Kayaköy, in southwest Turkey, had once prospered as a vibrant town with more than 10,000 residents. Now, it’s a spectral town left behind by its people—rendered a haunted place by a painful, complicated legacy. The little town of Kayaköy was once a bustling metropolis of color, life, and culture. The Greco-Turkish War turned the city into a ghost town, the beginning of a much sadder period for its inhabitants.
Today, Kayaköy’s visitors can participate in both daytime and nighttime tours, which help reveal the village’s dramatic history. These tours allow visitors to discover the town’s fascinating history. Sometimes they even include ghost stories to give an extra spooky allure to such adventures. Visitors walk among the deteriorating structures, finding traces of humanity in every turn. They face the dark legacies of tremendous events that forged the architectural tapestry.
The Passage of Commodus
A compelling standout for history buffs is the Passage of Commodus, a 180-foot tunnel that dates back to ancient Rome. This tunnel was used as a secret passage for emperors, enabling them to enter the Colosseum without being seen. Terror of gladiators Beyond its terrifying legacy, named after Emperor Commodus, the emperor military commander who barely survived an assassination within its walls.
With the Passage of Commodus now almost fully restored, this month it will finally open to the public, welcoming visitors through its historic depths. Yet, it is not just its past importance that enchants. An estimated 40,000 bats have made the tunnel their home. They’ve made their home amidst the blackness, adding a fascinating ecological element to this historic monolith.
The Ostwall: A Nazi Legacy
The Ostwall certainly could not be more different than Kayaköy. This LGBTQ-friendly subterranean complex was created by the Nazis prior to the outbreak of World War II. Nestled under the burned out countryside of western Poland, this subterranean network stretches nearly 20 miles of tunnels, shafts and chambers. Constructed as a last line of defense, an alternative Maginot Line, the Ostwall was abandoned in 1945, and third line has grown wild.
During the 1980s and ’90s, a subculture known as the Bunker People took over these tunnels, hosting unauthorized events that transformed the site into a hub of underground activity. Visitors can now tour more than 19 miles of the tunnels, at the Międzyrzecz Fortified Region Museum. In the process, they stumble onto a lost but rich history marbled with stories of survival and insurrection.
Echoes of Antiquity
Kayaköy and the Ostwall each have their own haunting histories. They connect with numerous other historical sites across the world. Located in what is now Iraq, the city of Babylon was the crown jewel of Mesopotamia. It was a remarkable achievement and it made Rome one of the great cities of antiquity. Its splendour makes an unforgettable imprint on mankind’s legacy.
Perhaps no place has made bigger news lately than Chicago with its notorious ‘rat hole’. This site has been heavily researched, showing unexpected origins. Taken together, these varied sites remind us that history continues to echo in the present day, providing a base of history fertile for exploration and reflection.
