km long valley starts from Ihlara and ends in Selime. Melendiz Stream meanders through the canyon. The length of the stream, which makes more than 26 meanders between Ihlara and Selime, is 8 km, but in reality it reaches 13 km. The height of the valley is 100 –150 m in places. There are countless shelters, tombs and churches carved into the rocks throughout the valley. The decorations in the churches in the Ihlara Valley started in the 6th century and continued until the end of the 13th century. Some shelters and churches are connected by tunnels, as in underground cities. Churches Due to the valley's plentiful supply of water and hidden places, this was the first settlement of the first Christians escaping from Roman soldiers. In the Ihlara Valley there are hundreds of old churches in the volcanic rock caves. The best-known churches are Ağaçaltı Church with cross plan, Sümbüllü Church, Pürenliseki Church, Kokar Church, Yilanli Church, Karagedik Church, Kirkdamatli Church, Direkli Church, Ala Church, Kemerli Church and Egritas Church. Churches located along the valley can be divided into two groups: The murals of the churches close to Ihlara have an eastern influence, far from the Cappadocian art. The areas near Belisirma are decorated with Byzantine type wall paintings. The number of inscriptions known from the Byzantine Period in the Ihlara Region is quite low. The Seljuk Sultan II. Mesud (1282 -1305) and Byzantine emperor II. There is an inscription on a 13th century fresco containing the names of Andronikos. This inscription proves the existence of the tolerant administration of the Seljuks, who held the region in their hands. Among the churches whose history has been determined: Pillared Church (976-1025) Pürenli Seki Church belongs to the beginning of the 10th century and the 12th century. It belongs to the years of Saint Georges (1283-1295). The Dark Castle Church is dated to the 10th-11th centuries. In the middle of the 10th century, new churches were built in the Ihlara region after the Byzantines recaptured the Taurus and Cilicia regions. Bahaeddin Samanlığı Church Hyacinth Church Mast Church Examples of Byzantine art in the early 11th century: Ala Church Canli Church (Akhisar) Karagedik Church Some Byzantine type paintings were added to the old churches later on. This behavior ends with the arrival of the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century. But the religious life in the region continues. The church life in