It is the region surrounded by the provinces of Niğde, Nevşehir and Aksaray in Central Anatolia. Its original name of Kapatukya derives from Persian and means "country of beautiful horses". Cappadoccia came under Hittite, Phrygian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman rule. It is renowned for its "fairy chimneys." During volcanic activity millions of years ago, a layer of ash and lava accumulated on the plateau which was then in part covered by a layer of basalt. Pounded by rain and wind, the basalt took the shape of cones while the exposed ash and lava were eroded and created valleys. Human beings carved underground cities and sanctuaries into the rocks and caves some 10 thousand years ago and completed the amazing picture of Cappadoccia.

The town of Göreme, built in the center of these intriguing volcanic formations and the open - air museum are places to visit. Some of the unique experiences in Cappadoccia are contemplating the fairy chimneys from on top of a hill especially at sunset, experimenting with making ceramics in one of the workshops in Avanos, tasting the internationally recognized local wines and riding on horseback.