The Ihlara Valley and the Selime Monastery

The Ihlara valley is a fertile gorge dissected by a deep green river between steep red cliffs. It is supposed to have some of the most attractive and interesting rock carved churches in Cappadocia but sadly many are almost obscured by graffiti, including one which tells of the punishment that would befall wives and mothers if they failed to do the right thing. (Get bitten on the nipples by a snake if you refuse to breast feed!)

The most direct access to the valley floor and most of the churches is by three or four hundred steps which descend around 150m. The valley can be quite hot and so the refreshment stop along the way was very welcome.

Descent into the Ihlara Valley	Apple tea time
Graffiti – a wife’s punishment	A slightly better preserved fresco

After exiting the Ihlara Valley we drove a little further down the road to the Selime Monastery. The area was settled by monks during the 13th Century and they eventually carved out an entire monastery in the cliff - church (complete with intricate frescos), kitchen, living quarters and even a winery! To get to the monastery proper you have to go through a small doorway, through a tunnel and paths that zigzag up up the cliff.

Outside the church in the monastery	Inside the church (second floor gallery)
More of the monastery	Apparently they filmed part of one of the Star Wars movies here.