Derinkuyu underground city, Underground archaeological complex in Derinkuyu, Nevşehir Province, Turkey
Derinkuyu is a multi-level underground city carved into soft volcanic tuff beneath the town of Derinkuyu in Nevşehir Province, Turkey. Its chambers, tunnels and staircases descend through eight levels to about 60 metres, with a 55-metre ventilation shaft that also served as a well. Large rolling stone doors could seal each floor separately.
The Phrygians began carving the first chambers in the 8th century BCE. Christian communities expanded the complex considerably during Byzantine times to shelter from Arab raids.
Chapels with stone benches and baptismal fonts show how residents continued their religious rituals below ground. Living chambers still contain millstones and rock shelves that tell of organized daily routines deep underground.
The routes through the site are low and narrow, so expect to stoop through some passages. Good shoes with grip help on the uneven steps and damp surfaces.
More than 600 hidden entrances in the courtyards of present-day houses still lead down into the underground passages. An 8-kilometer (5-mile) tunnel connects this settlement to other concealed communities in the region.
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