The valley, located approximately 2 km southwest of Mustafapaşa, is known as Gomeda Valley today. The valley, which was called the “Kanavuria” region during the time of the Greeks, forms one of the clefts of Elevres. The valley contains churches, shelters, dovecotes, vineyards and an underground city carved into the rocks. Üzengi Stream flowing through the valley creates a harmonious appearance where rocks and plants overlap.
It is rumored that this place used to be a village of six hundred houses. According to one narrative, while a Byzantine emperor was passing through here on a campaign against his enemies, the village residents had him build the Timios Stavros Church, which means “Holy Cross” (Balta, 2005). The church, which can be visited today, is also called Alakara. Timios Stavros Church (10th-19th century) is located near the entrance of the valley. The church in question is so important for the valley that; This place is identified with the name of the Timios Stavros church, which has existed since the Byzantine period. In addition to churches, there were also rock structures in the settlement that people used as shelter and residence. The most important example of this is the Stavropoulos family, who previously lived in the rock formations around this church and were named after the church when they settled in Sinasos.
The other most important church in the valley, which attracts attention and can still be visited today, is the Church of St. Basil, whose murals date back to the 9th century. The church is another church in the village (the other one is in Beydere), built in the name of St. Basil, one of the “Cappadocian Fathers”.
Additionally, there are churches from the Byzantine period in the Derindere Valley (Merdiven Church, 9th century) in the south of the Gomeda valley and in the valley known as the “Valley of the Virgin Mary” or Kara/Karae (Hacı İsmail Dere Churches, 10th century) in the south of it. All the churches mentioned have murals.
