AKSARAY TURKEY

Aksaray

Ihlara Valley and MelendizStream

The Melendiz Stream (Potamus, Kapadukus-CappadociaRiver) traverses14 km long Ihlara Valley (Ihlara Vadisi), formerly known as Peristremma.The stream originates from Ihlara Town and the depth of the canyon in which theriver flows reaches 120 meters at some points. The natural formation andsheltered structure of Ihlara Valley makes it one of the important centers ofChristianity. There are many churches that have the characteristics of paintingart of the period it was built in the Ihlara Valley, which has become animportant monastery center since the fourth century. Due to its naturalstructure, the valley has been used as a very suitable hermitage by monks andpriests as of the fourth century. In the frescoed churches in the valley (suchas Sümbüllü, Yılanlı, Kokar, Ağaçaltı, Pürenliseki, Eğritaş,Kırkdamaltı, Bahattin Samanlığı), there are quite rich religious scenesreflecting the art of the Byzantine period.

IhlaraValley is also a very beautiful natural trekking area. You can walk along the14-kilometer valley accompanied by the stream and greenery. There are alsoballoon flights over Ihlara Valley. There are also cafes and restaurants whereyou can take a break by the water in the valley where you can enter and exitfrom different areas.

Aksaray Museum

Thethree-story museum was planned with eclectic style inspired by Anatolian Seljukvaults, and fairy chimneys in the Cappadocia Region and Aksaray.In the museum, in the archaeological group, a wide variety of artifacts fromthe prehistoric periods including Neolithic, Chalcolithic and EarlyBronze ages starting from 8500 BCE to Middle Bronze, LateBronze, Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, Late Roman and AnatolianSeljuk periods are exhibited. In the coin group, you can see coinsminted from gold, silver and bronze mines starting from the ClassicalPeriod and extending to the Ottoman Period. In theethnography group, daily items, clothing used on weddings, holidays and specialoccasions, jewelry and items reflecting traditional handicrafts are presentedto visitors. The mummies in the museum will also attract your attention!

 Manastır Valley 

Manastır Valley (Manastır Vadisi) looks like a"Small Ihlara Valley" with a stream between high rocks on both sides,willow trees and 28 churches, chapels and underground cities, small and largerock carved churches. The sheltered structure of the region became the shelterof clergymen who opposed the depiction ban applied in the period. Since the endof the 11th century, the region came under the control of the Turks andthereafter Christians living here continued to worship freely.  Thevalley, which housed many people in its monasteries and churches, hides thetraces of the first monastic life. Nenezili (Singles) scribe SaintGregorius Theologos took this region as a center in the fourth centuryand helped spread Christianity throughout Anatolia.

Aşıklı Tumulus

Aşıklı Tumulus (Aşıklı Höyüğü) has beenestablished 10,500 years ago as the first village settlementof Central Anatolia. The Aşıklı community, which abandoned the hunter, gathererand nomadic lifestyle and moved to a settled and productive lifestyle, lived inthe same place for at least 30-35 generations from the mid-ninth millennium BCEto the mid-eighth millennium BCE. Aşıklı community has had pioneeringdevelopments in the history of architecture, history of medicine, agricultureand animal husbandry etc. during their thousand years of life in the CappadociaRegion.

Saratlı Kırkgöz Underground City

Saratlı Kırkgöz Underground City (Saratlı KırkgözYeraltı Şehri) is an important living space from the Romanperiod. In 2001, three floors thereof have been cleaned and opened tovisitors. The underground city, which has a toilet, bathroom, cellar and atotal of 40 rooms, has a ventilation system unlike its counterparts in theCappadocia Region. The underground city is estimated to have seven floors.

In theunderground city, water was supplied from wells and cisterns in the hiddencity, the breads were made collectively inside, and illumination was providedby lamps working with olive oil or tail fat. Necessary oxygen was provided withventilation chimneys.

