GOREME
Göreme found among the "fairy chimney" rock formations, is a town in Cappadocia, a historical region of Turkey. It is in the Nevsehir Region in Central Anatolia and has a population of around 2,000 people.
Earlier names of the town have been Matiana, Korama, Maccan or Machan, and Avcilar.When Göreme Valley nearby was designated an important tourist destination, a "center" for all tourism in Cappadocia, the name of the town changed to Göreme for practical reasons.
The Göreme National Park added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
The time that the Göreme first settled is unclear, but it could date back as the Hittite period, between 1800 and 1200 B.C. The area was central between rivaling nations, such as the Persians and Greeks, leading the natives to tunnel into the rock to avoid the political turmoil. During the Roman period, the area became home to Christians leaving from Rome. Christianity prevailed as the main religion in the region, which is evident from many rock churches that can still see today.
Among Göreme's historically significant sites are Ortahane, Yusuf Koc and Bezirhane churches, Durmus Kadir, the Apple Church, in addition to the richly decorated Tokali Kilise, and a number of homes and pigeon houses shaped straight into the rock formations in the town.