IHLARA VALLEY

With its 80 m depth and 15 km length, the impressive canyon at the foot of Mount Hasan is carved out of the tuff by the Melendiz River. It connects Ihlara to Selime, with Belişırma in the middle. The first section between Ihlara and Belişırma is marked, possible to continue to Selime. The valley is home to about 100 rock churches and a monastic complex (Kale), many churches have been damaged by the river waters.

Advice: bring non-slip shoes because of the water. There are fish restaurants along the river in Belişırma.

Local youths often offer to be guides for a little money. As part of Cappadocia, the valley then known as Peristremma developed in parallel with Christianity, with the flourishing period beginning in the 6th century and lasting until the 13th century.

Kokar Kilise ("fragrant church", left bank). A single vaulted nave. The apse is partly collapsed (on the side of the entrance). The burial hall joined the church later on. A dominant gray coloring. Dated to the 9th century.

Pürenliseki Kilisesi ("Terrace Church", left bank). Four parts. Vaulted entrance, two naves and two apses, columns. The scenes are very distinct and well separated. It resembles the churches of Kokar and Yılanlı. Dated to the 10th century.

Ağaç Altı Kilise ("church under the tree", left bank). Cross-shaped architecture, vaulted dome, three apses. Dated between the 9th and 11th centuries, it features the traditional themes of the region. Its name comes from the representation of St. Daniel between the lions (just in front of the entrance).

Yılanlı Kilise ("snake church", left bank). Cross-shaped. Vaulted. One apse. The scene on the west wall shows four damned women being attacked by snakes. Dated from the end of the 11th century. A chapel to the north would have served as a burial chamber. Dated to the 9th century.

Kırkdamaltı Kilisesi (St. George's Church, left bank, at Belisırma). Irregular octagonal shape. Possessing a flat ceiling, it has lost its apse. The basement and the sides have housed tombs. A peculiarity is that there are writings mentioning the Seljuk sultan and the Byzantine emperor. Dated to the 13th century (1283-1295).

Kale Manastırı Kilisesi (St. George's Church, at Selime). Known as one of the largest monasteries in Cappadocia. Very well preserved, it is excavated in several tuff cones. The frescoes would go up at the period going from Xth to XIth century.