
Aksaray📌 About the CityAksaray is an ancient city located in Türkiye's Inland Anatolia Region. Its history dates back thousands of years. The region bears traces from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Exactly 11,000 years ago, after the Ice Age ended and alongside the extinction of giant mammoths and saber-toothed tigers, the people of Central Anatolia abandoned their nomadic hunting lifestyle and decided to settle permanently. These people established a settlement called Aşıklı Höyük, creating t
ENSümeyye Tabak

Ihlara Valley is a valley in Türkiye's Aksaray province, renowned for its natural beauty and historical richness famous. Stretching from the village of Ihlara to Selime, the valley is 14 kilometers long and shaped by the Melendiz River. Its depth reaches up to 100 meters in places, making it a perfect destination for both nature hikers and history enthusiasts.Ihlara Valley, Aksaray - Türkiye Culture Portal" image-alternate="" image-element-format="justify">A Journey Through the Depths of Hist
ENNil Turhan
AğAğaçaltı Church is situated in the Ihlara Valley, one of the most prominent natural formations of the Cappadocia region. Located on the southern side of the valley's entrance stairs and near the left bank of the Melendiz Stream, its position indicates that the church was historically one of the key religious and residential centers in the valley.Architectural Plan and StructureThe church was constructed with a free cross plan, characterized by three arms and a main apse that opens directly into
EN
Meltem Saraç
SüSümbüllü Church is a hictorical church located in Güzelyurt district of Aksaray province, Türkiye, on the left slope of the Ihlara Valley, approximately 20 meters above the level of the Melendiz Stream. The church derives its name from the hyacinth flowers (sümbül in Turkish) that grow around the area. Situated in a valley that served as an early Christian religious center, the church is part of a monastery complex carved into a rock formation.Architectural FeaturesSümbüllü Church is a single-na
EN
Melike Saraç

Selime Cathedral is a two-story monumental structure carved into the rock at the southern exit of the Ihlara Valley in Aksaray Province, Türkiye. It is regarded as the largest cathedral in the Cappadocia region. The cathedral and its adjacent monastery complex constitute an important example of the development of Christianity during the Byzantine period.Location and Architectural PlanSelime Cathedral is situated at the southern end of the Ihlara Valley in the village of Selime, within the Güzely
EN
Melike Saraç

Aksaray, regarded as the birthplace of Cappadocia, has played a significant role in the region’s historical development. One of the focal points of this historical process is the village of Selime, which belongs to the district of Güzelyurt. Located at the end of the Ihlara Valley in the Central Anatolia Region, Selime is considered one of Cappadocia’s foremost cultural centers due to its geographical position, striking natural landscape, and deep historical roots. One of the most compelling evi
ENElif Ece Özkara