10Derinkuyu, Turkey
Deep beneath Cappadocia lies Derinkuyu, one of the most spectacular underground settlements ever created. The city descends through numerous levels beneath the surface and once provided shelter for thousands of people.
Visitors can walk through narrow corridors connecting rooms, storage areas, kitchens, living spaces, places of worship and ventilation shafts. Heavy stone doors could be used to seal sections of the city, adding to its mysterious character.
The remarkable thing about Derinkuyu is that it was not simply a hiding place. It was a functioning underground community designed to support people for extended periods.
