History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore
The Ancient City of Sobesos is the only ancient Roman-Byzantine city settlement discovered to date in the Cappadocia region and dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries AD. During the archaeological excavations at the ruins, which were discovered by chance in 2002, a monumental Roman bath (hypocaust heated from below), a meeting hall (bouleuterion), a basilica chapel and 1,500-year-old giant floor mosaics decorated with geometric patterns were unearthed. The meander, swastika and knot motifs in the mosaics prove that Cappadocia was not just about rock-carved monasteries but also hosted advanced Roman urban civil life. Centuries-old legends among locals that an ancient city of princes and nobles lies buried beneath the fertile apple orchards in the valley have been confirmed by this discovery. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features
Sobesos is located in the south of Ürgüp, among the apple orchards and walnut groves of Şahinefendi Village, which is an extension of the Damsa Valley, at an altitude of approximately 1,340 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by tuff slopes, water resources and fertile valley floor. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees
•Entrance Fee:Visiting the Sobesos ruins is completely free.•Visiting Hours and Days (Mandatory): It can be visited 7 days a week between 08:30 - 18:30 without interruption.•Rules, Safety and Stroller/Disabled Access: The mosaics are equipped with protective wooden walking frames and are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Mosaic floors should not be stepped on.•Facilities and Facilities:Protection roof cover, wooden walking platforms and archaeological information signs are available. Transportation, Public Transit Routes and Exact Location•Address / Open Location:Şahinefendi Köyü Mevkii, Damsa Vadisi, 50400 Ürgüp/Nevşehir.•Road Condition and Vehicle Availability: It is 24 km away from Ürgüp district center. It can be easily reached by all passenger vehicles via the scenic asphalt road passing through Mustafapaşa and Taşkınpaşa villages.•Actual Public Transportation Information (Mandatory): You can take the Şahinefendi and Taşkınpaşa village minibuses departing from Ürgüp Bus Terminal and get off directly at the turnout of the ruins.•Parking Availability:There is a free outdoor parking area at the entrance of the ruins. Contextual Experience Tips, Photography and Local Gastronomy•Best Photography Spots and Frames:Wide-angle shots that frame the meeting room's geometric floor mosaics from above, from the wooden viewing frame, document the richness of the patterns.•Light and Shooting Hours:It presents the color contrast of mosaic stones in its most vivid form between 10:00 - 11:30 in the morning, when the sun's rays enter at a horizontal angle.•Local Gastronomy Recommendations:On the Damsa Valley route, you should taste the traditional casserole of dried beans, tandoori bread and the region's famous walnut-fig dessert in Mustafapaşa.