At Saratlı, a seven-level underground city entered through a Seljuk-era inn holds a church as large as a cathedral, with 20 graves in its floor.
Saint Mercurius Underground City is a place (Underground city) in Turkey, Aksaray. Main periods: Roman Period, Byzantine Period.
The way into the Saint Mercurius Underground City runs through an inn left from the Seljuk age, which local people call Develik. The city stands in Saratlı town in Gülağaç district of Aksaray, and in the 250s AD, when Christianity was banned, it served as a hideout.
The saint behind the name
Mercurius was a commander who lived between AD 225 and 250. Born in the Cappadocia region under Roman rule, he was sent into exile after declaring himself a Christian.
Layout
The city has seven levels, of which three have been cleaned and opened to visitors. After descending from the inn, corridors and rooms lead to the floors. Churches in underground cities are usually small, but this one resembles a cathedral. Excavations found 20 graves of children and adults in its floor. In one of them a man and a woman lie one above the other in the same sarcophagus, a stone coffin. Various forms of cross appear in the church, and it is thought to have been used more heavily in the East Roman period.
Storage jars have also been recovered in the city. In one corner is a shrine named Develi Dam, to which local people brought their vows, and the walls of the neighbouring room carry assorted reliefs.
Visiting
Together with Saratlı Kırkgöz, another underground city of Aksaray, it counts among the most visited places in Cappadocia. Hours and fees can change; check the official page on muze.gov.tr for current information. The MüzeKart is valid for Turkish citizens.
