ÜRGÜP One of the most important centers in Cappadocia is Urgup, 20 km to the east of Nevsehir. Like Goreme, Urgup also had different names in history; Osiana (Assiana) in the Byzantine Period, Bashisar during the Seljuk Peroid, Burgut Castle in the Ottoman Period and Urgup as of the early years of the Republic.
The earliest known settlement in the area was on the skirts of Mount Avla, to the north of Damsa river called as “Tomissos” in the antiquety. Though, the most important remains belonging to the later period are the Roman tombs found in the towns and villages near Urgup. Also an important religious center during the Byzantine Period, Urgup was a bishopric of the rock-cut churches and monasteries found in the villages, towns and valleys cut churches and monastreies found in the villages, towns and valleys around Urgup.
In the 11th century, Urgup was an important citadel connecting with Ni?de and Konya, important towns of Seljuks. The two buildings from this period are the Altikapili (Six Gates) and Temenni Tepesi (Wish Hill) tombs found in the town center. The 13th century Altikapili tomb, housing the remains of a mother and her two daughters, has six sides each with an arched window and no roof. Although researchers think that this is unlikely, one of the two tombs on the Temenni Hill is believed to belong to Seljuk Sultan Ruknettin Kilicarslan Iv, built by Vecihi Pasha in 1268 and is known as “Kilicarsalan Tomb” by the locals. The other one is believed to belong to Alaaddin Keykubat III.
Urgup became a part of the Ottoman empire in 1515. It was the first time in the 18th century when Damat Ybrahim Pasha, the Ottoman Grand Vezier, established the governorship in Nevsehir (Muskara). Urgup was then administered by the governorship making Urgup secondary in importance.
In his history and geography book “Kamus-ul Alam” written between 1888 and 1890, Semseddin Sami mentions 70 mosques, 5 churches and 11 libraries in Urgup.