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Ihlara Gorge was
created by the cracking and collapsing which occurred as a result of
basalt and andesite lava from Mt. Hasandag’s eruption. The Melendiz
river, in millions of years, found its way through these cracks, eroding the canyon bed and
helping to form Ihlara Canyon we see today. The Melendiz river used to be
called "Potamus Kapadukus" meaning the River of Cappadocia. Ihlara
Canyon is situated 40 km from Aksaray and can be reached making a turn at
the 11th km of the Aksaray-Nevsehir road.
 The 14km long, in some
places 110 meter high valley begins at Ihlara village and ends at Selime village. There are
numerous dwellings, churches and graves built into the valley walls,
some of which are connected by tunnels and corridors. The valley proved
to be an ideal place for the
seclusion and worship of monks, and a
hideaway and defense area for people during times of invasion. The
decorations in the churches can be dated to various times from the 6th
to the 13th centuries, and the churches can be classified into two
groups. The churches near the Ihlara Gorge display frescoes with
oriental influence. Those nearer to Belisirma display
Byzantine type
decorations. Very few Byzantine inscriptions in this area can be read.
Above a 13th century fresco in the church of St. George (Kirkdamatli),
the names of Seljuk Sultan Mesud (1282 - 1305) and the Byzantine Emperor
Andronicos are inscribed. The construction of new churches
slows down after the Seljuk Turks' conquerence of the area but the
church life continues until the population exchange between Greek and
Turkey in 1924.
Find an Hotel in Cappadocia or Goreme at Thomas Cook.
 The churches of the Ihlara Valley with the best preserved fresques are
the Agacalti, Purenliseki, Kokar, Yilanli and St. George churches.
You can find photos of these fresques in the photo section.
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