Open Air Museum of Goreme

With the exception of hot air balloon rides, the Open Air Museum of Goreme is the top attraction in Cappadocia. Goreme itself is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and this museum features some of the best examples of rock hewn architecture — entire villages carved out of stone formations, more commonly called fairy chimneys. In particular, this site features impressive churches and colorful frescos that still shine bright centuries after their creation.

The Open Air Museum is located one mile from the center of Goreme. So after warming up with a mocha latte from Coffeedocia, I brave the cold and walk towards the museum. I pass by several fairy chimneys en route:

A little background on these formations —

Up until around 2 million years ago, there were active volcanoes in this region, which left behind a lava-covered plain. Over the ensuing thousands of years, rain and wind eroded away the lava to create these bizarre formations. Early settlers carved their homes into these ‘fairy chimneys’ and the area was considered sacred.

Aww, a puppy! I can’t resist their charms. I may have skipped a pre-trip rabbis vaccine, but that won’t stop me from loving on this little guy. I pet him for a bit and he follows me the short distance to the museum.

This poor camel struts by — he doesn’t look too happy to be dealing with snow.

Here’s the entrance, with the most iconic formation of the Open Air Museum looming behind it.

This structure is called The Nunnery — it’s about 6 or 7 stories tall with a dining hall, kitchen, rooms, and chapel.

Here’s the view across the valley towards more rock hewn structures:

Back to the Open Air Museum — I don’t spring for an audio guide, instead choosing to just walking around on my own. There are occasional plaques notating what each area was used for back in its heyday.

Here’s one of many churches at this site:

This was a refectory / storeroom / pantry —

I think the round hole below was used as an oven, much like one found in a room at the Taskonaklar Hotel where I’m staying.

Have I mentioned that it’s freezing? Like, borderline unacceptable-to-be-walking-around-outside freezing? Some of the security guards patrolling the area have hot water bottles to keep their hands warm, and on occasion they take pity at my shaking self and offer me the bottle (that came out wrong). Sometimes I duck into rooms just to get out of the wind. Too bad I shipped my Everest gear back home weeks before.

Here are some of the churches, all of which feature impressive frescos.

On my way out of the Open Air Museum, I walk into a separate church out front. A sign states an admission price, but no one is manning the gate so I wander in and take (non-flash) photos. I’ve since looked it up on-line — this is the Buckle (Tokali) Church and apparently you can visit with the Goreme Open Air ticket, so I wasn’t being as sneaky as I thought when I walked in.