|
| |
|
NEVSEHIR |
| |
|
|
| |
Though said to be Turkey's richest town, NEVSEHIR , at the very
heart of Cappadocia, can hardly be accused of ostentatious wealth. It is
the regional transport hub: frequent bus services all over Cappadocia
run from here, and you'll probably find yourself detouring through when
travelling between other apparently neighbouring towns.
The Ottoman castle at the heart of the old city, southwest of the modern
centre, is a good landmark. The new city below is divided by two main
streets, Atatürk Bulvar d, on which are situated most of the hotels and
restaurants, and Lale Caddesi , turning into Gülzehir Caddesi to the
north, where you'll find the main dolmus station. The remains of the
citadel are no big deal in themselves but the views are good. On the
side of the hill, the impressive eighteenth-century Damat Ibrahim Pasa
Camii is set in a large precinct surrounded by narrow streets, and has a
cool, dark interior enhanced by small decorative details. Opposite, the
Damat Ibrahim Pasa Hamam (daily 6am-midnight; women only Wed 10am-4pm;
men only at other times; $5) is also in good working order and well run.
The Nevsehir Museum , on Yeni Kayseri Caddesi (Tues-Sun 8.30am-6pm;
winter closes 5pm; $1), is worth the visit for a collection that
includes three terracotta sarcophagi dating from the third to the fourth
century AD, finds from the Phrygian and Byzantine periods, and Turkish
carpets, kilims and looms.
The tourist office on Atatürk Bulvara, on the right as you head downhill
towards Ürgüp (summer daily 9am-5.30pm; winter Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; tel
0384/213 3659), will arm you with a hotel price list and a map. There's
also a private information office near the bus station, run by a tour
company. Local dolmuses and those for the underground cities leave from
the bus station. Several companies run organized tours of the area; try
Agami on Lale Cad (tel 0384/212 7854), or Rock City, Ürgüp Cad 39 (tel
0384/212 0600, www.rockcitytours.com ). Pensions in Nevsehir are neither
as cheap nor as good as elsewhere in Cappadocia. Hotel Sems (tel
0384/213 3597; under £5/$8), on Atatürk Bulvara next to the Aspava
Restaurant , is comfortable and friendly. A step up, Orsan , Atatürk
Bulvara (tel 0384/213 2115; £5-10/$8-16), is comfortable and has a
swimming pool. Just opposite the Orsan on Yeni Kayseri Cad is the
friendly and clean Hotel Seven Brothers (tel 0384/213 4979;
£5-10/$8-16). The nicest of the campsites in the region, the Koru Mocamp
, is signposted off to the right as you turn from Nevsehir into Üçhisar.
For food , the Aspava Restaurant , Atatürk Bulvara 29, serves well-prepared
dishes, and the Sölen , just before Hotel Sems on Atatürk Bulvari, has a
good choice of meze and kebabs. The Park-Bostan , in gardens just off
Atatürk Bulvara, is more pricey but licensed. Uzay Internet is on
Atatürk Bulvara opposite the Göreme Hotel .
|
| |
|
