The Project that Preserves the Spirit of Konya

Work continues at full speed in the Karatay Arasta. The project, one of the largest revitalization projects in Türkiye, is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in cooperation with Konya Metropolitan Municipality and Karatay Municipality. The foundation of the Karatay Arasta, laid on February 10, has reached a significant stage in a short time.

According to the Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette with the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the area located behind the Tomb of Mevlana within the borders of Aziziye Neighbourhood has been designated as an "Urban Renewal Area." The decision was made in accordance with Article 2 of Law No. 5366 on the “Renewal, Preservation and Use of Worn Historical and Cultural Immovable Assets." On the other hand, with the demolition of the Mevlana Bazaar and Altın Bazaar by the Metropolitan Municipality, a special texture has been brought to the transformed area.

Within the scope of this project, Karatay Municipality and Konya Metropolitan Municipality are carrying out one of Türkiye's largest transformation projects in the 100,000-square-meter area located between the rear of the Mevlana Tomb and Ali Ulvi Kurucu Street.

THE HISTORICAL TEXTURE OF KONYA WILL BE PASSED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS

Within the scope of the project, Karatay Arasta, which constitutes the first phase of the Urban Renewal Project behind the Tomb, is rising in Aziziye Neighbourhood.

The bazaar, an important part of this major transformation covering a total area of 100,000 square meters, will consist of 84 commercial units on a land area of 6,427 square meters and a construction area of 3,004 square meters. When the project is completed, Konya's historical texture and cultural heritage will be preserved and passed on to future generations.

KILCA: ONE OF TÜRKİYE'S LARGEST TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS

Karatay Mayor Hasan Kılca provided information about the construction of the Karatay Arasta, which continues behind the Mevlana Tomb. Stating that investments in tourism continue with determination, Mayor Kılca emphasized the importance of the project and noted that significant progress has been made in a short time.

Mayor Kılca said, "Our urban renewal efforts behind the Mevlana Tomb continue rapidly. This area constitutes the first phase of the transformation process aimed at revitalizing the historical texture of our city. Karatay Arasta also began within this framework, and work continues at full speed. The Karatay Arasta, which will consist of 84 independent sections, will be a bazaar worthy of Konya."

Emphasizing that the project will greatly contribute to both tourism and urban aesthetics, Kılca stated that "Especially tourists visiting Hz. Mevlana will also stop by this bazaar. Here, we are creating new living and tourism areas in line with Konya's historical texture. We are building new spaces that breathe in the heart of our city. When the Karatay Arasta is completed, it will become one of Konya's new attraction centres. May our bazaar already be auspicious for our city and for Karatay."

WE ARE CARRYING KARATAY'S ANCIENT PAST TO THE FUTURE

Karatay Municipality is also carrying out many projects to bring the district's rich cultural assets to tourism and pass them on to future generations.

Karatay Mayor Hasan Kılca gave information about the work carried out on historical structures and stated that "as a municipality, we restore and revive the historical structures that reflect the identity of Konya and Karatay. It is important to preserve the most significant structures of traditional architectural texture. We identify one by one the houses in Konya that bear historical architectural features and have been damaged over time, and we first put them under protection. After the approval of our prepared projects, we begin restoration works on these structures in a way that reflects the identity of Konya and ancient Karatay.

As Karatay Municipality, we are carrying out work in many parts of our district in this context. It is extremely important that we protect our history and transfer such structures to the future.

Through these projects, we are carrying the ancient past of our Konya and Karatay centuries ahead."