The Goreme Open Air Museum comprises a tiny portion, possibly 5%, of the river valley known as Goreme Valley. The Goreme Valley is one kilometer long, commencing near the Goreme Open Air Museum and going northwest, where it opens out into a wide, sandy valley. The valley is intersected by the dry riverbed to the south of the asphalt road. Numerous churches, chapels, and refractories populate the expansive valley.
In 1985, UNESCO designated the Goreme Open Air Museum as a World Heritage Site in order to preserve and properly exhibit Cappadocia’s finest cave churches. The Turkish government constructed roads, parking spaces, and stores in addition to the Open Air Museum to accommodate the daily influx of thousands of visitors. These efforts were beneficial and essential, but they produced a spotlight effect, wherein people only saw the sites inside the Open Air Museum and ignored all of the surrounding churches. The chapels of the Goreme Open-Air Museum must be comprehended in the context of the whole valley.
The land of Cappadocia, known for its stunning horses. In the region of Cappadocia, horses were formerly an essential mode of transportation as well as a significant contributor to the economics of individual households. The area of Cappadocia, which takes great care to preserve its history and culture, has emerged in recent years as one of the most significant hubs for horse riding. To the point where, as a consequence of the growth of tourism in the area, horseback riding has assumed its position as one of the most significant activities for regional tourism.
Within the Cappadocia region of central Turkey is where you’ll find the town of Goreme. Cave churches and frescoes dating from the 10th to 12th centuries can be found at the Goreme Open Air Museum, which is located just east of the town. Uchisar Castle is located in the southwest, and it is a fortification that has been carved into a large rock. From the top, there are panoramic views. “Fairy chimneys,” which are cone-shaped rock formations, are a distinctive feature of the landscape in the Paşaba Valley, which is located to the north.
Following its use as a monastery from the 9th to the 13th century, Zelve was transformed into a community. These days, the sinewy valley walls of the valley, topped with knobbly rock antennae, make for an incredibly picturesque place to go exploring.
The valleys were inhabited until 1952, when it was decided that they were too dangerous to live in and the villagers were resettled a few kilometers away in Aktepe, also known as Yeni Zelve. Since then, the valleys have remained uninhabited. Although erosion is continuing to eat away at the valley structures and certain areas are cordoned off due to rockfalls, there is an excellent walking trail that loops around the valleys, providing access to the various caverns. The impressive Üzümlü Kilise (Grape Church) and the neighboring Balkli Kilise (Fish Church), which features fish as a subject in one of the primitive paintings, are both located in Valley One. Valley One is also home to the old deirmen (mill), which features a grindstone. A modest rock-cut mosque with few embellishments may be seen in Valley Three.
An important city among the canyons all over the world is located in the Ihlara Valley, which is located within the confines of the Güzelyurt District in the Aksaray Province.
18 km. Ihlara Valley has the distinction of being the largest canyon in the world where people live in historical periods. Unlike other canyons, Ihlara Valley has an area that is 150 meters in depth, 200 meters in width, and thousands of living spaces in its structure. This gives it the distinction of being the largest canyon in the world. The Melendiz River, which helps to form the Ihlara Valley and provides life to the area, is the primary driver of biological activity in this region. Ihlara Valley is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural and historical hubs in all of human history as a result of the presence of hundreds of rock carvings and churches that were carved out of the natural rock formations that surround the valley.
Outstanding Seljuk Turkish architecture (from the 1100s to the 1200s) and attractive bazaars may be seen in the historic city of Kayseri (KA-ee-seh-ree, Caesarea; elevation: 3458 feet/1054 meters; population: 900,000). Kayseri is located on the eastern side of Cappadocia (map).
Kayseri’s old houses, which are located in the shadow of Erciyes Da (Mount Aergeus, 3916 meters; 12,848 ft), stand in stark contrast to the glittering ski slopes that can be seen on Erciyes.
In contrast to the bright volcanic tufa used in the construction of buildings in Cappadocia, the majority of the historic structures in Kayseri are formed of gloomy, black volcanic stone.
However, the Citadel of Kayseri as well as its Great Mosques and Medreses continue to be outstanding examples of Seljuk Turkish Art. This is a rundown of the attractions and activities available.
If you are staying in Ürgüp, Goreme, or one of the other towns in Cappadocia, you may take a minibus or drive yourself to Kayseri and visit the majority of the city’s attractions during a morning or afternoon trip (map). The Hilton Kayseri Hotel is the most recommended spot to stay during your visit.
In Turkey, the people of Kayseri are well-known for their commercial savvy, or, to put it another way, they have a reputation for being shrewd businesspeople. However, if you go to the city’s two old market buildings, the Bedesten and the Vezir Han, both of which are located close to the Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) in the city center, you will discover that the people there are quite friendly.
