32 Abandoned Cities That Are Slowly Being Reclaimed by Nature

15. Kayaköy, Turkey – The Empty Village of Stone

Nestled in the rolling green hills of southwestern Turkey, Kayaköy is a town that whispers the stories of those who once lived there. Once home to a thriving Greek Orthodox community, Kayaköy was abandoned in 1923 following the forced population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Today, its hundreds of stone houses, churches, and narrow alleyways stand frozen in time, slowly being consumed by the surrounding landscape. At its peak, Kayaköy was a vibrant town, filled with markets, schools, and homes that overlooked the Mediterranean coast. But when its Greek inhabitants were forced to leave, the town was left to the elements. Decades of neglect have turned Kayaköy into a hauntingly beautiful ghost village, with wildflowers blooming in empty courtyards and ivy crawling up abandoned walls. The once-grand churches of the town, like the Church of St. Nicholas, still stand, their frescoes faded but their histories intact. Walking through Kayaköy today feels like stepping into the past, where the echoes of life linger in the ruins. Some buildings have partially collapsed, while others remain eerily preserved.