Güzelyurt, meaning 'beautiful homeland', formerly Gelveri (
Cappadocian Greek
Cappadocian Greek (, also known as Cappadocian is a dialect of modern Greek, originally spoken in Cappadocia (modern-day Central Turkey) by the descendants of the Byzantine Greeks of Anatolia. The language originally diverged from Medieval Gree ...
: Καρβάλη
), is a town in
Aksaray Province
Aksaray Province () is a province in central Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Konya along the west and south, Ankara to the northwest, Niğde to the southeast, Nevşehir to the east, and Kırşehir to the north. Its area is 7,659 km2, an ...
in the
Central Anatolia region of
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
, at a distance of from the city of
Aksaray
Aksaray () is a city in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It is the seat of Aksaray Province and Aksaray District. . It is the seat of
Güzelyurt District.
[İlçe Belediyesi]
Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 January 2023. Its population is 2,570 (2021).
Its elevation is .
This area is part of the ancient region of
Cappadocia
Cappadocia (; , from ) is a historical region in Central Anatolia region, Turkey. It is largely in the provinces of Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde. Today, the touristic Cappadocia Region is located in Nevşehir ...
, near the
Ihlara Valley
The Ihlara Valley (or Peristrema Valley; Turkish ''Ihlara Vadisi'') is a canyon which is 15 km long and up to 150 m deep in the southwest of the Turkish region of Cappadocia, in the municipality of Güzelyurt, Aksaray Province. The v ...
.
History
Cappadocia has an important place in the history of Christianity and
Gregory of Nazianzus
Gregory of Nazianzus (; ''Liturgy of the Hours'' Volume I, Proper of Saints, 2 January. – 25 January 390), also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen, was an early Roman Christian theologian and prelate who served as Archbi ...
lived in the area. A historically large native
Cappadocian Greek
Cappadocian Greek (, also known as Cappadocian is a dialect of modern Greek, originally spoken in Cappadocia (modern-day Central Turkey) by the descendants of the Byzantine Greeks of Anatolia. The language originally diverged from Medieval Gree ...
population existed in the area until the 1924 population exchange (see
Cappadocian Greeks
The Cappadocian Greeks (; ), or simply Cappadocians, are an ethnic Greek community native to the geographical region of Cappadocia in central-eastern Anatolia; roughly the Nevşehir and Kayseri provinces and their surroundings in modern-day Turk ...
), when they were replaced with the Turks from
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; ), also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, Salonika, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece (with slightly over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area) and the capital cit ...
and
Kavala
Kavala (, ''Kavála'' ) is a city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala regional unit.
It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos and on the A2 motorway, a one-and ...
. The monastery, churches, refuge caves, and mansions attest to the culture of the Cappadocian Greek population.
Places of interest
Güzelyurt is known for having three underground cities and over 50 churches carved into the rocky volcanic landscape including:
*
Ihlara Valley
The Ihlara Valley (or Peristrema Valley; Turkish ''Ihlara Vadisi'') is a canyon which is 15 km long and up to 150 m deep in the southwest of the Turkish region of Cappadocia, in the municipality of Güzelyurt, Aksaray Province. The v ...
* Monastery Valley, "Manastır Vadisi"
* Fairy Chimneys, "Peri Bacaları"
* Antique Greek houses
* Ahmatlı Church
* St. Anargiros Church, "Sivişli Kilise"
* Koç Church
* Cathedral of Selime
* The rock monastery of Selime, one of the largest religious buildings in
Cappadocia
Cappadocia (; , from ) is a historical region in Central Anatolia region, Turkey. It is largely in the provinces of Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde. Today, the touristic Cappadocia Region is located in Nevşehir ...
.
*
Kızıl Kilise, "St. Spyridon Church" - a 5th or 6th century church (with an inscription dated to 1084) in the village of Sivrihisar.
* St. Analipsis Church, "Yüksek Kilise" (High Church) on the hill of Analipsis. Stone age relics have been found nearby.
* St. Gregorius Church, "Kilise Cami" - another rock-hewn church, in use today as a mosque
* Kalburlu Kilisesi ('Sieve church', also called St. Epthemios Church').
* Kömürlü Kilise, dedicated to
St. Anargyros in the Monastery valley close to the Kalburlu church.
* Çömlekçi Kilise, near the Koç church.
Other places of interest include:
* The tomb of Selime Sultan in the village of Selime.
* Linseed House, "Bezirhane" in the village of Belisırma.
* The Priests House, also known as Papaz Evi.
* Ziga thermal springs, "Ziga kaplıcaları" is located in the village of Yaprakhisar very close to Ihlara Valley.
* Güzelyurt Pond Dam (Göleti)
* An underground city is situated in
Gaziemir village of Güzelyurt.
Image gallery
Image:IhlaraValley.jpg,
Image:St. Gregory of Nazianzos.jpg,
Image:Kısıl Kilise (Sivrihisar) 01.jpg, Kizil Kilise, meaning “Red Church” in Güzelyurt
Image:IhlaraTal.jpg,
Image:Güzelyurthouses.jpg, Historic houses in Güzelyurt
See also
*
Cappadocian Greeks
The Cappadocian Greeks (; ), or simply Cappadocians, are an ethnic Greek community native to the geographical region of Cappadocia in central-eastern Anatolia; roughly the Nevşehir and Kayseri provinces and their surroundings in modern-day Turk ...
*
Cappadocia
Cappadocia (; , from ) is a historical region in Central Anatolia region, Turkey. It is largely in the provinces of Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde. Today, the touristic Cappadocia Region is located in Nevşehir ...
*
Saint Gregory of Nazianzus
References
External links
Municipality's official website
Aksaray governor's office
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guzelyurt
Populated places in Güzelyurt District, Aksaray
District municipalities in Turkey