CAPPADOCIA

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VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

Located in Turkey, Cappadocia is known as the land of beautiful horses. It is a captivating region which has been inhabited by various civilizations and cultures from Europe and from Asia Minor. It has a continental climate with hot summers and chilly winters. Its most important cities are Göreme, Ürgüp, Nevsehir and Avanos and the underground cities of Derinkuyu, Kaymakli, Özkonak and Mazi.

The underground cities were built as a hiding place for inhabitants seeking refuge from invasions during the Hittite era. The cities were built on multiple levels with ventilation channels, stables, storehouses, water-bearing wells and the items they would have needed to survive for an extended period of time.

Cappadocia offers magnificent views with towering rock formations of various sizes, magical landscapes, scenic trails, mysterious subterranean cities and a host of churches sculpted into the rocks. The region is known worldwide for its fairy chimneys, which are rocks sculpted by erosion into curious formations.

The leading tourist attraction of Cappadocia is the hot air balloon trip, which offers visitors an incredible experience while exploring the region’s most beautiful landscapes.

Due to its natural, historical and cultural singularity, Cappadocia is considered a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

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attractions. It is possible to hire a quad-bike, motorbike or bicycle to explore local areas, or explore trails on foot.

Taxis are also a good option. it is recommended that visitors take taxis from their hotel and hand a written note of their destination to the driver, as most taxi drivers do not speak English.

ATTRACTIONS

Get ready to discover the attractions that Cappadocia has to offer its visitors. Enjoy the natural scenery, visit the ceramics workshops, go on a hot air balloon trip, explore the underground cities and take the opportunity to learn more about the region’s culture and history.

Local tourism companies offer a variety of tours which take in the region’s main attractions.

GÖREME OPEN AIR MUSEUMLocated on a hilltop close to the centre of Göreme, this open-air museum is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It consists of a collection of X, XI and XII century monasteries, chapels and churches, hollowed into the rocks with columns and with beautiful images of the life of Christ painted on ceilings and walls.

HOT AIR BALLOON TRIPThis is the leading tourist attraction of Cappadocia and offers visitors a magical experience. The region’s fantastic landscapes, combined with great climate conditions, lend themselves well to balloon flight among the

Located in central Turkey, Cappadocia has a semi-arid continental climate, with wide variations in temperature and well defined seasons. Summers are hot and winters are cold with snow. In summer, temperatures range around an average 23ºC and in winter they range between -2ºC and 10°C.

The best time to visit the Cappadocia region is in the Spring, between April and June, or in the Autumn, between September and November, when temperatures are at their most pleasant. From May to August, the days are longer in Cappadocia with darkness setting in at around 8pm. It is the ideal period for visitors to make the most of their time and enjoy walks around the cities. Winters are quite harsh and many hotels close during the period from October to March.

It is a destination offering a wealth of natural beauty, history and cultural traditions. Explore and discover a magical and exotic land, full of mystery!

TRANSPORT

There are various transport options on offer to explore Cappadocia. The region has two airports and various road links. The most practical option is to travel there by plane, with airport destinations at Nevsehir and Kayseri. There are also bus and train connections departing from Istanbul.

The best option is to rent a car or to hire a transfer service to discover the region’s

fairy chimneys, dove-cotes carved into the rocks, valleys and vineyards.

Various companies offer balloon flights around the region. Most of them are found in the outskirts of Göreme, where the balloon trip departure point is located. Each balloon basket has capacity for up to 20 people, but trips can be arranged for smaller numbers.

Balloon trip participants are required to get up early, then the tour company’s transfer vehicle collects them from their hotels before sunrise and takes them to the balloon departure point, where they are offered a delicious breakfast with tea and biscuits. After the trip, participants celebrate with champagne and are given a certificate to commemorate their balloon flight. Balloon trips must be booked in advance.

CERAMICS WORKSHOPSVisiting a ceramics workshop in Cappadocia is a way of discovering more about the region’s local culture. Workshops offer a guided tour around the premises and a demonstration of the ceramics manufacturing process. There is a huge quantity of ceramic and hand-painted decorative items, plates and pots. The plates feature unique, detailed and colourful designs.