St. Mercurius Underground City

Saint Mercurius Underground City (Aziz MercurisYeraltı Şehri) and Church, the second underground city in SaratlıTown, was mostly used as a shelter in the 250´s when Christianity wasforbidden. Saint Mercurius was a commander who lived between CE225-250. He wasborn in the Cappadocia Region during the Roman Empire andwas exiled to Cappadocia by the king after he announced that he was aChristian. He was killed in this region and his body was sent to Egypt.

Threefloors of the seven-floor underground city are open to visitors. While thechurches in underground cities are generally small, the church located herelooks like a cathedral. A separate room consisting of child and adult graveshas been created in the church.

Güzelyurt Gelveri Houses

The Gelveri Houses in Güzelyurt, carved into therock and embroidered on their front facades, constitute one of the mostbeautiful examples of Cappadocian architecture. The first settlement ofGüzelyurt was the rock places around St. Gregorius Theologos Church.Buildings were added to the front of the rock settlements and as a result, suchsettlements with rock carving on the back of the building began to be used. Inthe 19th and 20th centuries, houses were built in rock carvings. Arch system isused in the roofs of Güzelyurt houses. With this feature, Güzelyurt houses havebeen standing firmly for 100-200 years.

Selime Cathedral

Selime Town is located at the end point of IhlaraValley. When you exit the valley, fairy chimneys and SelimeCathedral welcome the visitors.

Selime Cathedral (Selime Katedrali) was built astwo-story and is the largest cathedral in Cappadocia. The cathedralis dated back to the eighth and ninth centuries. There are important frescoesin the cathedral depicting the ascension of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.

One ofthe most important features of Selime Kale Monastery (SelimeKale Manastırı) is that it is the place where the clergy in the regionare trained. In addition, the first loud ritual was held in SelimeCathedral. The buildings made by carving the rocks and most aschurches bear the traces of Byzantine art. It is alsoremarkable that the upper part of the cathedral was built as a castle.

Yılanlı Church

There aremany religious motifs and frescoes in Yılanlı Church (YılanlıKilise), which is the most visited church in this region due to itslocation. The frescoes are dated back to the ninth century, or between thefirst half of the 11th century and the 12th century.

Ağaçaltı Church

Thefrescoes in the Ağaçaltı (Daniel Pantonassa) Church aredated back to between the ninth and the 11th centuries. The building is enteredthrough the main apse, which is destroyed today. The original entrances are onthe north wall of the south and northwest corner room of the west arm.

Sümbüllü Church

The frescoesin the church are dated back to between the 10th and 12th centuries. In theapse dome, Mary Blakhernatissa, between Michael and Gabriel isdepicted, the bishops are depicted in the lower lane, the Evangel on the southwall of the room in the south, Koimesis (death of the VirginMary) on the apsis, the Presentation of Christ in the Templeon the apsis of the northern room, the Jesus Pantocrator on the dome of themain space, the Three Hebrews in the Fiery Furnace and othersaints on the south wall.

Direkli Church

There aregraves on the floor of the barrel-vaulted chapel to the south of the DirekliChurch (Direkli Kilise) and in the niche on the southwall, as well as on the floor of the narthexes of the church and chapel. Withthe help of the inscription on the north side apse and the molding on the mainapse, the frescoes are dated to 976-1025, when the Emperor Basil II andConstantine VIII ruled together.

Kırkdamaltı Church

Kırkdamaltı Church (Kırkdamaltı Kilisesi) is an irregularhexagonal church. It is understood from the destruction of the frescoes thatthe niches on the walls were mostly made later. There are graves on the floorand niches of the church. Kırkdamaltı Church, also known as is distinguishedfrom all churches in Cappadocia with the pictures on its walls. AmirarzesBasileios, who was an administrator in the region, and his wife Tamara havebuilt a church in the name of Saint Georgios. There are many religiousdepictions including Jesus Christ on the wall of the church, which was built asa rock carving. In the largest of the frescoes, Basil and his wife Tamara aredepicted presenting a model of the church to St Georgios. Basileios is theChristian ruler who ruled this region on behalf of the Seljuks. In thisfrescoe, Basil is wearing a turban and a kaftan. In other words, he was dressedin the dress of Muslim Seljuk at that time. The depiction of aChristian ruler wearing a Turkish turban and kaftan on the church’s wall atthat time is a proof of the tolerance of Turks towards Christians. Theyare so pleased with the Seljuks that they had the ruler painted on the wall ofsuch an important church with a Muslim turban and kaftan.  For thisreason, it is very important for Cappadocia and Turkish history. That is why wecan describe Ihlara Valley as a valley of tolerance. Because again in thevalley, a rock-carved church and a mosque are side by side.

