Avanos is a small town craftsmen of Cappadocia, famous for its ancient pottery traditions and proximity to one of the most famous sights of Cappadocia – the rock city Zelve.

The old city of Avanos is located eighteen kilometers North-East of Nevsehir, near the valley of the Kizil Irmak (Red river) is the longest river of Turkey (1151 km). The name of the river is due to the colour of the water at this part of its course. This is because the riverbed is rich in iron ore and clay, which produces all pottery of Avanos. The Hittites called this river Messantia - it was the border of their Empire, and in the Hellenistic period it was called Khalis. In Hittite times originated the city, then served as a frontier Outpost and a large shopping Mall, famous for its potters.

Because of the friable clay soils no cave churches or stone mushrooms in Avanos no. But it occupies a strategic location in the Central part of Cappadocia to Zelve (6 km), Çavuşin (6 km) and if you want you can walk to Goreme (10 km), and Ozkonak to catch a local bus (25 km).

The town of Avanos has quite a long history: the settlement of people in these neighborhoods date back to the bronze age, as evidenced by the excavations Toprakli - ancient burial ground. Avanos famous for its pottery, made here in the 3rd Millennium BC, even after many centuries.

Despite the fact that many Greek, Ottoman and Armenian buildings of Avanos cozy and picturesque streets of the old quarters are quite interesting in themselves, the real local landmark of this city is pottery made by master potters.

The local craftsmen make beautiful pottery, which is decorated with geometric patterns and floral ornaments. This ornament can also be found in carpets, traditionally produced in Avanos. The production of carpets are not only workshops, but also some local women who weave them at home, using wool and silk threads. Masters with incredible patience stretched, tied in knots these threads and then twist them on a wooden makeshift machines.

These local products often can be seen on the streets of the town houses on the background characteristic of Muslim architecture, old buildings from the tuff blocks on the facades which were often arranged an open loggia. On the main square of Avanos is a monument depicting a Potter, next to which women work the loom. Every year the city hosts the festival, which celebrated urban artists and exhibit the best examples of ceramics. At the festival you can hear folk songs and music, and also to see the dances in traditional costumes.

In picturesque old quarters cleared a large variety of tiny shops where you can buy tableware, made by technology used fifteen centuries ago. It should be noted that craftsmen work with natural light, the dishes are dried only under the open sky. After several days of drying under the sun ware is fired in an oven for ten hours at a temperature of about 950-1200 °C.

This town is mentioned in recent years, mainly due to the unique Museum of the hair, created by Chaz Galip - skilled Turkish Gonchar, who is rightly considered one of the most bizarre museums in the world. Under the workshop of Galip is an unusual exhibition, consisting of hair about sixteen thousand girls and women. The ceiling, walls and other surfaces, except the floor, cover the locks of hair, which previously belonged to various ladies, who had once been in this place, and pieces of paper with their addresses. It all began about thirty years ago in such circumstances. A friend of Galip left of Avanos, and he was very upset about the breakup with her. So it wasn't so sad, she snapped and left him at the memory of a strand of hair. Over the years the Potter has amassed a large collection of curls and addresses of women from around the world.

Twice a year, in December and June, the first visitor that came to this shop again, I invite you down to choose ten so-called "winners wall". This lucky lady will receive a week's fully paid tour of Cappadocia, and they are entitled to try to make yourself something in the workshop pears Galip. In this way, the Potter thanked the women helping him create this stunning Museum is visited daily with new tourists. The entrance to the Museum is free. Women are not obliged to donate hair, but if any of them wish to do, the Galip to always have on hand scissors, pen, paper, tape and pins.

On the North side, above the Central part of Avanos, long hanging cliff, above which is a large terrace, occupied by fields and cemetery. To find the exit to it from urban development should work, but it's worth it, because you find yourself at the most spectacular place of Avanos. Especially beautiful landscape opens out at sunset. View to the South, the mountains on the other side of a huge valley of the Kizil-Irmak, undoubtedly worth to get on it.