Erdemli Valley

Erdemli Valley, located 65 km from Kayseri, within the borders of the Erdemli Neighborhood of Yeşilhisar, is a canyonshaped valley formed as a result of the erosion of the lava erupted by Mount Erciyes while it was an active volcano. In the Erdemli Valley, there are monasteries, churches and rock places in a dazzling nature. The length of the valley is approximately 10 kilometers. Some of the churches located in the settlement area along the valley and containing wall paintings are as follows: H. Eustathios Church, H. Nikolaos Church and Chapel, Mikhael Church, Church of the Twelve Apostles, Church of the Forty Martyrs and Palace Monastery. These buildings are dated between the 10th and 13th centuries according to their architectural features and the stylistic, iconographic and distribution characteristics of the wall paintings within the church.

Erdemli Valley is known as an important settlement during the Byzantine period. Yesilhisar district, where the valley is located, was known as “Kyzistra” during the Byzantine period.