Description
Avanos is a city located in Central Anatolia Region, Turkey. The city is known for its rich and vibrant culture immersed in terracotta art. The history of pottery in Avanos was dated back to 3000 BC. Other than pottery this heritage land stands out for its proficiency in carpet making and winemaking. It attracts tourists from across the world to towns reminiscent of the European streets and their diverse traditions.
History of pottery in Avanos
Similar to the past, the contemporary livelihood of Avanos is very much dependent on terracotta art. The majority of the population relies on pottery for the economy. The clay for producing these stunning crafts is obtained by blending the red soil from the Kizilirmak River with the white soil from the mountain tops.
Things to see in Avanos
- Kizilirmak River
Visit the Kizilirmak river, best known as the ‘red river’ for its abundance of red soil that backed the artisans for centuries with pottery. This is the longest river in Turkey which flows through Avanos and has an inevitable role in shaping the life of Avanos. - Guray Museum
Enter a magnificent world of pottery. The underground museum awaits you with the life of pottery from the centuries to the present. Here you witness Avanos' main source of economy. The different levels of creating terracotta and fine innovations made in the art are being showcased here. You can also watch the demonstration of a traditional pottery wheel used by people of ancient times to make pottery.
- Hair Museum
The "Hair Museum" is one of the strangest museums in the world. The living embodiment of Galip Körükçü’s love story. On her way back from Avanos, a lady gifted her love a little piece of her hair as a memory. Later on, it became a ritual, and women visiting the place from across the world started to hug the pieces of their hair locks, creating the present-day hair museum.
Maria
January 20, 2023 at 11:50 AMAvanos is a town built on the Kızılırmak River. They have clean and spacious environments. It is a bit expensive compared to general but there is a lot of variety. You can experiment in one of the pottery workshops. You can watch the masters. You get the thrill of swinging blind. You can feel the coolness of the river even on summer nights. If you happen to be on the Nevşehir Kayseri line, don’t miss out.
Diane
January 20, 2023 at 11:51 AMIt is a quiet beautiful place famous for its pottery work. The place in the picture is 5.9 km from Avanosa and 4.9 km from Ürgüp center. You should definitely cross the Suspension Bridge in the center of Avanos. You should feed the ducks by the Kızılırmak and cool off…
Julie
January 20, 2023 at 11:53 AMAvanos is a blessing bestowed on Central Anatolia.. there is nothing better..
Adam
January 20, 2023 at 11:56 AMI do not see the town itself as more attractive. Besides the ceramics its plain to me. The coolest thing is the area of the red river, which is not red, and the suspension bridge.
Tyler
January 20, 2023 at 12:02 PMIt has a calming atmosphere. The Kızılırmak divides the district into two. There are walking areas by the river. There are cameras to take pictures in the town center, it is a very good application.
Gladin Horseman
February 16, 2023 at 9:51 PMThere are villagers in the pottery houses, and the streets and steps are well-kept. You are allowed to photograph or film inside the shops. There are much nicer and more interesting places in Cappadocia that are openly accessible, and you can film whatever you want.
Jenin Zakariya
February 16, 2023 at 9:56 PMBig parking lot, but it’s less crowded than Göreme Open Air Museum, and everything is reasonably simple to wheel on. Hope there is a spot as you drive all the way to the end of the road. The incredibly kind parking attendant will undoubtedly do everything for you. The pottery here is amazing. It is a town with cave homes, which wasn’t unexpected.
Talan Naithani
February 16, 2023 at 9:59 PMAccessibility in Turkey never ceases to amaze, me in both positive and negative ways. Such a wonderful surprise is this place, and even if you aren’t going, it’s worth placing on your list just in case. MANY THANKS, Avanos!
James Charlotte
March 3, 2023 at 9:30 PMDerinkuyu was an incredible experience. The underground city is like nothing I have ever seen before. The tunnels and rooms are so well-preserved, it’s like stepping back in time. I was blown away by the engineering that went into building Derinkuyu. It’s amazing to think that this was all built by hand so long ago.
William Elizabeth
March 3, 2023 at 9:32 PMThe tour of Derinkuyu was fascinating. Our guide was very knowledgeable and brought the history of the city to life. I learned so much!