Göreme
It's posited that Byzantine soldiers carved the 11th-century Azize Barbara Şapeli (Chapel of St Barbara), dedicated to their patron saint who is depicted…
Must-see attractions in Cappadocia
Göreme
Within Güllüdere (Rose) Valley, this church is easily missed as it's carved out of a nondescript rock facade. Once inside though, the nave is notable for…
Göreme
The trailhead off Müze Caddesi leads into the narrow gorge of Zemi Valley lined with tall poplar trees and sided by cliffs studded with pigeon houses. If…
Cappadocia
Touted as the only underground ceramics museum in the world, this vast series of modern tunnelled-out caves, underneath the Güray Ceramic showroom,…
Göreme
From the Open-Air Museum entrance, a 1km walk uphill along Müze Caddesi brings you to the signposted trail leading down to the Aynalı Kilise. The main…
Kayseri
The austere and stately Mahperi Hunat Hatun complex is one of Kayseri's finest Seljuk monuments, built in the 13th century during the reign of Sultan…
Ayios Kostantinos-Eleni Kilise
Cappadocia
Right on Mustafapaşa's main square is the imposing Ayios Kostantinos-Eleni Kilise, erected in 1729 and restored in 1850. A fine stone grapevine runs…
Göreme
This church, entered via a rickety wooden staircase, has frescoes dating to the 9th century on its apse and a ceiling carved with a spectacular large…
Göreme
The Snake Church (or Church of St Onuphrius) got its modern name when locals mistook St George's ubiquitous dragon-foe, depicted in a fresco here, for a…
Cappadocia
The blue-columned Cemil Church with its extremely defaced fresco fragments overlooks a hill slope of derelict Greek mansions. Follow the alleyway winding…
Cappadocia
This cross-shaped church has four columns, with lovely partially preserved frescoes of saints. The large adjoining chamber originally had two storeys, as…
Cappadocia
To reach Özlüce underground city, turn right as you enter Kaymaklı village from the north and you'll be heading for the small village of Özlüce, 7km…
Göreme
Dedicated to Kayseri-born St Basil, this is the first church you come to inside the Göreme Open-Air Museum. The main room holds frescoes of St Basil (left…
Cappadocia
This finely restored Seljuk royal caravan lodging was built in the 1230s and is one of the largest in Anatolia. It's 45km northeast of Kayseri, near…
Cappadocia
Avanos market is the best, and biggest, local produce market in the region. It's foodie central with market traders selling fresh honeycomb, slabs of…
Cappadocia
Just off the highway on the northern edge of Çavuşin you'll find this church, accessed via a steep and rickety iron stairway. Cappadocia's first post…
Cappadocia
Right at the top of Çavuşin's village ruins rock outcrop is the Church of St John the Baptist, one of the oldest churches in Cappadocia. While the…
Cappadocia
Entry into this underground city is beside the Monastery Valley ticket office. The restored complex ranges across several levels and includes one hair…
Cappadocia
Some 18km east of Güzelyurt, just off the road to Derinkuyu, is Gaziemir underground city, opened in 2007. Churches, a winery with wine barrels, food…
Cappadocia
This religious complex is perched high on a rock overlooking Güzelyurt lake, some 2km south of a signposted turn-off on the Ihlara road 1km west of…
Cappadocia
This small church is opposite the Büyük Kilise Cami in Monastery Valley. Head up the stairs to see the colourful, damaged frescoes decorating the apse and…
Ürgüp
The abundant sunshine and fertile volcanic soil of Cappadocia produce delicious sweet grapes, and several wineries carry on the Ottoman Greek winemaking…
Göreme
This church in Güllüdere (Rose) Valley features a well-preserved carved ceiling relief as well as some rather damaged frescoes. To find it, head north…
Cappadocia
Against a backdrop of stark, sweeping fields, the red masonry of the Kızıl Kilise stands out for miles. One of Cappadocia's oldest churches, it was built…
Kayseri
The gloomy interior of this 13th-century technical school for artisans and craftspeople is great to poke about in. It's crammed with a jumble-sale-style…
Cappadocia
In Soğanlı's Yukarı Valley the first church on your right is the Karabaş Kilisesi, which is covered in paintings showing the life of Christ, with Gabriel…
Göreme
This 13th-century church has frescoes depicting the four gospel writers (below the central dome) and the Betrayal of Judas (in the arch over the door)…
Cappadocia
Sitting on Belisırma village's cliff face, next door to the Direkli Kilise, this tiny church contains defaced but still vivid frescoes depicting scenes…
Göreme
The small Chapel of St Catherine is the next church down the path from the Dark Church. Inside are frescoes depicting St Catherine, the ubiquitous St…
Cappadocia
A stroll of about 2km from the Monastery Valley ticket office takes you to a gorge bordered by high cliffs. The first rock-cut building you see here is…
Cappadocia
The Yılanlı Kilise sits in the furthest corner of the Yukarı Valley, its frescoes deliberately painted over with black paint, probably to protect them…
Cappadocia
Turn left at the Yılanlı Kilise, cross the Yukarı Valley floor and climb the far hillside to find the Kubbeli Kilise. The Kubbeli is unusual because of…
Cappadocia
This double-nave church has a wealth of 10th- and 12th-century frescoes depicting stories from the Gospels. In 2019 it wasn't possible to access the…
Cappadocia
Many of the frescoes are damaged, but it's possible to make out the one outlining the punishments for sinners, especially the three-headed snake with a…
Cappadocia
Nestling in the Yukarı Valley hillside, very near the Kubbeli Kilise, is the Saklı Kilise (Hidden Church), which, as its name suggests, is indeed…
Göreme
Carved from a ubiquitous cone-like rock formation, the 10th-century El Nazar Kilise has been well restored with its snug interior a riot of colourful…
Cappadocia
The monastery at Selime is an astonishing rock-cut structure incorporating a vast kitchen with a soaring chimney, three churches, stables with rock-carved…
Göreme
A yellow sign points the way off Müze Caddesi to the Saklı Kilise, only rediscovered in 1956. When you reach the top of the hill, follow the track to the…
Cappadocia
In the Aşağı Valley, the Geyikli Kilise has a monks' refectory and a still-visible fresco on the wall of St Eustace with a deer (from which the church's…
Cappadocia
This attractive medrese (seminary) dates from 1409 and has a finely carved entrance. It's utilised as a cultural centre but visitors are welcome to wander…
