Wonders of Cappadocia

The Derinkuyu underground city is an ancient multi-level complex in the Derinkuyu district of Nevşehir Province, extending to a depth of approximately 60 metres. It is large enough to have sheltered as many as 20,000 people together with their livestock and food stores. It is the largest excavated underground city in Türkiye and one of several complexes found throughout Cappadocia; it could be closed from the inside with large stone doors, and each floor could be sealed off separately.

The Ihlara Valley is a 16 km long gorge cut into volcanic rock in the southern part of Cappadocia, formed after several eruptions of Mount Erciyes. The Melendiz Stream flows through the valley, which runs north to south from Selime to Ihlara village. Sixteen of the valley's 105 churches are open to visitors, most of them within 1 km of the official valley entrance in Ihlara.

While in Ihlara, visit Belisırma Village inside the valley, as well as Güzelyurt Village, a prosperous Ottoman-Greek town that specialised in farming and goldsmithing.