In every corner of Turkey countless civilizations have risen and fallen, and the underground is no exception. The underground city of St. Mercurius, located in central Aksaray province’s Saratlı town, is one such marvel. Hosting a high number of visitors with its fascinating historical and architectural details, the underground city provides an almost mystical trip in history for visitors.
St. Mercurius, who was born in the Cappadocia region during the Roman Empire, was a commander who lived between A.D. 225 and 250. After declaring he was a Christian, Mercurius was banished to Cappadocia by Roman Emperor Decius. Subsequently, the emperor sent his men to the underground city of St. Mercurius and had him executed by decapitation. After the time of St. Mercurius, the underground city served as a shelter for early Christians who were running away from the prosecutions of the Romans in the Cappadocia region.
The excavations started in the city in 2011 and ran until 2016. Three floors of the seven-story underground settlement have been cleaned during this work and opened to tourism. The city attracts attention with its church, mass graves, water wells, floor furnaces, pigeon houses, cellars and warehouse roofs.
The underground city is now entered through an inn from the Seljuk period. After entering, visitors access other floors through corridors and chambers.
