Türkiye
Things to do in Aksaray
20 places20 stories1 routes
Sightlore has 20 places to explore in Aksaray, and 20 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Aksaray's must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
Sümbüllü Church
The Sümbüllü (Hyacinth) Church in the Ihlara Valley is a two-storey monastery carved into the rock. Its frescoes show Mary between Michael and Gabriel, Christ, and the three Hebrews in the furnace.
- 2
Selime Cathedral
Selime Cathedral is a huge rock-cut monastery complex above the village of Selime, at the northern end of the Ihlara Valley. Its church, divided into three naves by rows of columns, is the largest rock-cut church in Cappadocia.
- 3
Ağaçaltı Kilisesi
Ağaçaltı (Under the Tree) Church in the Ihlara Valley, near Ihlara village, is a cross-shaped rock-cut church known for its Ascension fresco in the dome and Daniel among the lions.
- 4
Yılanlı Church
The Yılanlı (Snake) Church in the Ihlara Valley dates from the late 9th century. It is named after its fresco of the Last Judgement, where sinners are punished by snakes.
- 5
Pürenli Seki Church
Pürenli Seki Church in the Ihlara Valley is a rock-cut church in four sections, with 10th-century frescoes.
- 6
Kokar Kilise
Kokar Church in the Ihlara Valley is a 9th-century single-nave, barrel-vaulted rock church with scenes from the life of Christ.
Discovery routes in Aksaray
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Ihlara Valley Walk
Along the Melendiz stream past frescoed rock churches: Ağaçaltı, Pürenli Seki, Kokar, Yılanlı and Sümbüllü, ending at Selime Cathedral.
Places to visit
Historic sites
Alayhan
Alay Han is a 13th-century Seljuk caravanserai about 34 km from Aksaray on the old road to Nevşehir, built on sloping ground over roughly 2,000 m². Its richly carved portal survives.
Aşıklı Höyük
Aşıklı Höyük is a settlement mound located nearly 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south of Kızılkaya village on the bank of the Melendiz brook, and 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Aksaray, Turkey.
Ersele Underground City
Ersele (Ozancık) Underground City in Ortaköy is carved into volcanic tuff and covers about 2.5 km². It is one of the more recently opened underground cities of Cappadocia.
Nyssa
Nyssa was a town and bishopric in Cappadocia, Asia Minor. It is important in the history of Christianity due to being the see of the prominent 4th century bishop Gregory of Nyssa.
Sultan Han
Sultan Han is a large and significant 13th-century Seljuk caravanserai located in the town of Sultanhanı, Aksaray Province, Turkey.
Acemhöyük
Acemhöyük is an archaeological site in Turkey. The tell is located near the village of Yeşilova in Merkez district, Aksaray Province. The Bronze Age name for the place was probably Purušḫanda/Purušḫattum or Ullama.
Museums
Aksaray Museum
Aksaray Museum is a museum in Aksaray, Turkey.
Places of worship
Ağaçaltı Kilisesi
Ağaçaltı (Under the Tree) Church in the Ihlara Valley, near Ihlara village, is a cross-shaped rock-cut church known for its Ascension fresco in the dome and Daniel among the lions.
Pürenli Seki Church
Pürenli Seki Church in the Ihlara Valley is a rock-cut church in four sections, with 10th-century frescoes.
Kokar Kilise
Kokar Church in the Ihlara Valley is a 9th-century single-nave, barrel-vaulted rock church with scenes from the life of Christ.
Yılanlı Church
The Yılanlı (Snake) Church in the Ihlara Valley dates from the late 9th century. It is named after its fresco of the Last Judgement, where sinners are punished by snakes.
Sümbüllü Church
The Sümbüllü (Hyacinth) Church in the Ihlara Valley is a two-storey monastery carved into the rock. Its frescoes show Mary between Michael and Gabriel, Christ, and the three Hebrews in the furnace.
Selime Cathedral
Selime Cathedral is a huge rock-cut monastery complex above the village of Selime, at the northern end of the Ihlara Valley. Its church, divided into three naves by rows of columns, is the largest rock-cut church in Cappadocia.
Ulu Camii
The Aksaray Grand Mosque, also known as the Ulu Mosque, is the mosque located in the city center of Aksaray. It is also known as the Karamanoğlu Mosque.
Çanlı Kilise
Çanlı Kilise, meaning "bell church" or "church with a bell", is a Byzantine-era ruin site located about 15 km southeast of the city of Aksaray in Turkey.
Aksaray Red Mosque
The Red Minaret Mosque, sometimes called the Leaning Minaret, or Eğri Minaret, is located in the city center of Aksaray. It belongs to the Seljuk period, and between the years 1221-1237 I. It was built during the reign of Alaeddin Keykubad.
Kızıl Kilise
Kızıl Kilise, the Red Church, also known as Sivrihisar Kızıl Kilise, is a partially ruined sixth-century church in the Güzelyurt district of Aksaray Province, Turkey. The church takes its name from the red stone used to build it.
High Church (Güzelyurt)
The High Church, also called the Girls' Monastery, stands on top of a steep rock about 3 km from Güzelyurt. The 19th-century church was built beside a Byzantine chapel and overlooks the Monastery Valley.
Nature
Mount Hasan
Mount Hasan is a volcano in Anatolia, Turkey.
Ihlara Valley
The Ihlara Valley 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.
Explore Aksaray with your camera
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