Güzelyurt
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Güzelyurt is a district of Aksaray Province of Turkey, 45 km from the city of Aksaray. It covers an area of 322 km², and the population is 3,775 (2000).
Formerly known as Gelveri.
This is an area of great natural beauty and historical importance, part of the antique region of Cappadoccia, near the much-visited Ihlara Valley.
Cappadoccia has an important place in the history of Christianity and Gregory of Nazianus lived here. There was a Christian (Greek) community here right up until the population exchange of 1924, when they were replaced with Turks from Thessalonica and Kavala.
[edit] Places of interest
Güzelyurt is known for having three underground cities and over 50 churches carved into the rocky volcanic landscape including:
- Ahmatlı Kilisesi
- Sivişli Kilisesi
- Koç Kilisesi
- Selime cathedral
- The rock monastery of Selime, one of the largest religious buildings in Cappadoccia.
- The 5th or 6th century red church in the village of Sivrihisar
- "Yüksek Kilise" (the high church) on the hill of Analipsis. Stone age relics have been found near here.
- Kaya or Kilise Camii - another rock-hewn church, in use today as a mosque
Other places of interest include...
- The tomb of Selime Sultan in the village of Selime.
[edit] External links
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Neighbourhoods and villages of Güzelyurt |  |
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Güzelyurt | Ihlara | Ilısu | Selime | |
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 Güzelyurt in Aksaray Province (in the Central Anatolia region) of Turkey |
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| Urban districts | Aksaray |    |
| Rural districts | Ağaçören - Eskil - Gülağaç - Güzelyurt - Ortaköy - Sarıyahşi | |
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Regions
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| Aegean | ||
| Black Sea | ||
| Central Anatolia | ||
| East Anatolia | ||
| Marmara | ||
| Mediterranean Sea | ||
| Southeastern Anatolia | ||
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