There are some cities you travel to for a reset of the mind, and some for the soul. Konya and Cappadocia fall into the latter category.
While most people are well-acquainted with Istanbul's bustling streets, notorious for its standstill traffic and iconic Bosporus, fewer people travel just a little further for Konya and Cappadocia.
Konya, home to just over two million people, sits in central Turkey and has a lot to offer, from traces of historical empires, spiritual traditions, ancient settlements, and authentic cuisine.
The city immediately exudes serenity and calm, which makes sense, as the country's oldest city was also the place where the revered Sufi mystic, Jalaludin Rumi, spent much of his time and is buried.
Rumi's legacy
While the devoted Sufi has become known in the West for his poetry, in Konya, his highly regarded spiritual legacy attracts thousands of people from around the country and the world every year.
"Rumi offered an inclusive and universal understanding of religion, an open-minded vision of Islam," Professor of history of philosophy and mysticism, Dr Bilal Kuspinar, explained in a lecture organised by GoTurkiye.
The love for Rumi and his teachings is more than evident at the Mevlana Museum.
The complex, home to his tomb and several rooms featuring dioramas which offer a glimpse into the lives of dervishes and the meanings behind their practices, is often teeming with people, particularly around the anniversary of Rumi's death on 17 December.
The anniversary is a particularly special time to visit Konya, as the city hosts a highly anticipated Seb-I Arus ceremony in memory of Rumi.
Thousands of people attended the ceremony at the Mevlana Kultur Merkezi to watch dervishes perform meditative prayer.
Every element of the prayer is laced with symbolism, from the hand movements to the cloaks, the number of times they twirl — a show so powerful it forces anyone watching into deep contemplation.
Another captivating religious and cultural site for visitors is the Aya Elyna church, located in the quaint, picturesque village of Sille.
The church was built in the 4th century AD and takes its name from the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who commissioned it after her pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Behind its stone walls, you can see colourful frescoes and impressive murals that serve as a reminder of how different religions coexisted side-by-side in the Byzantine period.
"There is not just one special place in Konya, as it is the crossroads of civilisations and empires, but for me, the Aya Elyna church is one of the most important sites in the region," Fikret Fidan, the director of Konya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, told The New Arab.
Aside from religious significance, Konya is a fascinating location for those interested in history.
Around 40 kilometres from the city is Catalhoyuk, the world's first city, dating back to around 9,000 years, and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site that showcases Neolithic life.
Inside, you can get a vivid understanding of how farming communities lived, ate and spent their time through the excellently preserved mudbrick homes.
There are many interactive elements, too, some of them offering an eye-opening glimpse into how the city was discovered and the ongoing preservation efforts.
To get an even deeper understanding of Konya's core, the Karatay Madrasa, also known as the Tile Museum for its spectacular mosaic tiles, is worth a quick visit, for its Seljuk architecture and Islamic calligraphy.
It was built in 1251 AD as a school, where Islamic law, science, hadith and tafsir were taught, and remained active until 1914. The many artefacts on display illustrate the sacred nature of education in Turkish culture.
Classroom doors here are much smaller than those today, not an oversight, but rather an intentional move to force students to bow in respect to their teachers when entering.
Flavours of Konya
Along with its rich history, one constant in Turkish culture is hospitality, honouring people and showing your love through food.
A stellar example of this is Lokmahne, an authentic Anatolian restaurant with a stunning exterior, cosy seating, and a menu that is inspired by the region's Seljuk and Ottoman heritage.
Some of the standout dishes include kayisili yahni, a meat stew with local, slightly sour apricots that has become a speciality in Konya, and tirit, a comfort dish perfect for winter, comprising toasted bread, doused in broth and topped with tender meat.
An unmissable dessert here, and one you would not typically see on menus, is misir unu helvasi, a traditional Black Sea-style cornmeal helva dessert that has a cracked surface, walnuts on top and is finished with lashings of honey and grape molasses.
The dessert is not overbearingly sweet and has a unique toasted flavour, making it the perfect accompaniment to a cup of Turkish tea.
Another honourable mention goes to Turbeonu Lokantasi, located in Mevlana Square, which serves a tender and flavourful firin kebabi, a local okra stew, and a dessert called Sac Arasi.
The dessert resembles baklava, but translates to "between the sac," referencing the traditional use of a metal griddle used to cook it.
Underground cities and fairy chimneys
It would be almost criminal to visit Konya without neighbouring Cappadocia, around a three-hour drive away, but with plenty of opportunities to stop and see historical and spell-binding sites along the way.
One of those stops, a highlight for many visiting the region, is the Kaymakli Underground City – built as early as the 7th century BC and named after the Turkish word for butter, as it is formed of various layers that go down at least 85 metres deep.
An entrance ticket grants you access to the low and winding passages and steep stairs and reveals how people would survive, escaping the bitter cold and the threat of attack, and how they would travel to other cities connected underground during the Byzantine era.
The labyrinth of tunnels is breathtaking and reveals how advanced people were when they carved them centuries ago. Indentations were made in the wall to improve ventilation, rooms were dedicated to food storage, and some were converted into chapels and wine cellars.
