ORTAHISAR
Ortahisar citadel, built both for defense and as a settlement, is situated 6km from Urgup, on the road to Nevsehir. Typical examples of the area’s civilian architecture can be found among the houses skirting the citadel. The sides of the valleys are littered with carved-out storage areas used for preserving local products such as apples and potatoes, as well as oranges and lemons brought from the Mediterranean. Very interesting churches and monasteries can be found in the surrounding valleys. Among these are Sarica Church , Cambazli Church, Tavsanli Church, Balkan Deresi Churches and Hallac Were Monastery.
UZUMLU (GRAPE) CHURCH
The Grape Church is located at the beginning of the Red Valley, to the west of the town of Ortahisar,about 1 km from the road. the fairy chimney, in which the Grape Church is found, is hollowed out like a monastic complex where monks lived. The lower level of the fairy chimney. is the church and the upper level is a chamber which can be seen only from the outside due to the partial collapse of the walls. There is a cross relief on the ceiling. The church has a square plan with one apse and one nave. At the far end of the nave is a grave niche. This church is also called The Church of St. Nichitas because he is the subject of its dedication inscription. The nave with its flat ceiling is decorated with rich embellishments. An orange-colored surface is decorated with a cross composed of circles and rectangles, with bunches of grape and geometrical motifs around it. The border is embellished by medallions with Maltese crosses. Although not certain, the church could date to the 8th or 9th century.
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