Cappadocia: Soganli

The Soganlı valley is 55 km far from Göreme. It collapsed an settled during earthquakes an these dips got deeper wit natural effects and formed valleys and plateaus as the consequence of such natural phenomena.

Settlements in this are took place during the Roman times. The Romans used the stone conies on the slopes of the valley as graveyards and the Byzantine as churches. Church frescos in styles, dates back to the 9th and 13th centuries. There are thousands of carved bird avaries, caves and shelter in addition to some churches and monasteries along the Soganlı valley. This captivating scene combined with the mild effects of the colourful trees on both sides of valley coerces the limits of another time.

The major churches in the Soganlı valley are Karabaş, Yılanlı, Kubbeli St. Barbara (Tahtalı).

Kubbeli (the domed) church was formed by carving into a chimney rock. It reveals a characteristic architecture with its vaults and apse. Kubbeli (the domed) church is of great importance in that it is one of the fine examples of its kind due to the carving made outside the rocks.

The St. Barbara Church, which was supposed to be built in the 10th century, is located at the end of the valley. This church, which is also called Tahtalı (wooden) church, has a single apse and a barrel vault.

Authentic hand-made linen dolls produced in Soganlı and its surrounding have attracted the attention of the tourists visiting the area and this has already become an industry.

Handiwork, gloves and socks ornamented with Anatolian motifs, etc also attract attention as well as the linen dolls made and sold under different names in the area.