Places
5 places to discover in Cappadocia
Dark Church
The Dark Church gets its name from its near-windowless design, which blocked damaging sunlight and preserved its 11th-century frescoes in extraordinary condition. These are arguably the finest Byzantine frescoes in all of Cappadocia. Requires a separate ticket inside Göreme Open Air Museum.
VIEW DETAILSGümüşler Monastery
Near Niğde, Gümüşler Monastery is carved from a single rock and dates to the 7th century. It contains some of the best-preserved Byzantine frescoes in the region, including a rare smiling Virgin Mary. The underground church and carved chambers are extraordinary.
VIEW DETAILSKeşlik Monastery
Hidden in a valley near Mustafapaşa, Keşlik is one of Cappadocia's most intact Byzantine monastery complexes. Four rock-cut churches in close proximity contain frescoes spanning several centuries of Byzantine art. Rarely visited — serene and very special.
VIEW DETAILSSelime Cathedral
Carved from a massive volcanic rock formation at the end of Ihlara Valley, Selime Cathedral is the largest rock-cut religious building in Cappadocia. The complex includes a kitchen with a chimney, stables, and multiple chapels with faded frescoes. The interior scale is breathtaking.
VIEW DETAILSTokalı Church
The largest church in Göreme Open Air Museum and one of Cappadocia's most important Byzantine monuments. Tokalı has two sections with frescoes depicting the full New Testament story cycle. The deep blue and ochre pigments have held remarkably well over a millennium.
VIEW DETAILS