Ali Mountain Underground City; It is located on the slope rising towards Ali Mountain, within the borders of Talas district of Kayseri province. The history of the city dates back to the 3rd century AD. Cistern Underground City, which has been used since this date and covers a large area, was opened to visitors in 2010. Visitors have the opportunity to witness the past by exploring this historical and impressive underground city.
Ali Mountain Underground City has an important position as it is the only underground city with a cistern in the region. Thanks to this feature, it attracts attention and is visited by many people every year. The cistern in the city is said to date back to the Byzantine Period, about 1300 years ago. This is an element that increases the historical and cultural value of the Ali Mountain Underground City. By exploring this historical building, visitors can see the traces of the Byzantine Period up close and experience the atmosphere of the past.
Visiting Ali Mountain Underground City
Ali Mountain Cistern Underground City is located in the Upper District of Kayseri’s Talas district. It is about 10 km from the city center. It is quite easy to reach the Underground City with your personal vehicle. With the help of the signs, you can reach the underground city on the Commando Street on the way to Mount Ali. You can also go to this historical place through tours organized from time to time.
Ali Mountain Cistern Underground City can be visited every day of the week, except Monday, between 08.30 and 17.00. As a result of the measurements, the underground city has a total of 528 meters of galleries and structures. However, when compared to other known underground cities, Mount Ali Underground City cannot be fully qualified as an “Underground City”.
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Features of Mount Ali Underground City
It is thought that the stone door in front of the entrance gallery of the underground city was used to close the gallery and to defend the section behind it. However, there is only a large hall in the continuation of this gallery, and after the hall, a 180-meter-long tunnel is reached. At the end of this tunnel is a huge cistern. In the middle of the long tunnel dug to reach the cistern, the circular tunnel extending to the southwest was abandoned before it was completed.
There are three small rooms to the north of the present exit of the underground city. It is known that these rooms were used as warehouses, kitchens and churches when they were first built. However, in the following centuries, these rooms were used as dovecotes with windows opening to the outside. That is, these rooms were not used as a defensive structure, but for another function. In the underground city, there is no room-like structure that can be used in case of defense.
On the other hand, there are no blocked galleries in the parts that continue to the east of the entrance and are closed to tourism. In this region, it is seen that the tunnels were abandoned without further digging after a certain point, probably due to the disappearance of the threat. The same situation was observed in other underground cities in the Ötedere Valley. This shows that the underground city was decommissioned at a certain point in some regions and was not expanded any further.
Talas, Mystical Town Bringing Civilizations Together
Talas is the central district of Kayseri today and is an important city that has hosted various civilizations for thousands of years. Anatolian civilizations, Greeks, Turks, Armenians and many other civilizations have lived in Talas throughout history. Talas is known as one of the oldest viticulture and wine production regions of Anatolia, but this tradition has not been maintained until today. Although it lost its multicultural structure after the First World War, there are still traces of every civilization in Talas. Talas, where you can see the best examples of stonework, is a great opportunity to explore.
Talas has been one of the important centers of Silk Road and Anatolian trade since ancient times. During the Ottoman Empire, Talas became the scene of a multicultural life with the arrival of Armenians fleeing from the oppression of Shah Ismail. While Greek and Armenian populations lived in the upper part of the city, Turks lived in the more hilly lower parts. Christians were engaged in the vineyard and wine business in the vast plains, and therefore there are many artistic stone houses in the area. Travelers visiting the region from Europe described Talas as the Versailles of the Cappadocia region. Historical stone houses and structures have survived to the present day with many examples and you can see these beauties when you visit Talas.
Talas is a city that has a vibrant life as well as its historical and cultural texture. Especially with the establishment of Erciyes University, students and civil servants from all over the country settled in the city. Talas, which has a calmer atmosphere during the day, comes alive with the activity of the students in the evenings. The impressive view of Mount Ali adds a different beauty to the city. In Talas, which is famous for its narrow streets, it is possible to encounter historical buildings when you look in every direction. The presence of important structures such as 8 churches of the Christian faith, an American college and a parish school in the city allows you to witness the history and cultural richness of the city.
