Cappadocia

Turkey has been going through hard times recently, but it does not seem to concern some of the tourists visiting the Cappadocia area - a location which hosts around 2.5 million visitors ever year. "Turkey is a magnificent country. Contrary to my expectation, I have not encountered a problem since I came here," said Timmy Myers, an American first-time visitor to the central Anatolian region.

The 300-year-old Armenian monastery of Surp Astvatsatsin (Tomarza Monastery) has completely deteriorated in the Tomarza district of Turkey's central Anatolian Kayseri province, with merely a few ruined walls remaining. 

The monastery, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is situated in Kayseri's Cumhuriyet neighborhood.

The Central Anatolian province of Aksaray has become a favorite of Turkish and foreign producers in recent years thanks to the historic and natural beauty of the area on the edge of Cappadocia Boasting a wealth of natural and historical beauty, Aksaray, the gateway to Cappadocia, is attracting an increasing array of producers and directors for cinema films, TV series and programs.

The 700-year-old arched church in the northwestern province of Bursa?s Mudanya district has been put on sale on the Internet for $1 million, news website T24 has reported. 

Eighteen tourists, all passengers of a hot air balloon in Üzengi valley, Cappadocia were injured when their balloon hit a power line and was instantly set aflame. The balloon had to perform an emergency landing, and the injured were all transferred to local hospitals. The nationalities of those injured were 14 from China, one Brazilian, two US citizens, one Turk, and two Greeks.

A geo-park is set to be built in Cappadocia to display fossils that were unearthed during construction by the Housing Development Administration (TOK?) last year in the Central Anatolian province of Nev?ehir's Gül?ehir and Ürgüp districts. 

A UNESCO representative has examined the central Anatolian province of Nev?ehir, which is home to the world?s largest underground city. Cappadocia, the region in which the province is located, is already on the UNESCO world heritage list. 

With its underground cities where early Christians sought shelter, churches with breathtaking icons and fairy chimneys, Cappadocia, one of the earth?s most invaluable touristic destinations, is in search of novelties.

Cappadocia used to be a place which harbored small bed and breakfasts, as well as big hotels targeting mass tourism.

A new international open-air festival called Cappadox has been born in central Anatolia. The event, which will take place between May 16 and 18, was inspired by the cultural heritage and extraordinary landscape of Cappadocia. 

Turkish tourism representatives expect to reach over $35 billion in this year's annual income by hosting more than 42 million tourists, despite Europe's economic problems and conflicts in neighboring countries, said Ba?aran Ulusoy, president of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).