Derinkuyu Underground City, Subterranean Haven of Ancient Ingenuity

Derinkuyu Underground City

Warehouse and facilities can be said to have everything

4.4

Introduction

In history, Turkey has always been a center of war. Whether the Romans move eastward or the Persians move westward, fierce battles unfold on this plain. The locals suffered greatly from the war and they came up with a method of digging underground caves using soft rocks to seek a safe haven from war. This city was built in the 7th century AD. It is the deepest underground city in the Cappadocia region with a depth of more than 40 meters below ground and 18-20 layers deep, but only 8 layers are currently open for tourists to visit. The underground city has over 1,200 rooms including residences, chapels, schools, wineries, warehouses, and tombs, enough to accommodate 15,000 residents. In addition, the underground city is connected to other underground cities, and a known 10-kilometer tunnel connects the Derinkuyu Underground City with its sister city, Kaymakli.