Cappadocia

Sinasos, known today as Mustafapaşa, southeast of Urgüp, was once the centre of Cappadocia. The ancient commercial routes, the Silk Road from east to west, and the south to north route from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, crossed here. Traders from Sinosos had their businesses in Constantinople, but their families lived in palatial houses built between 1850 and 1920 in Sinosos.

For hundreds of years, the Greek Orthodox population of Sinosos lived in peace with the Islamic Turks, hence the presence not only of old mosques and a madrasa (Koran school) but also a large church. Byzantine rock carved churches have been found on the outskirts of the town.

Nearly all Greek Christians left Cappadocia during the enormous forced population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923. New-Sinasos was founded on the island of Euböa. Since that time, the Mayor of Mustafapaşa has visited Greece, and returned home with a beautiful book of photographs from 1924 of the “old” homeland. From that time on, the present owners of the old Greek houses have welcomed visits from the descendents of the resettled Greeks.
Our “Villa Sinasos” has also welcomed a visit from the granddaughter of the previous owner.

Birding Cappadocia

The diverse landscape of Central Anatolia, varies from the vast steppes with salt and fresh-water lakes, the amazing erosion landscape of Cappadocia with its bizarre tufa rock cones, deep valleys and extinct volcanoes, to the forest areas of the Taurus Mountains. The Asian bird fauna has expanded far into the west with species like Great Sand Plover, Crimson-winged Finch, Radde`s Accentor or Caspian Snowcock.
Also of interest are Cinereous Bunting, Red-fronted Serin, Shore Lark, Saker Falcon, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and White-headed Duck.

Ornitour Cappadocia

Our Guesthouse Cappadocia

... on the quiet outskirts of Mustafapasa is a carefully restored Greek villa which, to a large extent, is still as it was originally built in 1885. The inner courtyard is surrounded by a high wall, and the garden is also protected by a wall. The large galleried hall with its domed ceiling and fresco decorated walls, stylish seating areas, old furniture and carpets lend the house a special flair. Our guesthouse `Villa Sinasos´ has 7 double rooms with ensuite bathrooms and three large rooms with two shared separate bathrooms.

Cappadocia – holiday extension

Hiking in the Cappodocian highlands is a very special experience. Diverse, unforgettable impressions are left by this landscape and one can discover much which is not described in any travel guide: hidden valleys, caves with frescoes, ancient ruins, concealed spas or even a farming family riding by on a donkey. Because Cappadocia lies between 1000 and 1500 meters and the air is very dry, one can comfortably hike from spring into the autumn.