Nevşehir's ancient name was ''Nyssa'', but in the Ottoman periodit was renamed !!Muskara''. The son in law of Sultan Ahmet III, the Ottoman Grand Vizier İbrahim Pasa was born in Nevşehir and therefore took a great interest in its construction. The small village with 18 houses, once under the administration of Ürgüp, was transformed with the the building of mosques, fountains, schools, soup kitchens, inns and its name was changed from Muşkara to Nevşehir, which means New city.

Damat İbrahim Paşa Külliyesi
Kurşunlu mosque, situated in the Damat İbrahim Paşa complex, was completed in 1726. The mosque which is situated in the centre of a court with three gates, has an elegant minaret 44m in height. The name ''Kurşunlu'' comes from the sheets of lead covering the main dome. Most of the internal decorations consist of floral motifs. A Medrese (College of Islamıc theology), library, soup kitchen and a bath house are contanied in the same complex. The citadel found on the highest point of the city was constructed in the Selcuk Period to defend and protect the caravan trails.