Göreme

Göreme (Turkish: [ɟœˈɾeme]; Ancient Greek: Κόραμα, romanized: Kòrama), located among the "fairy chimney" rock formations, is a town in Cappadocia, a historical region of Turkey. It is in the Nevşehir Province in Central Anatolia and has a population of around 2,000 people.[1]

Göreme
Municipality
Göreme town and valley
Göreme
Coordinates: 38°38′35″N 34°49′44″E
CountryTurkey
ProvinceNevşehir
Elevation
1,104 m (3,622 ft)
Websitegoreme.bel.tr

Former names of the town have been Korama, Matiana, Maccan or Machan, and Avcilar.[2] When Göreme Valley nearby was designated an important tourist destination, a "center" for all tourism in Cappadocia, the name of the town was changed to Göreme for practical reasons. Among Göreme's historically important sites are the Bezirhane, Durmus Kadir, Ortahane, and Yusuf Koc churches, in addition to the richly decorated Tokali Kilise, the Apple Church, and a number of homes and pigeon houses carved into the rock formations in the town.

History
Panorama of the town of Göreme

It is not known when Göreme was first inhabited, but it is known that there was a settlement there during the Hittite era, between 1800 and 1200 BC.[3] For many centuries, the location was central between rival empires, such as the Hurri-Mitanni, Hittite Empire, Middle Assyrian Empire, Neo Assyrian Empire, Persian Achaemenid Empire and the Greek Seleucid Empire, leading the natives to tunnel into the rock to escape the political turmoil. During the Roman era, the area became home to Christians retreating from Rome.[3] Christianity prevailed as the primary religion in the region, which is evident from many rock churches that can still be seen today.

National Park

The Göreme National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.[1]

Modern Day

In modern times, Göreme is most well known for tourism offerings such as Hot Air Baloon rides, ATV rentals and tours, and guided regional tour buses.

  • Göreme cafe owner making flatbread
  • Fairy Chimney Rock Formations
  • View of Göreme
  • Göreme national park as seen from space
  • Karanlık (dark) Church, only one window lights the interior
Panoramic view of the Fairy Chimneys in Göreme National Park

See also

References
  1. Lynch, Paul; McIntosh, Alison J.; Tucker, Hazel (2 June 2009). Commercial Homes in Tourism: An International Perspective. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-03028-6.
  2. "Goreme". goreme.org. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  3. "Cappadocia -- World Heritage Site". NationalGeographic.com. National Geographic Society. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
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