Konya Full Day

General information

Destination
Konya, Turkey

Program details

We start for our daily tour first visiting to Mevlana Museum. We learn some stories and information about Mevlana and later going to see Selimiye mosque to see the architecture and to get the information about the mosque. We will have our lunch in a authentic restaurant and the lunch also including in our tour program.

After lunch we visit to Aladdin mosque and castle one of the most important structures of Konya and was built by Sultan Aladdin in 1221. After here we visit to Ince Minare Museum and Karatay Medresseh. We take some pictures and get some information by official guide of Murti’s Tour. After here we visit to the Sahip Ata Mosque and Medresseh where is one of the biggest complex of the area and now under restoration.

Mevlana Museum: The Mevlana museum, located in Konya, Turkey, is the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Sufi mystic also known as Mevlana or Rumi. It was also the dervish lodge (tekke) of the Mevlevi order, better known as the whirling dervishes.The decree of 6 April 1926 confirmed that the mausoleum and the dervish lodge (Dergah) were to be turned into a museum. The museum opened on 2 March 1927. In 1954 it was renamed as Mevlana museum.


Selimiye Mosque: Konyas Selimiye Camii (mosque), right next to the Mevlana Museum, is an example of the Ottoman style of mosque from the great period of Ottoman architecture. Its founder was Sultan Selim II (the Sot, 1566-74), who endowed the mosque while he was still an Ottoman prince and governor of the province of Konya.

Aladdin Mosque: The Aladdin Mosque (also spelled Alaettin) is the largest and oldest mosque in Konya, constructed by the Seljuk Sultan of Rum in 1221. It lies on Alaettin Hill, the site of Konyas original acropolis. The Aladdin Mosque has some interesting architectural features, such as columns of different sizes and decorations incorporated from different periods.

Aladdin Castle:The shopping-mall arcade chain that became Aladdin’s Castle began as American Amusements, Incorporated, in the early 1970s. It was purchased and renamed Aladdin’s Castle by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in 1974.

Ince Minare Museum: The Ince Minare Medrese (Seminary of the Slender Minaret) is among Konyas finest and most impressive Seljuk Turkish architectural masterpieces. Located on the west side of the Alaettin Tepesi hill near the Great Karatay Medresesi, the Ince Minare is one of Konyas must-see buildings. Though built (1267) as a Muslim theological seminary, it has been restored and is now Konyas Museum of Wooden Artifacts and Stone Carving.

Karatay Medresseh: The Buyuk Karatay Medresesi, on the north side of Alaettin Hill near the Ince Minare Medrese and just down the hill from the Alaettin Mosque, has Konya s finest Seljuk Turkish tilework in it.

Sahip Ata Mosque and Medresseh:The Seljuk vezir Sahip-i Ata Fahrettin Ali was one of the Seljuk Turkish Empires great builders. Besides Konyas sublime Ince Minare Medresesi, he endowed this kulliye (mosque complex) south of Konyas Alaettin Tepesi, and had it built between 1259 and 1283, just when the Mongol invasions and overlordship was bringing an end to the golden age of the Seljuk architecture. The formal entrance to the complex is a fine Seljuk tac kapi, or monumental gateway, an asymmetrical but harmonious structure with its own grand and unusual minaret. The gate was beatifully restored in 2006-07. The center of the complex was of course its mosque, only part of which has survived the centuries. What has survived is much smaller and quite simple, except for the mihrab (prayer niche) with its mosaic tiles in geometric designs.

Behind the mosque, the fine medrese (theological school), has been beautifully restored (2006-07) as a Museum of Seljuk Arts(Sahip Ata Vakiflar Eserleri Muzesi). Its classic Seljuk cruciform configuration has four eyvans (three-walled rooms) for classes, a central pool for the sound of water, and exquisite dark-and-sky-blue Seljuk tilework. Off to one side of the main medrese structure is a turbe (tomb) chamber containing cenotaphs of Sahip-i Ata himself, his daughter, sons and grandsons. (The actual tombs are beneath, underground.) Long, graceful Kuranic inscriptions high on the walls and arches are fine reminders of the artistic excellence of Seljuk tilemakers and architects.

The complex also had a tekke, or dervish hall, and a hamam, currently under restoration. Just west of the Sahip-i Ata Kulliyesi is Konyas worthwhile Archeological Museum, with artifacts from the Neolithic excavations at Catal Hoyuk.


Meeting/ pick-up point: Hotel reception..
Start/opening time:At 9.30am-
End/closing time: At 5.30pm.
Languages:English.