, and the Tokalı Church,
which is located opposite the parking outside the main museum area. The
Hidden Church, also a short distance outside, first cane to light in
the 1950s.
Love Valley
Located immediately behind Monastery Valley
on the southwest, this valley obtains its popular name from the shape
of giant natural pillars grouped together nears it entrance. It is a
quiet and impressive place when tour groups are not present. The
walkpath skirts grapevines and walnuts, all of which are full of fruit
in early autumn.
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