It is the largest excavated underground city in Turkey and is one of several underground complexes found throughout Cappadocia. Derinkuyu gives an incredible glimpse into the lives, struggles, triumph and ingenuity of the people there.

The Ihlara Valley consists of 14km along the north-south Melendiz River, which runs from Selime to Ihlara village. The whole canyon is honeycombed with rock-cut underground dwellings and churches from the Byzantine period built by the Cappadocian Greeks. In the Ihlara Valley there are hundreds of old churches in the volcanic rock caves. The best-known churches are Ağaçaltı Church with cross plan, Sümbüllü Church, Pürenliseki Church, Kokar Church, Yilanli Church, Karagedik Church, Kirkdamatli Church, Direkli Church, Ala Church, Kemerli Church and Egritas Church.

One of the most unexpected surprises in Cappadocia is the wonderful rock-cut monastery in Selime, at the end of Ihlara valley. Selime was home to Hittite, Assyrian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Danişment, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. One of the most important aspects of Selime fortress-monastery was that many leading clergymen were educated there. The military headquarters of the region was also located there.

Pigeon valley is situated between Göreme and Uçhisar. The name comes from the thousands of pigeon houses that have been carved into the soft tuff.