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Ancient and Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Sites of Niğde

Tyana Archaeological Site

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The ruins and aqueducts are in the town of Kemerhisar (Dam Fortress). Kemerhisar takes its name from those very aqueducts, constructed to bring the spring water from the ancient Roman Pool to other places in the Roman Empire. The ruins are beneath a large portion of the town. Important sculptures and similar works from different areas of the town, along with artefacts and architectural remains unearthed during scientific excavations at the site, are exhibited in the Niğde Museum. Aqueducts in the city date from the 2nd and 3rd centuries; all are considered protected areas. Tyana, a place of settlement from the prehistoric age until the fall of the Hittites, was known as Tuwanuwa during the Hittite period; it served as the capital of the state in the late Hittite period and was ruled by the renowned king Warpalawa in BCE 738-715. It became known as Tyana in the Roman era.

Gümüşler Monastery and Underground City

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The Gümüşler Monastery in Cappadocia is a well-preserved architectural wonder carved from the bedrock between the 8th-12th centuries. It features a central courtyard, a church, underground spaces, and other connected structures, with the courtyard walls reaching a height of 14 meters. The monastery includes various elements such as cemeteries, decorated pillars, tombs, and a cradle-vaulted entrance space. The interior of the church is adorned with mural paintings showcasing different scenes and figures including the Deisis scene, Bible writers, church fathers, and various artists' works. The church paintings are estimated to date back to the 11th-12th centuries based on their iconography and style, and they include unique depictions of hunting scenes and animals not commonly found in Cappadocia.Explore the hidden gem of Gümüşler Monastery in Niğde, Türkiye, where you can immerse yourself in the mystical allure of ancient times. This subterranean sanctuary, carved into a cliffside, whispers stories of early christian heritage. The monastery's hushed chapels feature frescoes, a testament to centuries-old faith, and its stone corridors are awe-inspiring. The monastery's serene alcoves overlook a lush garden, and its whispered prayers and hymns echo today.

Köşk Mound

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Excavations conducted at Köşk Tumulus (Köşk Höyük), set on the rocky slope east of the Roman Pool, show that the oldest agriculture and animal husbandry settlement of the Bor Plain (BCE 6050-4911) was in this area. The first four layers of the five-layer settlement date to the late Neolithic period, and the latest layer belongs to the early Chalcolithic period. In the Neolithic period, the architecture indicates multi-room small spaces that were expanded according to need. In the Chalcolithic period, the houses were adjacent to each other, lining streets built according to a city plan.

Andaval Archaeological Site

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The settlement referred to as Andabalis, Adualis, and Ambabalis was a military garrison positioned on the path connecting İstanbul to Cilicia and the Holy Land in Late Antiquity. According to legend, Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, constructed churches in the region during her 4th-century pilgrimage. The surviving Church of Constantine and Helena, located 8 km from Niğde, is believed to have been built in the 5th or 6th century, possibly near the original church. The church features an early basilica design with three naves and a single apse, characteristic of Eastern Roman archit ecture from the 5th or 6th centuries.The church is adorned with religious wall paintings from the 11th-13th centuries, with restoration efforts beginning in 1996 under the Turkish Ministry of Culture.