Kaymakli Underground City
The Kaymakli underground city is an entire city carved, cut into the soft volcanic rock of Cappadocia (soft tufa)
It has long, narrow and low passages connecting stables, a church, a wineries, kitchens and multiple living areas.
Spread over the depth of 8 levels, out of which 4 are open to visitors nowadays. The first floor of the city is for the stables.
Located on the second floor we can find a christian church and a cemetery.
The third floor is for storage of grain and wine,contains the winery and the flour mill.
The forth floor has the communical kitchen with many food storage areas, wineries and ovens.
The cities were completed with wells, chimneys for air circulation, niches for oil lamps,
stores, water tanks, stables and areas where the dead could be placed until such time as conditions on the surface
would allow their proper disposal.
They used to block the entrances with a very solid piece of stone, carved in a round shape, it was impossible to lift them.
History :
The Hittites used these tunnels (3000 years ago), but it was really during the Christian era that they were
expanded for entire populations to hide from invading Arabs, Turk and Romans. It is also believed that the Cappadocian Greeks used these cities as refuge from the Turkish Muslim rulers.
Estimated to have held 5000 people for several months, it is difficult to believe how they could live without
the light of the sun. As the corridors descend, you will be able to see rooms everywhere with their huge round stone doors
Kaymakli underground city connects with another large underground city called Derinkuyu by an eight km tunnel.
Derinkuyu is also open to visitors but not the tunnel that unites both Underground cities.
It’s like a cave maze with 7 floors below the ground!
It’s remarkable to see how people survived living in this underground cities hundreds of years ago.
You should Avoid visiting the place if you’re claustrophobic or if you have knee or joint problems, heart problems,
asthma, BP, pregnant (the visit includes walking through several narrow corridors,
constantly bending)
The area outside the entrance has a lots of souvenir shops and small cafes.
There are also public restrooms.
Kaymaklı underground city is at the list of UNESCO world culture heritage since 1984.
Definitely worth seeing it!
Private tours are available to visit Kaymakli Underground City