Sacred House

If you know Cappadocia, in east-central Turkey, it’s because of the caves — here in the soft volcanic rocks lie any number of man-made spaces, from the humblest dwellings to the most ornate underground churches, frescoes and all. In this far-flung region the town of Ürgüp stands out as an oasis of modern civilization (and decent nightlife); and in Ürgüp the Sacred House stands out as an example of the best tendencies of the high-end boutique hotel world.

Some of the development in Ürgüp has been a bit on the hasty side, but the Sacred House is anything but. The mansion is two and a half centuries old, and was for a time a Christian church, as the name may well have led you to guess. Inside are just ten rooms, each one unique, all of them in a style that it’s not entirely unfair to call “maximalist.”

Though it was restored from near-ruin within living memory by its present owners, at times Sacred House feels authentically medieval — antiques abound, and bare stone walls go a long way in setting a mood. It’s the best of both worlds: the ancient ambience of the caves, along with the convenience of Ürgüp’s modern infrastructure.

How to get there:
Sacred House hotel is approximately a 1¼–hour drive from Erkilet International Airport (ASR).