Konya's 150-Year History Illuminated in New Photo Album

The introduction of a photo album created in collaboration between the Konya Metropolitan Municipality and the Research Center for Islamic History, Art, and Culture (IRCICA), which sheds light on approximately 150 years of Konya's history, took place at an event held in Istanbul.

The presentation of the first volume of the "Konya Photo Collection 1876-1954" consisting of two volumes took place at the IRCICA General Center located in the Fatih district of Istanbul.

IRCICA Director General Prof. Dr. Erol Kılıç recalled that during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II, efforts were made to collect and document photographs of many cities. He noted that photographers were sent to various cities and towns for archiving during that period. Kılıç stated, “This album, which brings together 671 photographs selected from approximately 16 different archives—including the Yıldız Archive, IRCICA’s own archive, the Konya Metropolitan Municipality archive, and contributions from districts with their own photo archives—holds significant importance for the history of the city. As IRCICA, we are part of an organization established by 57 Islamic countries that focuses on culture and art. We have projects related to Islamic cities, with Konya being at the center of these cities.”

Konya Metropolitan Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay stated that the "Konya Photo Collection" is a special work that will revive the historical memory of Konya.

Mayor Altay emphasized that Konya is a city too vast to fit into a single photograph yet deep enough to reach into infinity, stating, “This depth is brought to light through this album. We feel the traces of time in the details of this album. In this sense, our work on the Konya Photo Collection is more than just preserving a city’s memories on pages; it is a treasure that brings the spirit of these lands to life, frame by frame. Each photograph reveals the richness and deep history of Konya. Century-old streets, historic houses, unique artworks and structures, people finding solace in the shade of a plane tree, hopes, joys, and many more images are the silent narrators of this ancient city and the spirituality it generously offers.”

Mayor Altay expressed that even photographs of the destroyed structures, which we only know by name today, have now gained historical significance as documents. He stated, “In modern Konya, the architecture, aesthetics, intellectual identity, and the capital city structure of the Seljuks are evident in every street and avenue. Just as the poet Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar said, Konya has ‘a mysterious beauty that conceals itself.’ This album will once again embed the ancient spirit and mysterious beauty of our city into our souls.”

Mayor Altay emphasized that the "Konya Photo Collection" is a very valuable work that will be passed down from generation to generation. He stated, “The album, consisting of two volumes and featuring a total of 601 photographs from the years 1876 to 1954, will, I believe, serve as a letter dedicated to history and the future, passed down through generations. Thus, this valuable work we prepared in collaboration with IRCICA will illuminate our history. As the Konya Metropolitan Municipality, we take great pride and joy in being part of such an endeavor. On this occasion, I extend my gratitude to everyone involved in this precious collaboration, especially to IRCICA Director General Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç and his colleagues, as well as all the artists whose photographs have formed the deep memory of our city and everyone who contributed to this work.”