[1] It is well known for its fairy chimneys (Turkish: peribacalar), eroded rock formations, many of which were hollowed out in the Middle Ages to create Christian churches, houses and underground cities.

[5] Once an agricultural settlement, modern Göreme is best known for its flourishing tourism industry, in particular for its hot air balloon rides,[6] and many boutique hotels created out of old cave homes, in addition to ecclesiastical structures connected to its early Christian heritage.

[5] Very little is known about Göreme's history until modern times in part because it was a small settlement away from the more travelled main roads linking Kayseri to Konya and the Mediterranean coast to Aksaray.

[12] In a book based on his travels in 1837 Sir William Hamilton referred to the chapel of St Hieron and the so-called Roma Kalesi (Roman Castle) in Göreme.

This was a way of life that continued right into the first decade of the 21st century but that came to an effective end as a result of a tourism boom that saw almost all the old houses converted into boutique hotels by around 2015.

[15] Many erstwhile residents have moved to live in the surrounding towns and villages – Nevşehir, Avanos, Uçhisar and Ürgüp – having sold their houses in Göreme for conversion into hotels.