14 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

The Ancient City of Kilistra, Cappadocia of Konya’s

When we talk about fairy chimneys, churches and underground cities, the first place that comes to mind is Cappadocia between Nevşehir and Aksaray. Cappadocia’s, which attracts many local and foreign tourists with its unique historical richness, also there is a similar located in Konya.

Kilistra Ancient City is located on the historical King Road. It is like the Cappadocia of Konya with its resembling fairy chimneys structures  , chapels, churches, water cisterns and shelters.

In the ancient city of Kilistra, where traces of settlement are seen in the BC.3rd century, interest in the region increased more during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Kilistra the one the center of belief of the period, is a place where the people of Lystra, who chose Christianity in the Roman period, were hiding. It is accepted that St. Paul, one of the first Christians, was one of the visiting stops. Such that; Locals continue to call the area of the Sümbül Church in Kilistra as Paulönü.

The ancient city of Kilistra was a place chosen by the first Christians to be protected from pagan attacks.

The settlements in Kilistra, where the first Christians escaped from attack and plunder, resemble the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Settlement areas were created by carving the rocks. The rock carvings made do not attract attention when viewed from the front, but when entering the inner areas, it is seen that a very large sitting area, a solid lighting and ventilation are made. There are shelters, watchtowers and outpost structure, architectural structures built to escape attack and looting.

The Cross Plan Chapel (Sandıkkaya) in the ancient city is a unique, interesting structure carved from inside and outside into solid rock. On the side of the large water cistern on the northern slope of Ardıçlı Tepe, Monumental rock tombs are seen in the necropolis area.

There are churches carved into the rocks in Kilistra Ancient City.

As in Cappadocia, the presence of volcanic tuff rocks in Kilistra causes fairy chimney shapes to be seen.

In the Byzantine period, there are available marks about what you live of Greeks and Turks together in the ancient city of Kilistra.

How to Get to Kilistra Ancient City?

Kilistra Antique City, which is approximately 50 kilometers away from Konya center, is located within the boundary of the Gökurt District of Meram district. Transportation is very easy for those who want to see the historical and geographical beauty of Kilistra Ancient City, Cappadocia of Konya.

You can go to Kilistra (Gökyurt) from the 34 km Konya-Hatunsaray asphalt road with a 15 km asphalt road to the southeast.

Turning south from 34 km of Konya-Antalya asphalt road, you can reach Kilistra by a 15 km stabilized road.

Related Articles

First example of Roman crucifixion in UK discovered in Cambridgeshire village

8 December 2021

8 December 2021

In Cambridgeshire village, the earliest evidence of a Roman crucifixion has been discovered. Archaeologists investigating a previously unknown Roman roadside...

Tutankhamun of Kazakhstan, “Golden Man”

1 August 2024

1 August 2024

The Golden Man, the main symbol of Kazakhstan’s independence, is a warrior’s costume from about the 5th century BC that...

“Scythian golds” will be returned to Ukraine

15 November 2021

15 November 2021

The fate of the Scythian Golds, which were sent to be exhibited in the Allard Pierson Museum before the Russian...

An exciting discovery in Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites

11 September 2022

11 September 2022

It is aimed to reach new information about the traditions of the Hittite civilization with 249 new hieroglyphs discovered in...

Found Home of the Legendary Viking Woman Who Crossed the Atlantic 500 Years Before Columbus

11 March 2021

11 March 2021

Archaeologists in Iceland recently excavated a farm believed to belong to the legendary Viking woman Gudrid Torbjörnsdottir. She is believed...

An Unusual Artifact Points to Roman Britain Rituals Linked to Fertility, Painted Dog Penis Bone Found in England

9 January 2025

9 January 2025

In a Roman quarry shaft in Surrey, England, archaeologists have discovered one of the most unusual human and animal remains...

‘Lost’ 4,000-year-old wedge tomb rediscovered in Ireland

22 January 2024

22 January 2024

A “lost” 4,000-year-old wedge tomb has been rediscovered in County Kerry, in the peninsular southwest region of Ireland. The megalithic...

A sanctuary for Cult God Mithras discovered in Germany

13 April 2023

13 April 2023

A place of worship for the Roman god of light, Mithras, was discovered during archaeological excavations in Trier, in southwestern...

Mandrin cave in France shows Homo Sapiens arrived in Europe almost 10,000 years earlier than thought

10 February 2022

10 February 2022

According to archaeological research published in Science magazine on Wednesday, Homo sapiens ventured into the Neanderthal territory in Europe far...

The place where John the Baptist was martyred

4 February 2022

4 February 2022

The infamous birthday banquet of Herod Antipas, which culminated in the beheading of St John the Baptist — a preacher...

Viking Dentistry Was Surprisingly Advanced And Not Unlike Today’s Treatments

15 December 2023

15 December 2023

Viking Age teeth at Varnhem indicate surprisingly advanced dentistry, according to the results of a study conducted at the University...

New rune discovery in Oslo

16 February 2022

16 February 2022

For the third time in a month and a half, archaeologists have found a new rune in Oslo. The artifact...

New Discovery at Karahan Tepe: The Figure of a Running Wild Donkey Carved on Stone

31 August 2024

31 August 2024

The figure of a running wild donkey carved on a stone was discovered during excavations at Karahan Tepe, a Pre-Pottery...

A Roman sarcophagus containing two skeletons was found in Bath, England

29 June 2021

29 June 2021

Stone walls, a Roman sarcophagus, and a cremation burial have been unearthed in a renovation project at the Bathwick Roman...

Rare 2,800-year-old Assyrian Scarab Seal-Amulet Found in Tabor Nature Reserve

12 February 2024

12 February 2024

A hiker in northern Israel found a rare scarab seal-amulet from the First Temple period on the ground in the...