Nevşehir Province

Nevşehir Province (Turkish: Nevşehir ili) is a province in central Turkey with its capital in Nevşehir. Its area is 5,485 km²,^[2] and its population is 310,011 (2022).^[1] Its adjacent provinces are Kırşehir to the northwest, Aksaray to the southwest, Niğde to the south, Kayseri to the southeast, and Yozgat to the northeast. Nevşehir includes the area called Cappadocia – a tourist attraction in Turkey. The town of Göreme is also located in Nevşehir.

Nevşehir Province Nevşehir ili
Province
Cappadocia Landscape
Location of the province within Turkey
Country	Turkey
Seat	Nevşehir
Government
• Governor	Ali Fidan
Area	5,485 km2 (2,118 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[1]	310,011
• Density	57/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (TRT)
Area code	0384
Website	www.nevsehir.gov.tr

Cappadocia once included the area now covered by this province. This province is notable for the fairy chimneys of Göreme, the Ortahisar (middle fortress), a number of old churches from the Byzantine period.

History

Archaeology

An approximately 5,000-year-old three-story underground town which referred as "Gir-Gör" (Enter and See) by locals was revealed in Avanos in 2019. The five-kilometer-long city consisted of three floors, homes, tunnels, places of worship and a small human figurine. According to the locals, the site was considered a source of "healing water" and "Caesar's bath."^[3]

Sports

A multiday track running ultramarathon of desert concept, called Runfire Cappadocia Ultramarathon, is held since 2012 annually in July. The race tours 244 km (152 mi) in six days through several historic places across Cappadocia reaching out to Lake Tuz.^[4]

Districts

A view from Cappadocia.

A view timelapse from Cappadocia.

Nevşehir province is divided into 8 districts (capital district in bold):

• Acıgöl
• Avanos
• Derinkuyu
• Gülşehir
• Hacıbektaş
• Kozaklı
• Nevşehir
• Ürgüp

Places of Interest

• Göreme Open Air Museum
• Uçhisar Castle
• Göreme Historical National Park
• Uç Güzeller, "The Three Beauties" fairy chimneys in Ürgüp
• Love Valley
• Zelve Open Air Museum
• Red and Rose Valley
• Ortahisar Castle
• Mustafapaşa
• Meryem Ana Kilisesi, Mother Mary Church near Nevşehir Castle
• the Hagios Georgios Church, also known as the 'Çanlı Church' near Nevşehir Castle
• Avanos, known for its clay pottery.
• St. John the Baptist Chapel
• Aynalı (Fırkatan) Church
• Açık Saray Museum
• Derinkuyu Underground City
• Kaymakli Underground City
• Tatlarin Underground City
• Haji Bektash Veli Complex

Gallery

• 
  Fairy chimneys in Ürgüp
• 
  Rock formation in Goreme Open Air Museum
• 
  A view from Tatlarin, Nevşehir
• 
  A historical church in Derinkuyu
• 
  Hajibektash complex in Hacibektas
• 
• 
  Ortahisar overlook.

See also

• List of municipalities in Nevşehir Province
• Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport