Kaymakli

Kaymaklı Underground City: A Subterranean Wonder of Cappadocia
Located 19 kilometers from Nevsehir, Kaymakli Underground City is one of the most fascinating historical sites in Cappadocia. First opened to visitors in 1964, this vast subterranean network lies beneath a village built entirely around its tunnels. Many of these passageways are still in use today as storage spaces, stables, and cellars. The tunnels themselves are narrow, low, and steeply inclined, offering an immersive glimpse into the ingenuity of ancient civilizations.

Kaymaklı consists of eight floors, though only four or five are open to the public at any given time. The entire structure is centered around a ventilation shaft, ensuring airflow throughout the underground city.

First Floor: Features a small stable, suggesting the existence of other yet-to-be-discovered stables. A passage to the left leads to a church, while rooms to the right are believed to have served as living quarters.

Second Floor: Houses another church with a nave and two apses. Seating platforms and inscriptions of names indicate that religious figures may have been buried here.

Third Floor: The most significant level, containing storage areas, wine and oil presses, and kitchens. A notable feature is an andesite stone with 57 carved holes, likely used for metallurgy.

Fourth Floor: Primarily dedicated to storage, with numerous earthenware jars scattered around. The sheer number of storage rooms suggests that Kaymaklı once supported a large underground population.
Kaymaklı is just one of 36 underground cities spread across Cappadocia. While it is the widest, Derinkuyu is the deepest, and an 8-kilometer tunnel is said to connect the two.

Visitors can reach Cappadocia by plane, bus, or organized tours, making it easy to explore this extraordinary underground marvel.