Cappadocia Dark Church

Nevşehir has a history of about five thousand years and is one of the oldest settlements. Underground cities, fairy chimneys and the Christian

Nevşehir has a history of approximately five thousand years and is one of the oldest settlements. It also hosts many churches due to its underground cities, fairy chimneys and the Christian people who lived there before. For example, the Open Air Museum in Göreme was initially designed as a monastery and became a settlement formed by carving rocks. Black Church is also located within the Göreme Open Air Museum. If you come to Nevşehir and are interested in the history of different cultures, the Dark Church should definitely be among the places you should visit.

Dark Church Today

There are many churches, chapels, settlements and dining halls in the region, which today serves as an open-air museum. In this region, which is considered to be the place where the monastery system first started, the decorations and paintings inside the churches, which date back to very old times, attract attention. In addition, the museum has found a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural and natural asset.

There are many historical places to visit within the Göreme Open Air Museum, such as the Girls and Boys Monastery, Barbara Church, St. Basileus Church, Yılanlı Church, Elmalı Church, Tokalı Church and Elmalı Church. However, undoubtedly, the one that attracts the most attention among the churches will be the Dark Church.

The Dark Church, which has survived until today with its structure intact, hosted pigeons because it was used as a dovecote, and thanks to pigeon manure, it managed to preserve its original appearance for a long time. Afterwards, it was cleaned and protected through renovation works. Besides these, there is a very small window in the church and therefore very little light enters the church. We can say that the name of the church comes from here.

What's in the Dark Church?

The low light in the church enabled the paintings that have existed inside for years to maintain their vitality, and this visual feast was able to survive. Although the paintings have preserved their vitality, the church was renovated by 12 people from four nations.

The narthex, the previous entrance point to the church, is not currently open for use. Access to the top is provided by using wooden stairs from the tunnels located just below. Many events important for Christianity are depicted on the walls of the church, whose interior consists of domes and columns.

In the upper dome is the symbol of the trinity of father, son and holy spirit. There is a picture of Jesus. The signs on the columns are Hz. It symbolizes the names of Jesus. In addition, many events from the Torah are depicted in the church. However, in order to prevent damage to all these historical works of art, photography is prohibited in the church.

Dark Church visiting hours and entrance price

Göreme Open Air Museum is open to visitors between 08:00-19:00 in summer and 08:00-17:00 in winter. The entrance fee to the museum is 50 TL and it is also possible to enter with a Museum Card. The reason why this entrance fee is higher than the entrance fees of other churches is to reduce the density and ensure that the church is less damaged.

How to get to the Dark Church?

Located 2 km away from Göreme, Dark Church is also a 20-minute drive from Nevşehir. If you wish, you can visit the Dark Church by using Göreme buses, which depart every hour from 8 in the morning to 7 in the evening. Undoubtedly, your journey will be worth everything you see in the Dark Church, one of the most important churches of the Cappadocia region.

While You're At It

While you are here to visit the Dark Church, you can visit many historical places and museums around Nevşehir. More to visit in Nevşehir by visiting Nevşehir Museums page on our website. You can add the historical place and museum to your route.

who have lived before are also home to many churches. For example, in Göreme, the Open Air Museum was designed as a monastery and became a settlement formed by carving the rocks. Karalık Church is also included in the Göreme Open Air Museum. If you came to Nevşehir and if you are interested in the history of different cultures, the Dark Church must be among the places you should visit. There are settlements and cafeterias. In this region, which is accepted as the first place where the monastery system started, the decorations and paintings based on very old dates are attracted attention. In addition, the museum has found its place in the UNESCO World Heritage List with its cultural and natural asset. There are many historical sites that should be visited like the church, apple church, Tokalı church and apple church. However, the dark church among the churches will be the dark church. has succeeded. Afterwards, it was cleaned and protected with renovation works. In addition, there is a very small window in the church and therefore very little light enters the church. The name of the church comes from here. = """"Dark Church"""" srcset = """"https://cdn.yerelrehber.com/uploads/2020/04/karanlik-kilise-.jpg 864W, https://cdn.yerelrehber.com/uploads/2020/04/karanlik- Church-768x432.jpg 768W """"Sizes ="""" 100VW """"Width ="""" 100%"">

What is in the Dark Church? It has also ensured its vitality and this visual feast has been able to maintain its existence. Although the paintings have preserved their vitality, the church has been renewed by 12 people from four nations. The upward transportation is provided by using wooden stairs from the tunnels located at the bottom. In the walls of the church, which consists of domes and columns, many events that are important for Christianity have been depicted. The picture of Jesus is located. The signs in the columns are Hz. Symbolizes the names of Jesus. In addition, many events taken from the Torah have been depicted in the church. However, in order to avoid damage to all these historical works of art, photography is prohibited in the church. In winter, it is open to visitors between 08: 00-17: 00. The entrance fee of the museum is 50 TL and it is also possible to log in with a museum card. The reason why this entrance fee is higher than other churches is to reduce the density and to ensure that the church is less destroyed. localrehber.com/uploads/blog/63246240b201e63246240b201f.png"">

How to get to the Karanlık Church? It is 20 minutes away. If you wish, you can visit the Dark Church using Göreme buses that depart from 8 am to 7 am. Undoubtedly, this journey will be worth everything you see in the Dark Church, one of the most important churches of the Cappadocia region. You can visit the historical place and the museum. & Nbsp; You can add the historical place and the museum to your route.