Goreme Open-Air Museum, Goreme, Turkey
Goreme open-air museum, situated in the picture-perfect postcard of Goreme Valley, is probably the easiest way to get here and to explore the spectacular ancient rock-carved churches in the region.
What is Goreme Open Air Museum?
The Goreme Open Air Museum which lies in Cappadocia, Turkey is a stunning collection of about 30 ancient churches that exceed in feeling most remotely from a conventional museum in today's world. You get the feeling that you just stepped back in time like a couple of hundreds of years.
History of Goreme Open Air Museum
Since the Goreme Valley is very accessible to everyone, this area ended up being the first significant historical site to be found in Cappadocia. These rock-chiseled churches are unusual and awe-inspiring; in fact, anyone coming here might think it puzzling, on first glance, to figure out why they were carved at all. It’s a striking, nearly haunting, piece of land. The inner parts, especially those of the Buckle Church and the Dark Church, are home to the most lovely and superbly preserved frescoes in this region.
As the second century AD ended, the whole Goreme valley became a major place of Christian activity, including converts arriving here to take advantage of the valley’s natural defenses while running from persecution. But throughout the third century, Christianity, no longer in its infancy, started to assume a more uniformed character in the area as active priests were taking firmer steps to improve the region. Then, by the fourth century Cappadocia saw a momentum shift as it was called "Land of the Three Saint," which included St. George of Nazianzus, St. Basil, and St. Gregory of Nyssa. It was St. Basil who began formal worship in the community, specifically, in Goreme.
Goreme Open Air Museum Now
Probably described most ideally as a series of monastic complexes, every monastery here hosts its very own church, plus you'll find significant features in churches like the Snake Church, Apple Church, and the Dark Church. One church boasts an atrium, which itself used to be a church, known for the frescoes' conspicuous blue paint which depict varying religious-type of scenes such as from events that Jesus Christ went through.
Lastly, the Dark Church houses one of the valley's most beautiful frescoes. Just restored, the frescoes have gotten a remarkable effect from the fine mix of navy blue, red, and ochre. They vividly tell the life of Jesus Christ, including the four evangelists.
Be sure to visit Goreme National Park, Goreme Turquie, Goreme cave rooms, and to take in Goreme panorama.
How to Get to Goreme Open Air Museum
Since Goreme Open-Air Museum sits quite near to Goreme's heart, which is a wildly popular town located in Cappadocia, visitors could just take a comfortable, easy walk here, beginning from the center of town; it's only fifteen minutes with some uphill.
Or several taxis could take you there, charging only a couple of dollars, for the drive is brief. Not far off you'll notice both entrances to the Meskendir Hiking Trail and Zemi Valley Hike.
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