🏝️ Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia
Underground cities and Byzantine rock-cut churches in central Turkey
📋 Fast Facts
- UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1985
- Located in central Turkey (Cappadocia region)
- Features over 100 rock-cut churches and underground cities carved into volcanic tuff
- Major settlements include Kaymakli and Derinkuyu underground cities
Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia occupy a landscape shaped by volcanic geology and centuries of human settlement in central Turkey. The region comprises distinctive rock formations—cone-shaped "fairy chimneys," valleys, and ridges—carved from soft volcanic tuff, alongside extensive networks of rock-cut dwellings, monasteries, churches, and underground cities. The UNESCO World Heritage Site integrates natural formations with historical architecture spanning from early ...