The Cities Where People Live Below Ground: A Hidden Side of Urban Life

Beneath some ordinary-looking landscapes are vast underground spaces where people once lived, worshipped, stored food and protected themselves from danger. These are not simply basements or caves. Some underground settlements contain rooms, passageways, wells, kitchens and places of worship, forming complex communities hidden beneath the surface. They were built for different reasons, from defence and climate control to protection from invaders. Among the most extraordinary examples are found in Cappadocia in modern-day Türkiye, where underground cities extend several levels below the ground.