Zelve – Roman settlement. The colonization of the complex referred to 2-5 centuries of our era. In 11th-13th centuries, Christians came and turned a number of habitable caves in cells and churches, so there was a monastery whose Church - Uzumlu ("the Church of grape bunches", 8-9th century), Balika ("Fish") and Geyikli ("Deer") - have been preserved to our days. Until the twenties of the 20th century, before the "population exchange" between Greece and Turkey there lived a Greek Diaspora. It was a very small town. People lived there in the fifties of the 20th century, until there was a danger of collapse of the cliff. Then the inhabitants have been moved on a few miles farther (now the village of Aktepe, or Yeni Zelve). Located once on both slopes of the valley home completely emptied in 1952. Since 1967 Zelve open as a Museum.

Zelve is of volcanic origin, like the whole region of Cappadocia. Even in our time the ancient volcano of mount Arga considered active. This mountain, whose height 3971 meters, has another name, in the local dialect it sounds like "the Erciyes Dag. It is occupied by local populations, towers over all the surrounding hills and is visible from afar.

In the clefts and rocky walls sheltered the settlement of rather ancient origin. Dwellings carved into the tuff, we also used the space opened by the waters. These huge caves were entrances, located at great depth. Small houses of masonry were built there in the later era. Lived here community first Christians and later the Muslims had important demographic value, and also required the creation of various services. We've received confirmation of an unusual lifestyle that these people were in the bowels of the earth.

Zelve can be described as three gorges, pitted rock houses, tunnels, churches. Cave dwellings start on the way to Zelve, and the most populated in ancient times a part is now a Museum. Here you can see the Church, as well as places to collect groundwater, a room with a flat roof with a ledge that served as a bench, mill, firmly planted stone disk that served as a millstone, which was rotated in the drum, carved right into the mountain rock.

The local churches have virtually no frescoes, despite the fact that as the monastery complex existed a few centuries after the lifting of the ban on icons, that is Zelve and remained a supporter of iconoclasm. There are fifteen churches 9-15 centuries The largest Church of the open air Museum - "the Church of grapes" or "Uzumlu kilisesi", and other Church - "Geyikli", featuring a simple architecture.

The ruins of a small Ottoman mosque located near the left wall. 's left of it at the moment only partially cut into the rock of the mihrab and prayer hall, which shows the saved local traditions in architecture. In order to explore the complex, you need a flashlight and a huge thirst for adventure. On the right hand, at the end of the valley, you can see the cell doors, leading to areas on the iron stairs. If you find yourself at the top, then the main problem will be the inside passage: in some of the caves are accessible only by questionable stone steps, the others ducking into large holes in the floor (resupinate ancient supports for arms and legs). Sometimes you have to jump on are quite far lower levels. A special adventure awaits you in the tunnel between two valleys on the right (if you stand with your back to the Parking lot). It is possible to pass unless you have nerves of steel. It is not prepared physically claustrophobic and sick people is not recommended, but if you are energetic and not afraid of heights, you will get enormous pleasure from it.