Exploring Turkey (Part 2): Mysterious Underground Cities as Dense as Ant Nests Beneath the Surface

By MOOK Travel Life Network, Reported by Li Xinyi

On the surface of Cappadocia, cave dwellings are carved into the bizarre rock formations, while beneath the ground lie massive underground cities that resemble ant nests. When were these underground cities built? And who dug them? The answers remain unknown, but it is known that records of such subterranean cities date back to as early as the BC era, and they were once used by Christians to escape persecution by Arabs.

Currently, 37 underground cities are open to the public. It is estimated that there are over a hundred such cities underground, all interconnected, though the exact connection points between them are still unclear. Because of this, if one city was invaded, residents could escape to others through the tunnels, avoiding being trapped underground.

The two most famous underground cities in Cappadocia are Kaymakli, which can accommodate over 3,000 people, and Derinkuyu, which can house up to 10,000. Derinkuyu is the largest underground city in the region, with eight levels in total. Before entering, you’ll notice a ventilation shaft beside the entrance — the entire underground city expands outward from this central shaft. This vast, dimly lit city contains countless rooms, each serving a unique purpose: food storage, wine production, animal pens, bedrooms, and even small rooms that require bending low to pass through a dark corridor, which were once used as tombs.

Derinkuyu’s church is cross-shaped, and the space around it is relatively spacious, allowing numerous visitors to explore at once. The connecting passages within the underground city are mostly narrow, often only wide enough for one person to pass through, so visitors must often wait for others to exit before entering. No metal doors are found in the tight corridors — instead, large circular stones were used as doors, making them easy to roll into place. The arched school building is also quite sizable, with individual study rooms for students. Although the dark underground "facilities" are well-equipped, and an excellent air circulation system allowed residents to live underground for extended periods, guides explain that the cities were mainly intended for temporary refuge from enemies, not permanent residence. Once the danger had passed, people would return to living on the surface.