Ihlara Canyon Valley

One of the highlights of the Green Route Cappadocia tour is the Ihlara Valley in the southwest. The Ihlara Valley area not only offers stunning scenery, but also boasts numerous renowned cave monasteries and churches along the valley. Among these is the Selime Monastery, one of the larger monastery ruins nearby and a must-see for anyone traveling the Ihlara Valley on the Green Route. It includes cave houses, once inhabited by monks, and two-story cave churches carved into the rock (amazing!). On the other side of the road from the monastery lies the renowned octagonal Selime Sultan Turbesi (Selime Sultan Tomb, the Monumental Tomb), a masterpiece of the unique architectural style of this region of Anatolia from around the 13th century.

The volcanic eruption generated high pressure in the Earth's crust, reshaping it and creating cracks, leading to the formation of the canyon. The area's importance lies primarily in the numerous churches and houses carved into the canyon walls. The Aksaray and Ihlara Valleys were important religious centers for early Christians fleeing Roman soldiers. The Christian churches seen today date back to the early centuries AD. Most of them have been damaged, but original frescoes (9th-10th century AD) are still visible, and some efforts are underway to preserve them. You'll encounter many churches in the valley, the most important of which are: Agacalti, Sumbullu, Ala, Egritas, and Kirkdamatli (St. George) Church. The latter, located in the upper part of the canyon, requires a short climb up some steep steps, but it's well worth the climb, as it offers a panoramic view of the entire canyon.