Mustafapasa 6km to the south of Ürgüp, was inhabited by Greek Orthodox families until the beginning of the 20th century. The houses dating back to the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries display fine examples of stonework. The Gömede valley, to the west of Mustafapasa, resembles a small version of the Ihlara valley. As at Ihlara, the walls of the valley house churches and shelters carved from the rock, and a river runs through the valley.
The important churches and monastreies around Mustafapasa are, the church of Aios Vasilos, the Church of Constantine-HNelene, churches in the Monastery Valley and, the Church of St.Basil in the Gömede valley.
There is also a caravanserai built during the Ottoman period and displaying fine examples of stone masonry and woodcraft.
Aksaray is built at the base of Mt. Hasan, on a large plain at a central crossing point for roads leading in all directions. It derives its name from the Cappadocian King, Archelaos and was an important town especially in the Roman Period. The name was changed to Aksaray by the Seljuks in the 11th century.
Important buildings include the 15th century Ulucami, Kizil Minare (Egri Minare), considered to be the oldest piece of Seljuk work, and the Madrasah of Zinciriye. Ihlara Canyon and Güzelyurt, some of the important areas in Cappadocia, are within the borders of the province of Aksaray.
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