9 Traces of Culture in 9 Thousand Years

Konya's natural beauties, deep-rooted history and cuisine attract more and more travelers every day. We asked our jury about places to visit and see, ancient cities, gardens, mosques and museums. We have prepared a 'Konya in 9 steps' guide for those who will visit the city.

1. See the Mosques of Konya

It is not possible to think of Konya without its mosques. There are many mosques built in both the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Put the mosques of Alaeddin, İplikçi, Sahip Ata, and Sadrettin Konevi at the top of your list. Make sure Selimiye, where you can see the traces of classical Ottoman architecture, and Kapı Mosque, the largest religious building from the Ottoman period, is on your list. My favorite is the Aziziye Mosque, named after Sultan Abdulaziz... A very elegant combination of baroque, imperial and rococo styles.

2. Magnificent Tiles / Kubadabad Palace

Kubadabad Palace, in the southwest of Beyşehir Lake, was built by Alaeddin Keykubat I between 1226-1236. It is one of the oldest examples of Turkish palace complex. Colored glass, furs, plaster decorations, coins and tiles were found in the palace complex. The tiles adorning the walls are considered 'masterpieces'.

3. Gorgeous Crown Door / Karatay Madrasa

It was built by Celaleddin Karatay at the foot of Alaeddin Hill in 1251. Today, the madrasah, which serves as the Museum of Tile Works, has a unique characteristic. The dome covered with blue tiles, which you will see when you look up inside, is admirable. The crown gate, one of the most beautiful examples of stonework, is enormous.

4. Hittite Monument / Eflatunpınarı

The historical water complex in Beyşehir district was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Tentative List in 2014. It is dated to the last quarter of the 13th century BC. The monument inside an ancient pool, which was unearthed as a result of archaeological excavations, consists of nearly 20 large stone blocks. The monument, which draws attention with its Hittite-specific lion sculptures, has reliefs of many kings, soldiers, women and animals.

5. 5-thousand-year-old Village / Sille

There are many important Turkish-Islamic artifacts from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, from mosques to bridges, in Sille, whose history stretches back 5,000 years. Aya Elena Church from the Roman period, Sille Çay Mosque, which is one of the most beautiful examples of woodworking from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, and the Karataş Mosque, which was built from rubble stone and the exact year of construction is unknown, are important works in the village.

6. Fascinating rocks / Celil Strait

The Celil Strait in the Kuşça District of Cihanbeyli is one and a half hours away from Konya. Natural monuments, whose heights vary between 1.5 meters and 15 meters, were formed by the erosion of the ashes and lava accumulated after volcanic activities over time. The most impressive time of the valley, which is a settlement where houses and churches are built because they are easily carved, is evening hours. Horizontal light paints the entire valley and its surroundings in red tones, and rocks can be seen as different shapes such as teapots, columns, and cobras.

7. Journey into history/ Dokuzun Inn

The inn, on the 24th kilometer of the Konya-Afyon road, offers a meaningful journey into history with the Seljuk bridge next to it. Its real name is Derbent Inn, but rumor says that when the waters rose in Eşme Stream, which is now dry, it was called Dokuzun Han (9’s Inn) because 9 people were trapped in the inn for 9 days or because they got lost in the water. In its inscription, it is written that it was built in 1210 during the reign of Kılıçarslan's son, I. Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev.

8. First steps of Humanity / Çatalhöyük

The city, whose history dates back 9 thousand years, is one of the points where the history of the world was rewritten. It is approximately 45 minutes away from the city center of Konya. After visiting the mounds, rooms and warehouses, do not forget to enter the closed building of the museum and see one of the first saltshakers in the world. You will be surprised to see that the saltshaker made thousands of years ago is very similar to the ones made today. Other artifacts found in the mound excavations are on display at the Konya Archeology Museum.

9. Japan in Konya / Kyoto Park

There are many theme parks in Konya. One of them is the Japanese Kyoto Park, which was built in 2010 to develop fraternal relations with the city of Kyoto, Japan. In the park in Konya's Selçuklu district, there are fine details such as a Japanese house, ornamental pools, Japanese plants, arbours, viewing terraces, wooden and stone bridges, and a water mill where you can feel yourself in Japan.