Cappadoccia, which means "The Land of Fine Horses", is situated in the Nevsehir - Göreme province. During the early ages, besides its horses, it was famaous for its red ochre, ceramics and alabaster. The earth pillars consisting of volcanic tuffs add additional beauty to the landscape. During the Byzantine period some 360 churches and monastries were built by excavating these earth pillars, and their walls were decorated with religious paintings. Göreme has been declared a National Park and is on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. 

The region of the central Anatolia which is called Cappadocia was surrounded by Galatia (Ankara) and Lykaonia (Konya) to the west, Armenia to the east, Pontus to the north and Kilikia to the south. It shows a spectacular and surprisingly different landscape with its wind and water eroded volcanic tuff based soil. There are thousands of natural, pyramid shaped rock formations and cave-like settlement places carved by humans since the early ages throughout the region. 
Cappadocia is located approximately 50km. to the south of Mount Erciyes (Argaeus), a former volcano. The violent eruptions of Erciyes covered whole area with a thick layer of volcanic ash. During the following ages this hardened tuff created a bizarre landscape by the strong influence of the wind and
water erosion. Some of these chimney-like rock formations were dug-in as home or sometimes a church by the local people. 

Finally, this important region of Anatolia was conquered and ruled by the Seljuks and Ottomans.