Goreme, Whirling Dervishes Show in Historical Trade Mansion

Cappadocia Adventure Time

Enjoy a transfer to one of the old silk road mansions in Goreme and learn all about its rich history. Witness a traditional whirling dervish ceremony, with performances by highly-skilled dancers.

Goreme National Park

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Whirling dervish ceremonies were started as a form of meditation by Jalaluddin Rumi, the famous Sufi Muslim mystic and poet, in the 13th century. The Persia-born Rumi — who was living in Konya, then the capital of the Turkish Seljuk Empire — told his followers, “There are many roads which lead to God. I have chosen the one of dance and music.” He would fast, mediate and then dance to reach a state of unparalleled enlightenment. Inspired, other sects started to spread his dance, called the sema, throughout the Ottoman Empire. The most renowned sect was the Mevlevi order; dance participants were called semazen. By the 15th century, the order had established rules for the ritual to maintain its myriad traditions.
End of the ceremony we will have dervish drink and come back to hotel