Geosite 16. Göreme Open Air Museum and Churches
The Göreme Open Air Museum is a rock settlement that hosted intense monastic life from the 4th century to the 13th century AD. The museum, carved into the Kavak ignimbrites, is only 1.5 km from the center of Göreme village. In an area that forms a valley, churches, chapels, dining halls, and living spaces were carved into the rock blocks.
Göreme Valley is considered the place where the monastic education system began, and the same education system was later seen in Soğanlı, Ihlara, and Açıksaray. The museum contains the most beautiful rock-cut churches decorated with frescoes (wall paintings) whose colors still retain their original freshness. It also presents unique examples of rock-cut architecture and fresco techniques. In the churches, the first layers of paint reveal geometric decorations used in the early periods of Christianity, while later frescoes depict scenes from the Bible and the life of Jesus Christ.
In the Göreme Open Air Museum, you can visit the Nunnery and Monastery, St. Basil Church, Elmalı Church, St. Barbara Church, Snake Church, Dark Church, Çarıklı Church, and Tokalı Church.
Since December 6, 1985, the Göreme Open Air Museum has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a natural and cultural site.