Nigde, Turkey

Nigde is an old city on the southern outskirts of Cappadocia (map) with several exceptional historic buildings and, on its outskirts, a striking Byzantine troglodyte monastery.

Nigde (NEE-deh, alt. 1216 m, 3990 feet, pop. 70,000), a farming center, is famous for a Turkish proverb: "If there's no market at Nigde, go on to Bor." In other words, if you go in search of something, don't give up. Persevere!

Among Nigde's historic buildings is the Seljuk Turkish Alaeddin Mosque (1223), on the hill with the fortress; the fascinating Süngür Bey Mosque, built by the Seljuks but extensively by the Mongols, of all people. The Ak Medrese (1409) is in post-Seljuk, quasi-Mongol style.

Nigde's museum houses the mummified remains of a blonde Byzantine nun of the 900s discovered in the church-filled Ihlara Valley.

The troglodyte monastery is at Eski Gümüsler, 10 km (6 miles) east of Nigde's center

The city's famous market still takes place on Thursday around the city's clock tower near the hill with the fortress and Alaeddin Mosque, so if you plan ahead you won't need to continue to Bor, 10 km (6 miles) to the southwest.

Nigde's stock of hotels isn't great, but it'll do. Most people stop here for just part of a day to see the mosques and Eski Gümüsler on their way to somewhere else.

Nigde has bus service, and trains on the line between Ankara and Adana stop here. The nearest airport is at Nevsehir (Tuzköy), with two flights a week to and from Istanbul. (Kayseri and Adana have several flights daily to and from Istanbul.)

Nigde Transport

Towns of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Aladaglar National Park

Central Anatolia

Where to Go

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Ak Medrese Portal, Nigde, Central Turkey

Above, the lofty portal of Nigde's Ak Medrese (White Seminary, 1409).

Below, an Iconoclastic-period troglodytic Byzantine church at Eski Gümüsler.

Byzantine Troglodyte Iconoclastic Church, Eski Gumusler, Turkey