Nature Reclaims Stone Refectory Near Tokat

Midsummer sun floods a ruined refectory near Tokat, where collapsed cloisters frame a stone floor choked with stinging nettles. Tall grasses push through cracks in the masonry, their green blades swaying slightly in the humid air trapped between the broken arches. Wooden tables, now splintered and gray, sit surrounded by the dense, prickly vegetation that has climbed over their legs. The bright tropical light sharpens the texture of weathered limestone, revealing deep grooves and mossy patches in the damp shadows. Dust hangs heavy in the warm air, settling on the rough surfaces of the ancient stones. One patch of bright green nettle leaves rests against the jagged edge of a fallen column, marking the slow advance of the garden.