In Cappadocia, the courses of both natural and human history converged to create an extraordinary landscape. By the time the Hittite people first settled the area, around 1800 B.C., the unusual terrain had taken shape. Volcanic ash had long before blanketed the region, turned to soft stone, and eroded into towering cones and pillars. But the inhabitants faced many aggressors, as the region was seized in turn by various Greek and Persian empires. Seeking refuge, people tunneled into the rock, creating vast manmade cave complexes. Some of the earliest Christian communities settled in Cappadocia, many of them fleeing persecution, and established monasteries cut into the rock. When danger loomed, these early Christians excavated and retreated into multi-level underground cities that could house as many as 20,000 people.

Today, visitors can not only explore Cappadocia’s historically rich caves, but can stay in them. Many of the caves are museums, but others still function as homes or truly uncommon hotels. Whether floating above the dreamlike scenery in a hot air balloon or descending into the depths of an ancient underground city, Cappadocia is a vivid and stirring experience.