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Demolition of hotel in Cappadocia’s ‘fairy chimneys’ area started
Demolition of hotel in Cappadocia’s ‘fairy chimneys’ area started
The demolition of a hotel being constructed adjacent to the world-famous “fairy chimneys” area illegally in Cappadocia has started.
As part of preventive measures against illegal constructions and shanty housings in the district of Göreme in Central Anatolian province of Nevşehir, authorities gave an order to demolish the hotel, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry said in written statement on Feb. 14.
“The deep sensitivity and uncompromising stance Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shows to protect the unique natural riches of our country, a cradle of cultures and civilizations, has been accepted as a principle steadfastly by our ministry,” the statement read.
A commission was assigned by the ministry to explore the Cappadocia area and to detect illegal constructions immediately, it added.
Nevşehir Governor İlhami Aktaş visited the scene on Feb. 14 to kick-start the demolition works.
The construction of a hotel consisting of two structures had started two months ago near the Museum Road. It was planned to finish the construction in five months.
After news spread on national media, the ministry on Feb. 13 announced that the construction was stopped.
Cappadocia, a Central Anatolian destination famous for its underground cities, canyons, houses carved into rock and volcanic cones called “fairy chimneys,” attracted more than two million tourists in 2018.
The area was also a religious center in the early periods of Christianity, serving for shelter and prayer for Christians in the Roman era.
The Göreme Open Air Museum is the most favorite attraction spot in the area, followed by Hacı Bektaş Veli Museum, Kaymaklı Underground City, Derinkuyu Underground City and Zelve Archeological Site.
The Turkish government had announced that the structures in the region were exempt from a recent zoning amnesty.
“There are 100 illegal structures determined one by one. All of them will be demolished,” said Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum on Nov. 3, 2018.
Demolition works started the next day with a single-story structure built in 2018.
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