Çanlı Church

Çanlı Church (Çanlı Kilise), which attracts attentionwith the mummies found inside, is also an important religious center.

As a resultof the excavations, finds such as coins, bulbs made of lead, pieces of glassbracelets, metal earrings, rings, written documents, mummies and mummy pieceswere found. The interior of Çanlı Church is decorated with frescoesdepicting Jesus and his Apostles. The church and its surroundings containhouses of various sizes carved into rocks, dating from the 10th century to the14th century.

Karagedik Church

Thefrescoes in the building are dated to the 10th or 11th centuries, but itemphasized that the architectural features are close to the Late ByzantinePeriod.  Many depictions introduced in older publications are lost today.

Ala Church

Ala Church (Ala Kilise) is carved into therock in the north of Belisırma village and on the easternslope of the valley. It was built after Christianity was liberated. On theupper part of its facade are pictures of the Apostles and saints. The frescoesin the church are dated back to the end of the 10th century or the first halfof the 11th century. It draws attention with its rich religious depictions andsaints.

Bezirhane

Bezirhane, which was carved into the rocks next to the AlaChurch, is accessed by an arched entrance. There is a linseed oil pool madeof wood in the Bezirhane.  Bezirhane is a production place for linseed oilthat is used by the people of the region for illumination. Linseed oil wasobtained as a result of the processing of oil extracted from a type of grasscalled Izgin after crushing and processing it in bezirhane. The oil obtainedwas used to illuminate churches, rock-carved places and underground cities bymeans of oil lamps.

Paşa Bath

Paşa Bath (Paşa Hamamı) is the only Turkishbath that has survived to the present day as functional in Aksaray city center.It consists of two parts as women´s and men´s baths. The bath, constructed ofsmooth cut stone, has six domes, of which two are small and four are large. Thebuilding, which is a typical Ottoman building, consists of sixsquare-planned rooms.

Somuncu Baba Tomb and Complex

Somuncu Baba is one of the leading scholars and saints whogrew up in Anatolia during the foundation years of the Ottoman Empire.Sheikh Hamid-i Veli, who was born in Kayseri in 1349 and known as Somuncu Baba,achieved superior degrees in mysticism and science. Somuncu Baba, who came toAksaray (Şehr-i Süleha) on the return of pilgrimage, continued his science andguidance activities here until the end of his life and died in Aksaray in 1412.His grave is in the Ervah cemetery in Aksaray. The Somuncu BabaCultural Center, built right next to the Somuncu Baba Mausoleum,has been designed as religious venues for faith tourism open to the public, andit reminds its visitors the atmosphere of Somuncu Baba´s period with shoppingunits, a bakery and a wooden portico-roofed mosque with a capacity of 800people, which reminds the Seljuk and early Ottoman masjids.

Darü’l Ervah

Ervah Cemetery (Ervah Mezarlığı) is a cemetery wheremore than seven thousand saints are buried in Aksaray. Here is actually thereal center of Aksaray. Ervah literally means “spirits”. We see the mostimportant information about Ervah in Evliya Çelebi´s travel booknamed “Seyahatname”. The oldest grave in the cemetery is dated to 1250CE.

Güvercinkayası

Güvercinkayası sheds light on the history of Anatoliawith its seven thousand years of history. The settlement, which is located on ahigh rock mass in Mamasın Dam Lake (Mamasın Baraj Gölü) today,is dated to 5200-4750 BCE. The settlement also dominates the old migrationroutes in the region. Güvercinkayası, which survived to the present dayfrom the Middle Chalcolithic Period, is the first known and oldestexample of the settlement type that we can define as "castle city" inCentral Anatolia. However, the findings of this settlement, which can bedefined as a regular village, provide very important information about how theAnatolian type cities, which will be established much later, evolved. Stampseals and some pottery found during excavations also point to the relations ofthe settlement with distant regions, especially Eastern Anatolia-NorthernMesopotamia.