IHLARA VALLEYLocated near Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz, the Ihlara Valley is a desert scape full of craters with captivating natural beauty. Visitors can take a walk through the trees in the Valley, to the sound of the Melendiz River’s waters, and discover the region’s cave-churches.

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UNDERGROUND CITIESThere are 36 underground cities in the Cappadocia region, which were created during the time of the Hittites, one of the most powerful ancient civilizations, who sought refuge and protection from enemies during periods of war and invasions. The largest cities are Kaymakli and Derinkuyu.

Kaymakli is the largest underground city of Cappadocia and was built under a hill known as the Citadel of Kaymakli. The city has eight floors below ground level, but only four of these are open to the public. The passageways are low, sloping and narrow. The most important areas of the city are on the 3rd level where the storehouses, cellars and kitchens are located.

Derinkuyu is the deepest underground city in the region. It is found in the town of Derinkuyu, located some 40 km from Göreme. There are more than 600 access doors hidden in the city’s houses and at surface level. Visitors can see stables, churches, schools, storehouses, cellars and much more.

HORSE RIDINGThe region of Cappadocia is known as the land of beautiful horses and is the perfect place to explore on horseback. Visitors can discover the diverse valleys, vineyards, orchards and beautiful scenery of the Göreme region on a horse ride, lasting 2 hours or more. It is a great way to appreciate Cappadocia’s beautiful natural landscapes.

WHERE TO STAY

Cappadocia is full of villages and the best option is to stay in the city of Göreme (pronounced Guremé). Göreme has the best restaurants, some charming hotels and a variety of shops. Other cities are more isolated, which makes getting around to visit the region’s main tourist attractions more difficult.

Some hotel options are Anatolian Houses, Spelunka Cave Hotel and Koza Cave Hotel, which are decorated in typically Turkish style.

The Cappadocia Tourist Hotel & Resort is perfect for visitors who do not want to stay in a cave hotel. The swimming pool is enormous and, combined with the lovely garden, comprises the perfect image of a sophisticated and well located hotel.

DINING OUT

Cappadocia features a wide range of gastronomic fare, influenced by Arabic cuisine. The typical Turkish dishes are tasty and slightly spicy.

Visitors can find dishes ranging from the well-known kebabs, mezze platters, pides and lentil soup, to fine cuisine prepared in excellent restaurants. The essential ingredients of Turkish cuisine are: vegetables, meat, chicken, lamb, herbs and fresh spices.

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Pottery Kebab is a hallmark dish of the region. It is made with meat and vegetables cooked in a wood-fired oven in earthenware pots sealed with a little dough.

O Gözleme is a typical Turkish dish made from pastry stuffed with goat’s cheese and fried vegetables and stone-baked.

The A laturca restaurant is a great choice. Located in the centre of Göreme, it has a charming atmosphere and offers a wide variety of cooked dishes.

Another option is the Local Restaurant. It is considered one of Göreme’s best restaurants and has a refined atmosphere with a terrace and an area featuring exposed stone walls.

The Dimrit restaurant is recommended for visitors who like to enjoy food and appreciate a beautiful view at the same time. The menu features salads, fish dishes and specialty dishes, such as meat kebab with aubergine puree.

SHOPPING

Cappadocia is the ideal place to explore shops and buy souvenirs, pashmina articles and rugs. There are many small shops to be found selling kilims, Turkish rugs and local craftwork items.

Visitors are enchanted by the hand-crafted jewellery produced in special presses, inspired

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by the jewellery collection of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Most typically Turkish products are produced in the region of Cappadocia. Shops offer a demonstration of the manufacturing process and explain the meaning of the designs and how the materials used differ.

The Ikman Gallery, located in the centre of Göreme, is an open-air shop full of hanging rugs from top to bottom. More than 40,000 new and antique hand-crafted rugs can be found there.

CURRENCYThe currency currently in use in Cappadocia is the Turkish Lira (TRL). The distribution of Turkish lira among coins and notes is the same

as the Brazilian real. Notes are produced in 1,5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 lira denominations, and coins in 1.5, 10, 25 and 50 new kurus, and in 1 lira denominations. The best option is to carry Euros or dollars to exchange for Turkish lira in a local foreign exchange bureau. Another option is to draw local money directly from a Brazilian current account using a local ATM.

Most establishments accept credit cards and some hotels accept Euros or dollars.

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