Meram's Large-Budget Transformation Project; Suriçi Bazaar

The stages of the Sahibata Neighbourhood Suriçi Urban Transformation Project, the new attraction centre in the heart of the city covering a total area of 163 thousand square meters, are being completed one by one and put into service. The “First, Second and Registered Block” stages of the project, which consists of 6 separate stages, have been completed. In the Suriçi Bazaar Project, which will be one of the most beautiful, most precious, most prestigious and attractive places of the city, modern living spaces and green areas have been brought to the region on one hand, while on the other hand the ancestral heritage structures have been brought to light again.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS IN KONYA’S HISTORY

With a cost exceeding 5.5 billion TL, Suriçi Bazaar, which is one of the largest projects in the history of Meram and one of the most important projects in Konya to date, has also become an example for Türkiye in terms of both its cost and scope and the reduction of construction density. On the other hand, serious archaeological excavations were also carried out in the region within the framework of the project. Suriçi, where meticulous work has also been carried out to protect these treasures, is a major and important transformation area not only for Konya but for the whole of Türkiye.

SURİÇİ; A MODERN SILHOUETTE, A LIVING HISTORY

Suriçi Bazaar now serves the city as a new centre of trade, tourism and life. The area, which has gained the appearance of an open-air museum with its historical bath, tile furnaces, Roman road and structures, has begun to become an attraction centre for domestic and foreign visitors. On the other hand, Suriçi, which bears the traces of all civilizations from Rome to Byzantium and from the Seljuks to the Ottomans, has once again become the heart of Konya with the works carried out. With all these features, Suriçi has become the symbol of a city vision that protects its past and looks to the future with confidence.

THE ELEGANCE OF THE PAST MET THE VISION OF THE FUTURE AT SIRÇALI HOTEL

The historical registered buildings previously located in this area have been revived with the works of Meram Municipality. These buildings now serve the city and the tourism of the city as the ‘Sırçalı Hotel’. Serving with 21 rooms and a bed capacity of 50 people, the hotel takes its name from the Sırçalı Madrasa, which carries the elegance of Seljuk tile art. In every stone, the hotel reflects to its guests the elegance of the “sır çalma” art with aesthetic touches. The Courtyard Café located here also makes an important contribution to the social life of the city.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF HISTORICAL TEXTURE SIDE BY SIDE WITH MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN SURİÇİ

In addition to workplaces, offices and shops, many historical and social areas have also been brought to the city in Suriçi. One of the most striking points of these is the geodesic glass dome similar to the Louvre Museum in Paris. The dome protects the largest bath ruin of the Seljuk period located beneath it and hosts both history and modern architecture. The Seljuk Period Ceramic Furnace and its workshop, which is of great importance for Konya, the capital during the Anatolian Seljuk Period, and which is a first, was also uncovered here. It has been understood that the kitchen vessels used in the Seljuk Palace were produced in this ceramic workshop in the historical furnace.

WITH EVERY STRIKE OF THE PICKAXE, A NEW WORK WAS BROUGHT TO THE CITY

During the works, a church ruin belonging to the Byzantine period and many other structures were also identified. A ceramic furnace from the Seljuk period, a clay pool, a glaze furnace, a glaze cracking basin, and church ruins belonging to the Seljuk and Ottoman periods were encountered. Again, on a different block, church structure ruins, restored bath and commercial building ruins uncovered during previous excavations, and Seljuk period tiled wall remains were found. At the same time, the remains of the Ancient City of Iconium and floor mosaics, for the first time in Konya, were revealed in this excavation.

AN AREA SURROUNDED BY HISTORY ON ALL SIDES

Considering the Sahip Ata Complex, Mosque and Bath – Alaaddin Hill and Mosque – İhtiyarettin Mosque – Nasuhbey Dar’ül Huffaz Mosque – Sırçalı Madrasa – Bedesten, which are already located in and around the Suriçi region, the heart of the city, the region is an important attraction centre in terms of history, culture and tourism.