Akdamar (Ahtamar) Church of the Holy Cross

The Church of the Holy Cross (Surp Haç) was commissioned as a palace church by King Gagik I Artsruni of Armenian Vaspurakan in 915–921; its architect was the monk Manuel.

When the Kingdom of Vaspurakan was dissolved in 1021–1022, the building ceased to be a palace church and became a monastery church. The site comprises eight sections: the Church of the Holy Cross, two chapels, a jamatun, a bell tower, a service building and a cemetery.

The building opened as a monument museum in 2007 and was added to the UNESCO Dünya Mirası GEÇİCİ Listesi (UNESCO World Heritage TENTATIVE List) in 2015; it is not on the final list.

Getting there: travel to Gevaş district, then take a boat to the island from Gevaş pier.