The old city of Avanos overlooks the longest river the Turkey, the Kizilirmak (Red River). Located 18 km north of Nevsehir, the ancient name of this city used to be Venessa. The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery.

Avanos is known for the art of pottery by using kick wheel since the Hittites. This craftsmenship has come to this day by passing on from people to people and from father to son. Soft and oily clay soil gathered from Avanos mountains and old beds of Kızılırmak is sifted and is turned into mud after a neat pugging. The desired pottery is created by shaping the mud with some skill on a bench called kick wheel and steered by using your feet. After the potteries, which are created in workshops called "işlik", are dried first in the sun and then in the shadow, they are fired into the ovens that burn with straw and chippings between 800 and 1200 degrees with great care.

Food dishes, water jugs, pots and jars for preserving food for winter, water jars are some kinds of potteries. Avanos is known as the "The Craftsmenship and Shopping Center of Cappadocia".