Goreme

It is not known when Göreme was first inhabited, but it is known that there was a settlement there during the Hittite era, between 1800 and 1200 BC.^[3] For many centuries, the location was central between rival empires, such as the Hurri–Mitanni, Hittite Empire, Middle Assyrian Empire, Neo Assyrian Empire, Persian Achaemenid Empire and the Greek Seleucid Empire, leading the natives to tunnel into the rock to escape the political turmoil. During the Roman era, the area became home to Christians retreating from Rome.^[3] Christianity prevailed as the primary religion in the region, which is evident from many rock churches that can still be seen today.