Selime Monastery Selime Monastery is an impressive site to visit in the Cappadocia region due to its sheer size and fascinating history. It is believed to have taken over 200 years to construct and could accommodate up to 5000 people at once. Dating back to the 8th or 9th century, Selime Monastery is the largest and most notable monastery in the area. Originally built as a monastery, Selime was later converted into a caravanserai in the 11th century. These caravanserais served as free hotels for merchants and their animals for up to three days along the Silk Road during the Seljuk Empire. This helped to promote trade in Turkey until the advent of oceanic exploration by figures such as Christopher Columbus. Unfortunately, the monastery was abandoned after the 16th century and left to decay. It was later occupied by shepherds and village children who caused significant damage to the site. Selime Monastery features a grand kitchen with a chimney, a water well, a missionary school, ample storage space, a church, a chapel, and living quarters. The cathedral is the most significant building in the monastery, containing two rows of columns that divide the church into three sections. While many of the paintings were destroyed by vandalism, there are still some remnants of these remarkable artworks to be seen.