Mustafapaşa (Sinasos)

Mustafapaşa sits about eight kilometres south of Urgup, an unusually well-preserved Ottoman-era village that was until 1923 a prosperous Greek Orthodox settlement called Sinasos. The village has a remarkable collection of carved stone mansions — two-storey houses with elaborate facades decorated in the Greek neoclassical style, built by merchants who were among the most successful traders in the region. Walking through the quiet streets, you pass one handsome doorway after another.

The village also has several Byzantine and Orthodox churches, some with intact frescoes, and a 19th-century theological school (medrese) that is now occasionally open to visitors. Mustafapaşa sees far fewer visitors than Göreme or Urgup itself, which makes it a good option for a quiet afternoon. The surrounding landscape has some excellent walking routes through the valley toward the Damsa River.

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A story
Until 1923, Mustafapaşa was called Sinasos, a prosperous Greek Orthodox town whose merchants grew wealthy trading across the Ottoman Empire. When the population exchange forced the Greek community to leave for Greece, they abandoned some of the finest stone mansions in Cappadocia. Many remain standing, their carved facades still readable, though most are now empty or converted into small hotels.

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