Soganli Churches

The scene from visiting church Soğanlı valley; whiç has an interesting georaphical formation and is an old settlement, is famous for its graves from Roman times and churches from Byzantine period. The important churhes in the Soğanlı Valley are Karabaş (Big church), Tahtalı (Santa Barbara), Yılanlı (Saint George), Kubbeli (The Domed).	The scene srom tufa The Romns had used the stone conies on the slopes of the valley as graveyards and Byzantine had used them as churches. Church frescos in styles, dates back to the 9 th and 13 th centuries. Soğanlı is also the gateway to Cappadocia.
Tahtali Church This church was thought to be built in 5 th or 6 th century. Afterwards it was decorated with Prophet Christ’s Babtism, Apostles, Saints, protector Angels, the strangle of Saint Jean on horseback to manster, compositions, portraits, Byzantine and Seljukian patterns. ............Yilanli Church........ Its first building is very old. It was reillustrated in 14 th century. Its compositions different from other churches. They dont exist other churches. It consists of three parts. Third part which was built with dressed stone but falling down today. Church’s walls were decorated with Prophet Chirst and spears soldiers who were at war mutually. The attack of Saint Jean an horseback to snake and wolfs was described. This church does not have patterns ............The Church of Hidden.......... The hasement small domed church is named as The Church of Hidden. There are other rocky settlements nearby The Church of Hidden. However theyare not as valuable s the others. You can enter the church from its north door. It has there adjacent rooms in its south. A narrow and long corridor was built in ita nartex part. This corridor hs four halls and a window looking to the west. The adjacent room is a large one. There are four big nishs and graves in ita wals.	Kubbeli Church It had taken its last form in the 14 the century Its difference from others is the outsideof the rocks being painted and processed. It was brought into a wonderful domed church. Outside of the domed being painted and it was adorned. These dyes have got theirs present appearance in spite of outside influence of nature for ages. It is two- layered which its inner parts was decorated with frescos as other churches. .................Karabas Church............ Kabataş Church, located in Soğanlı, was built in the 6 th century. The Church carries the characteristichs of Roma period. The church and its wals, which were rebuilt in 11 th and 13 th century. Firstly, it was decorated with simple stripes and patterns. It has Frescos, which were made with earth colour in 11 th century. After discovering oil colours, which were used instead of earth colours. This church’s is the greatest and the most beautiful church from the art point of view in Soğanlı. It consists of fourparts. This church’s inner wals were decorated with the Prophet Christ’s birth, his Baptism, towel him, his religion struggle, his crucifying, strangle of Saint Jean to monster, and 12 Apostles, other saints pictures, Byzantine and Turkish (Seljukian) patterns.
Earthly wonder from tufa Millions of years ago, the volcanoes of Erciyas Mountain and Hasan Mountain had discharged masses of mud in embers into the region between Kayseri and Aksaray. Rain and wind had erected deep gorges and valleys in the resistant layers of chilled ashes. On the other hand, natural powers had shaped giant needles and pillars at this region covered with solidified stream of lava protecting white tufas. And then, man came here. The base of lava was fertile and the porous tufa layer helped him to be protected from harsh weather conditions and enemies. Thus, man dug caves, houses, palaces, churches and monasteries. Capadocia is the most impressive region which has been chosen by various civilizations for habitation. Human communities which had lived and are living here have completely integrated with nature and history, and social life style has survived throughout history, in spite of all the difficulties created by wind, weather and natural environment. The initial habitants of Capadocia were in search of a closed shelter to protect themselves from violent and cold weather conditions and also many other dangers existing in nature; they left the nomadic life by settling down in caves and shelters under cliffs which were the first indoor location they could find. Communities which grew in number after deciding on a settled way of life made shelters from tent, timber and sun-dried brick, and preferred the locations close to water sources. Related to the geographic conditions, convenient styles of housing were developed; the family got much more regular. As the tufa covering Capadocia could be excavated in an easy way, people took it the main reason to settle in that region. For housing they preferred especially the steep slopes of valleys; they excavated new spaces into the rocks when needed. The technic of excavation has been survived without a change throughout centuries and the dry climate has completely protected the marks of excavation on the walls and ceilings. Life in Capadocia survived for generations; in the following centuries Capadocia became a convenient spot of worship for both the monks living in seclusion and the colonies living in monasteries. Dependently, various architectural styles have emerged in rock churches and monasteries. These excavated rocky spots which are warm in winter and cool in summer are quite convenient for daily life. For this reason, troglodytic life goes on at Capadocia even today. In that unique geographic location ornamented with fairy chimneys which had been the dwelling place of many civilizations as the Hittites, Kymers, Phrygians, Romans and Byzantians, there are underground cities excavated into the rocks and 365 rock churches built at a height of 1100 meters.
In addition, you can trip to the historical stone churhes with donkey and phaeton. Soganli is 80 km. far from Kayseri, from 60 km Nevsehir and 40 km . from Urgup. If you want you can stay these cities' hotels and a day trip can be made.
TRANSPORTATION Soganli is established in the triangle of Kayseri - Nevsehir - and Nigde. Transportation is easy and comfort by highway. It is also possible to reach Soganli by railway lines and airway lines. Soganli is from: Yesilhisar: 15 km Derinkuyu : 30 km Urgup : 40 km Kayseri : 80 km Nevsehir : 60 km Nigde : 80 km Its is possible to reach Soganli everyseason. There are direct fligts to Kayseri and Nevsehir from Istanbul. It is possible to come Soganli from there. In addition, Ankara- Adana railway passes in Yesilhisar.

CHURCHES

GEOKRAPHICAL STRUCTURE OF SOGANLI