Until the 1923 population exchangebetween Turkey and Greece,Ürgüp-the old Prokopi-was predominantly inhabited by Greeks. The city boasts many beautiful stonehouses,some of them now used as hotels. Other empty cave dwellings are currently being restored.
Created by volcanic eruptions some 30 million years ago, Cappadocia meant “the land of beautiful horses” according to the Greek historian Herodotus. Whether it’s the land of beautiful horses or the land of the beautiful rock formations created by nature would be difficult to say. The volcanic tuff, shaped and eroded by sun, wind,snow,frost, time, and human hands,has made this area particularly fertileand provideditwith an income from viticulture and agriculture. Today, many delicious wines are produced in Ürgüp; you can tour the Turasan wine factoryand taste different vintages at several shops around town.
Historically, Ürgüp was bigger and richer than Göreme withwhich it competes todayfor the tourist dollar. As a result the houses here were larger and more elaborate. You will see many fine stone buildings lining the road heading out of town towards Göreme. One of the churches used by the Greeks until the 1923 population exchange now houses Ürgüp’s hamam (Turkish bath).
Ürgüp acquired a more modern kind of fame recently during the filming of the popular Turkish television series “Asmalı Konak” (The Vine-Shaded Mansion). A monument to this epochal event stands near the Turasan winery.
On the way from Ürgüp to Avanos, the Dervent Valley is filled with thought-provoking rock formations; the one resembling a camel is the most frequently photographed, but everyone will have their own particular favorite. It’s also worth dropping in on Ortahisar, which is clustered around a rock-cut castle like Uçhisar’s, and boasts fine old houses and a small museum.
Follow