Acemhöyük

Thefamous Assyrian city Puruşhattum, which ismentioned in the Akkadian and Hittite inscriptions,known as Acemhöyük today is known to be the most popular mineproduction center of Anatolia four thousand years ago.

Acemhöyükis one of the largest tumuluses in Anatolia. As a result of the excavations, atleast 12 layers were found in the tumulus from the Late Bronze Age and AssyrianTrade Colonies Age. While the city was developing gradually from 2500 BCE,it lived its most brilliant period in the Assyrian Trade Colonies Age. Aviolent fire, of which cause is unknown today, surrounded the entire city inthe 18th century BCE and put an end to this brilliant period. The city wasbuilt twice by survivors of this disaster, but was completely abandoned in the17th century BCE. The last settlements concentrated on the western and southernelevations of the tumulus after a long break continued from the 6th century BCEuntil the early Roman Period.

Musular Tumulus

Musular Tumulus (Musular Höyüğü), one of the oldestexamples of settlement history in Aksaray, is located in the west of MelendizRiver (Melendiz Nehri). It was found that Musular wasfirst settled 8000 years ago. Two main periods have been identified so far. Thefirst of these is the aceramic period, which is called “neolithic withoutpottery" in prehistoric terminology. The next settlement period belongs tothe "pottery" phase. During this period, the settlers leveled theprevious building remains, laid a thick layer of yellowish soil on it, and builttheir own buildings on this plane.

Erdoğdu Underground City

When oneenters through the entrance of the underground city, four rooms can beseen.  It is stated that the underground city has 40 separate rooms, butnot all of the rooms are accessible due to the collapse of the tunnels.

Nora Ancient City

Nora Ancient City (Nora Antik Kenti) is withinthe boundaries of Helvadere Town in the central district. Atthe foot of Hasan Mountain (Hasan Dağı) and on the king´sroad, there are ancient city ruins from the Roman and Byzantine periods. Duringthe period, one thousand civilian dwellings were built. Therefore, Nora AncientCity was one of the most densely populated cities of the 5th and 6th centuries.This city is one of the largest and best preserved ruins in the Cappadociaregion. Apart from the dwellings in the ancient city, which wasestablished on an area of 200 hectares, 32 church structures and 20 cisternswere found together with the ruins.

Eğri (Leaning) Minaret (Crimson Minaret)

Eğri Minaret stands out with its resemblance to theworld-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Located in the city center ofAksaray, on Nevşehir Street, Eğri Minaret is one of the mostimportant historical artifacts from the Seljuk Period. The minaretwas named Eğri (Leaning) Minaret by the people because of its lean of 3° 11´  degrees. It is also known as Crimson Minaret becauseof its red bricks.  Eğri Minaret, one of the 13th century Seljukartifacts, is dated to 1221-1236. The Egri Minaret, which has a balcony and92 steps, is 30.6 meters high. It has always been wondered whether the EğriMinaret has been built as leaning or it leaned later. According to theresearches, the generally accepted opinion is that the Egri Minaret was madeleaning by its master.

Ulu Mosque (Karamanoğlu Mehmed Bey Mosque)

Ulu Mosque (Ulu Cami), one of the most beautifulexamples of Seljuk architecture, was first had built by the Anatolian Seljukruler Rükneddin Mesud (1116-1155). The mosque, which was expanded and repairedduring the Karamanoğulları period, is also known as the "KaramanoğluMehmet Bey Mosque".

Thepulpit in the Ulu Mosque, where we see the best examples of stonework in everydetail, is a masterpiece of Seljuk woodwork. This pulpit, made of ebony woodwith kündekari technique, is one of the oldest pulpits belonging to theAnatolian Seljuks.