Known in the Roman period as Venassa, the history of this city reaches back to the Early Age. In Topaklıhöyük, situated near Avanos, 24 layers of settlement from the Early Bronze Age up to the Byzantine period have been discovered. There is nı Islamic layer. In the last many decoratives materials and religious symbols were found on graves of the 7th century. Items found here from the Hittite settlement up to day, show that is place was used as a centre for pottery. This ancient tradition is being continued today as well. The statue of potter in Avanos shows the importance that is given to this art in this region. The ruined area of Zelve, on the Avanos-Göreme road, is a village where Christians and Moslems lived together from beginning of Christianity until 1924. Aside from monastery, cave dwellings and small chuches, the village’s mosque and minaret, which are carved into tufa rocks, is the best example this harmonious co-existence. When the new Zelve village was started, the old village was abandoned. A few kilometres away from Zelve, Paşabag ruins, the tufa pyramid-formations in groups of two and three are a very intresting freak of nature. Aside from the cave dwelling, small chuched, chapels found in Çavuşin village near Zelve, the John the Bapthist Church with its three apses, built in the 11th century and famous for its frescoes, is a work of art that must be seen. The Turkish –Islamic structures in Avanos are as follows: dating to the 13th century the Alaaddin Mosque is from Seljuk period, the Ulus Mosqueis an Ottoman structure. The Ulu Mosque also called Yeraltı Camisi (Underground Mosque), because the floor of its main section is below ground level. 5 km along the Avanos-Ürgüp road, the Sarı (yellow) Caravanserai. Has been constructed in the classical shape of Seljuk Sultans inns of the period. Its rectangular shape is made up by a front section with a courtyard and a covered rear section.