Cappadocia is located about four hundred kilometres southeast of Ankara, it is an area centred on the summit of Erdaş Dağı (1982 m). It starts from the Ihllar Canyon. The Ihlara Valley (Ihlara, Byzantine name Peristrema) is a is a volcanic canyon in Central Anatolia, 16 kilometres long and a height of about 150 metres (starts at the village of Ihlara and ends at Selime). It is located about 40 kilometres south of the town of Aksaray in Turkey and west of the town of Nigde.
The landscape that the Ihlara Valley offers to tourists is strikingly different from the the peculiar mountainous landscapes of Cappadocia. Indeed, here, the flow of the river has formed a deep canyon in the rocky plateau, in the depths of which lush vegetation has emerged. vegetation.
In this picturesque valley there are many churches from the first centuries of Christianity, which are of great artistic interest, as well as dwellings, in the form of caves for five thousand inhabitants, six of which are open to the to the public. These monuments of ancient culture look very beautiful against a background of amazingly beautiful nature: a cheerful palette of wildflowers, the rustle of the of the river and green foliage.
The churches are carved in the rocks, there are about a hundred of them here. The construction of the churches began in the 4th century. They were decorated with frescoes of Syrian origin, which already date back to the first years of the 9th century. In the beginning, these frescoes were few colours (just a couple of shades of red on a white background) and very simple in their execution. From about the beginning of the 11th century onwards, the colours become more intense, as the dominant Syrian-Egyptian style was diluted with Byzantine influence, as well as the influence exerted by the religious mosaics of the largest churches of the period.
Of all the churches in the Ikhlar Valley, only 14 are open for inspection. But even here there is much to see: Sümbülü Kilise ("Hyacinth Church"), Agaç Alti Kilise. ("Church under the trees"), Ilanli Kilise ("Church of snakes"), "Eğritaş", "Kokar-ilisesi", "Pyurenli Seki", "Ala Kilisesi", "Bahattin Sammanlıgı", "Kırkdamatlı", "Direkli", etc. Often, these names were given to the churches by local people, but some of them were named in honour of the owners of the land on which they were located.
The walls of all churches are decorated with images of saints and various scenes from the Bible. There are also unrestored images from the pre-biblical period. Many of the churches form a city in the rock - they are connected by underground passages.
The Ihlara Canyon in a smaller version looks a bit like the famous Grand Canyon in America. A big crack, as if in a sci-fi film cuts through the earth and curves a green snake across the sandy bare plain. It seems that Mother Earth herself has opened up and let the valley out, unable to to hide such beauty any longer. Ihlara contrasts very well with the usual hilly local landscape. hilly local landscape. Amidst a realm of huge grey rocks stretched out a green oasis in which the crowns of centuries-old trees sway majestically, creating a pleasant penumbra. Between the large boulders flit lizards, tortoises crawl slowly, and in the lush greenery birds chirp and butterflies flutter.
As to the origin of the Ihlara Valley, scientists have very different opinions. Some geologists claim that this gigantic canyon was carved by the waters of Melendiz, a mountain river flowing down the slopes of the mountain of the same name. Other scientists have a completely different view a completely different view - this fantastic canyon is volcanic, but there's no record of an active volcano in the area in any historical document.
However, there is also the most plausible third version, that peacefully unites the proponents of the first two theories. According to it, this canyon was formed by the combined efforts of a volcano and a river. So the two extinct volcanoes covered it with layers of ash, lava and tuff. And then the river took over and washed away all the volcanic debris resulting in the amazing Ikhlar valley canyon.
Amidst all this idyll, black dots peer out of the sheer cliffs with black eyes - are the entrances to the cave houses. It's as if you're looking up close a huge anthill. If you want, you can also see these cave dwellings in more detail.
Not far from Ikhlar, just two kilometres away, is the most popular and comfortable descent to the Ikhlar Gorge. Tourists have the opportunity to visit Ikhlar Gorge on a day trip organised by Cappadocia's tour companies. The gorge is 10 kilometres long and 80 metres deep. It is possible to walk along it. There is a suitable track along the Melendiz River. If this walk is too long for you, you can descend into the gorge on a metal staircase of only 382 stairs. However, keep in mind that this is is not easy. At the bottom, nature has prepared an unforgettable gift for you - indescribable beauty. Nearby is a small complex for the convenience of tourists. It has a small shop, toilets, a car park, a cafe and a sign with a map of the valley.