A drive around Cappadocia will leave you mesmerised at the rock formations which have taken their shape due to decades of erosion, as well as caves carved by successive civilisations, including the Hittites and the Byzantine Christians.
Some of the most scenic points include the Göreme Panoramic Viewpoint, which gives you a clear view of what locals aptly refer to as "fairy chimneys," and Pigeon Valley, which gets its name from the scores of man-made dovecotes carved into the rocks.
While the hundreds of pigeons make for a beautiful photo opportunity, locals have preserved their homes because of the importance they played in ancient times as a source of food and fertiliser.
Imagination Valley, also known as Devrent Valley, is another must-see point, known for its surreal rock formations, which resemble animals (the most famous being a camel) and other objects and mythical creatures.
There is plenty more to do in Cappadocia, which is known for its hiking trails and horseback riding through vast valleys, but it's no secret that it's best known for hot air balloon rides.
For an unforgettable experience that at times feels otherworldly, book an early slot to watch the sunrise. As you ascend and witness other colourful balloons drifting through the sky, your mind will relax, too.
Regardless of the time of year you choose to go, the roughly hour-long flight will be memorable. In winter, you will need to wrap up very warmly as temperatures drop significantly, but you will be rewarded with views of all the fairy chimneys and rock formations dusted with snow.
However, one important caveat to note about the luxurious experience is that flights are entirely at the mercy of wind conditions, so cancellations are to be expected (snowy conditions are actually ideal). For the best chance of flight, give yourself a day or two either side of when you plan to do it, in case you need to re-book.
For another unique activity, head to Chez Galip. It's a pottery workshop and museum comprising a maze of thousands of unique, masterfully crafted ceramics, with highlights including some painted in gold and others that glow in the dark.
The real attraction, though, is the founder of the place – Galip Korukcu, who looks uncannily like Einstein and has made it to the Guinness World Records twice: once for creating the tallest pot structure made from smaller ones, and once for having the world's largest collection of women's hair.
If you're lucky, you'll see him pottering around the workshop (excuse the pun), where he will likely enthusiastically tell the tale of how he came to own locks of hair from women all over the world (spoiler alert — it involves falling in love with a French woman who had to leave back to her home country).
Aside from that, the workshop is a great place to learn about the region's connection to pottery-making. It is, after all, a region where men were once only considered worthy of marriage when they were able to expertly make a clay pot. In the workshop, artisans can be seen making wine decanters and painting pots before you.
All the gallivanting around is bound to make you hungry, which is no issue, as Cappadocia is home to plenty of delectable eateries, some of them Michelin-selected or with Michelin stars.
Dibek restaurant is a must-visit, and one of the few spots that slow-cook meat in a clay pot, which they crack open for you while it's piping hot. Known as testi kebabi, the meat has little to no seasoning, as it is enjoyed for its freshness and quality.
The interior is warm, dimly lit and cosy, with the stone building belonging to the owner's family for over 400 years, after being converted from a stable.
Another authentic but unassuming spot is Tik Tik Kadin Emegi. The menu is affordable despite being a Michelin-selected restaurant.
The top recommendation on the menu is the handmade TikTik manti – tiny ground beef dumplings named after the sound the knife makes on the board as it cuts the dough. The stuffed vine leaves (Yaprak Sarmasi) and spiced stuffed meatballs (Icle Kofte) are also high scorers.
The restaurant sources all its ingredients locally and has become a co-operative that helps women in the town financially, and profits made also support female students with their tuition fees.
The owners say they are not keen on expanding, even if they become more successful, prioritising authenticity instead.
For a showstopper meal that is more of an experience, head to Michelin-starred Revitha. It has the quintessentially Cappadocian cave interior, though it is small, so it will require prior booking.
The owner, Duran Ozdemir, comes from a family of restaurateurs, but took a break from the industry before returning, and vowing to preserve dishes and recipes from the region that were almost completely forgotten.
Some of the dishes draw inspiration from Greek and Armenian heritage, putting a twist on classics.
While the menu typically changes three to four times a year, you can expect unique dishes, such as tandoor-cooked veal cheek with chickpeas, leeks, sun-dried apricots and onion, or vine leaves stuffed with fava beans and cracked wheat, then covered in plum sauce.
If the food does not leave you hungry for another visit, the hotels in Cappadocia will. Most of them are in the traditional cave-style, which maintains a year-round temperature and adds a sense of magic to your stay.
One that is so beautiful, you will struggle to find reasons to leave it is the Utopia Cave Hotel. Rooms have a calming atmosphere, with every detail thoughtfully considered and adding to the luxury experience.
Despite being in a central area and near many tourist hot spots, it feels like a calm oasis and offers charming views.
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Nadda Osman is a British-Egyptian journalist and editor based in London. She holds a degree in English and Journalism and reports on the Middle East and North Africa. She has reported from Lebanon, Turkey and Palestine, and has covered a wide array of topics from human rights around the region to Israel's 2023-4 war on Gaza