Ortahisar Town Ortahisar is a charming tourist destination renowned for its hospitable locals, stunning stone houses, picturesque narrow streets, and magnificent churches. The town's namesake is the striking rock formation that resembles a castle, rising 90 meters above the ground. The castle has eroded over time, unveiling its interiors, and can be accessed via a staircase that provides a breathtaking view of the Ortahisar valleys and the snowy peak of Mt. Erciyes. Located centrally among the popular tourist towns of Goreme, Urgup, Uchisar, and Nevsehir, Ortahisar is a favored stopover for travelers. The town boasts a natural air-conditioning system, exemplified by the doors neatly carved into the rock surfaces that serve as cool-air storage rooms, preserving local vegetables. Ortahisar is home to the Cambazlı Church, a 13th-century cross-in-square church adorned with beautiful wall paintings. Although it is now used as a storehouse, its history and artistry are still evident. Just outside the town, the Üzümlü Church features frescoes dating back to the 8th or 9th century AD, adding to the region's rich cultural heritage. Aside from the rock-carved edifices at its center, Ortahisar is characterized by humble structures with a rugged appearance. The upper houses are constructed of tuff blocks and lack mortar. In earlier times, many buildings were utilized for food preservation. The larger structures, which stand only one or two stories tall, have an exterior staircase made of tuff-stone slabs. More recent examples, dating from the Roman era onward, are typically made of white marble mortar blocks but differ in size and construction techniques depending on the region. For instance, the exterior walls consist of white limestone capped with a simple cornice. To the northeast of Ortahisar is the monastery complex of Hallaç. This compound, centered around an enclosed courtyard, has entrances that are lower than the courtyard level.