Mazı: Underground City and Historical Traces

Mazı and its historical points of reference

Mazı, known as Mataza in antiquity, lies 18 km south of Ürgüp and 10 km east of Kaymaklı Yeraltı Şehri. This places the area in relation to two specific landmarks. Its historical profile includes Mazı Yeraltı Şehri, rock-cut tombs, and pottery kilns. The remains differ in form and location: some relate to the underground complex and its church, while others are tombs on the valley slopes or plateau. Archaeological finds point to a very long history for Mazı. For travelers who take historical and archaeological themes into account when choosing a destination, Mazı therefore offers more than a single point of interest. The specific structures and burial sites can also be distinguished by their particular features and chronological context.

Church and architectural details

Mazı Yeraltı Şehri was closed to visitors in 2003 because of collapses and reopened in 2015. These details refer to the historical closure and reopening; please check the latest visitor information when planning a visit. A short corridor leads from the stables to the underground church. Its apse is carved into a corner, and its façade is decorated with reliefs. The corridor connects to the church; the apse and reliefs describe the form and design of the church building. An apse is the termination of a church space, so its position in a corner is a specific architectural feature. Together, the corridor, apse, and façade offer different points of reference for understanding the architectural form of the underground complex.

Tombs and other historical traces

The tombs can also be distinguished by location and period. Rock-cut tombs from the early Roman period are found on both steep slopes of the valley near Mazı; numerous Byzantine-era tombs lie on the plateau. Around 300 tombs of infants, children, and adults have also been identified on two hills near Mazı. This finding foregrounds the explicitly named age groups, while the rock-cut and plateau tombs are classified by location and period. The archaeological evidence therefore also differs in which aspects of the tombs it describes. Pottery kilns are another of Mazı’s historical features. Together with the tombs and the underground church, they are among the various remains that attest to the area’s long history.

Distinguishing between the place references

When planning a trip, it is worth carefully distinguishing between sites with similar names. Kaymaklı Yeraltı Şehri is the reference point for the 10 km distance; the church, corridor, and historical information about closure and reopening refer to Mazı Yeraltı Şehri. Ürgüp, in turn, is the reference point for the stated distance of 18 km. These are different place references and a local underground complex. When looking for visitor information, check the full name so that the locations of Ürgüp and Kaymaklı are not confused with the architectural features of Mazı Yeraltı Şehri.

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Go to the main travel overview: Nevşehir.