Cappadocia Ortahisar

Ortahisar

Ortahisar citadel, built both as a defence and as a settlement, is situated 6km from Urgup, on the road to Nevsehir. Typical examples of the raea’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 monastreies can be fonud in the surrounding valleys. Among these are, Sarica Church, Cambazli Church, Tavsanli Church, Balkan Deresi Churches and Hallac Dere Monastery.

Uzumlu (Grape) Church

Uzumlu (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 Churc 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 from outside due to the partial collapse of the walls-with a cross r elief on the ceiling.

The church has a square plan with one apse and one nave. At the far endof the nave is a grave niche. This church is also called The Church of St. Nichlitas due to the presence of an inscription of St.Nichlitas in the dedication inscription of the church. The nave with a flat ceiling is decorated with rich embelishments. The orange colored surface is decorated with a cross composed of circles and rectangles and bunches of grape and geometrical motifs around it. The border is embellished using medallions with Maltese crosses.

Although it is not definite, the common belief is that the church dates back to the 8th or 9th century.

Scenes : On the apse Enthroned Mary holding Baby Jesus and Archangels Michael and gabriel by their sides, on the north and south sides of the nave twelve apostles and doctor saints.