10th Century churches

Cappadocia is famous for is cave churches. They started around the tenth century. Basically the churches were carved into the rock. At first individual monks lived isolated there but eventually they became complete communities.  You will see in some of the pictures the kitchen area, complete with stone tables. There were living quarters and  most stunning of all were the chapels or churches.  Each church had frescos painted on the ceilings and down the columns. Some of them the entire surface inside was completely covered.  Although painted a thousand years ago they were not faded since until recently the caves were forgotten and in darkness.  Of course no pictures were allowed in order to protect the frescos but I have some pics of outside.  Which only seem cool if you never saw the inside. 

Sent from Samsung Mobile