Çavuşin
, the rock with a basalt cap, has been largely eroded by erosion and has partially collapsed as well as a part of the village that rose in tiers on the slopes of the cliff. On the top was the Basilica of St John the Baptist. The Church of Emperor Nicephor Phocas is located outside the village.

 




Zelve is the name of a valley and cave-dwelling village inhabited until the 1950s. The local population had to be moved to the new settlement of Zelve (Yeni Zelve) because of the danger caused by collapsing. Now the site is an open-air museum. Not far at Paşabağ among the vineyards, there is a large concentration of Fairy Chimneys.

 




Avanos is a town located on the banks of the Kızılırmak, old Halys River, which is the longest river within Turkey. Kızılırmak means "red river" because of the presence, in this region, of iron ore that colors the silt which is collected inside caves. It is then refined in order to get the raw material necessary to the realization of ceramics. Pottery is one of the principal activities in Avanos along with wine growing and weaving. There are numerous shops and workshops where it is usually possible to try your hand at making a pot.
The Avanos International Handycraft and Pottery exhibit takes place every year in July.

 




Kayseri which is situated at the foot of Erciyes Dağı (Mount Argaeus 3916m/12,850 ft), was built around a Christian monastery erected by St Basil (the first bishop of Ceasarea) in the north of the ancient capital called Caesarea of Cappadocia. It rapidely developed during the Byzantine period. In the 11C an important Armenian colony settled here before the conquest of the place by the Seljuks. The Crusaders, the Mongols and the Mamelukes succeeded tı one another. Sultan Selim united the city to the Ottoman Empire in 1515.

Kayseri is the largest city in the region and is linked to İstanbul and Ankara by daily flights.
Kayseri is also a small ski resort. The culinary speciality is the "manti" , a kind of pasta filled with minced lamb meat and served with (or without according to taste) garlic. The "pide" (a thin bread dough covered and baked with any combiantion of cheese, lamb meat, egg...) made in the region are among the best in Turkey.

The main curiosities are :

The Seljuk Fortress opening on the Bazaar and its busy streets.

Honat Hatun Cami (Honat Hatun Mosque)


Döner Kümbet (the revolving mausoleum) is a richly decorated round mausoleum with a cone-shaped roof. It was built in 1276 for Djihan Hatun, the daughter of famous Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubat I.
The Archaeoligical Museum also exhibits finds from Kültepe.

The Ethnographical Museum
holds interesting collections from the Seljuk Period.

Also the Türbe of Princess Mahperi and the Huand Medresesi built in the 13C, Ulu Cami that is the oldest 12C mosque, Çifte Kümbet the "double mausoleum", Sahibiye and Hacı Kılıç Medrese, Hoca Hasan Küllük and Kurşunlu Mosques.



Mount Argaeus

Döner Kümbet
 




Kültepe is the ancient Hittite city Kanesh where a colony of Assyrian merchants traded metals. Numerous tablets known as "Cappadocian Tablets" and written in cuneiform scripts in the Assyrian language which are real trading records, have been found here.
The finds are exhibited in the local museum, in the Kayseri Archaeoligical Museum and in the Museum of Anatolian Civilization in Ankara.




 
Sultan Sazlığı is a vast marshy area and a bird sanctuary where many species can be seen, particularly in spring and autumn during periods of migration. It is possible to take a short boat ride through the bulrush.




 
Ürgüp is a charming and busy town whose oldest houses are either cave-dwellings or are supported by the rocks. Modern buildings are inspired by the traditional local architecture and are built with this pinkish beige cappadocian limestone. Other curiosities are the touristic village and the museum.

There are many wineries in Ürgüp where it is possible to taste and buy the famous Cappadocian wines.
The Ürgüp International Grape Harvest Festival takes place every year in September.




 
Mustafapaşa (Sinasos) is a charming big village where beautiful old Greek houses and other buildings with beautiful architecture can be seen. In the vicinity are the Aghios Vasilos Church and Constantine and Helen Church located in the Valley of the Monasteries and also the St Basil Chapel located in the Gömede Valley.




 
Cemilköy is another small picturesque village of the region.