Unique Seasons in Konya, City of Love
Uğur İbrahim Altay, the Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, expresses that with its natural and historical beauties Konya is fascinating in every season. Also, the city welcomes millions of guests every year with the understanding of love and fellowship of Rumi’s throughout centuries.
KUBBE-İ HADRA GREETS THE CITY WITH ITS NEW APPEARANCE
While expressing that Kubbe-i Hadra, which is a symbolic structure of Rumi’s tomb, has been restored and renovated appropriately with its origin, Mayor Altay also said that “from the very beginning to the end, all the works done has been conducted elaborately. As a result, Kubbe-i Hadra has started to greet the city again with its original colour.”
TRANSFORMATION IN THE HISTORICAL CITY CENTRE
While expressing that they have made important regulations in the city centre, Mayor Altay also said that “we have been conducting one of the most important transformation works in Turkey in the area opposite Mevlana Museum. We made an agreement with our craftsmen in the old buildings of Mevlana Bazaar and Golden Bazaar. Instead of these old buildings, we decided to make a special project which is suitable for the historical style and will make people feel the sense of Seljuk capital. When the project is completed, the social and commercial life in the region will liven up. Also, there will be a connection between Mevlana’s tomb and Bedesten, and Kapu mosque and Aziziye mosque. By this way, tourism will be more alive.”
Also, when you think about Konya, another important thing that comes to mind is Alâeddin Hill. There have also been some renovation works on the external walls appropriate with the historical elements. During the first stage of the renovations, 60 separate departments have been completed in 12 buildings. In the second stage, regulations in the face walls of 40 buildings are about to finish.
WE WAIT YOU IN FOUR SEASONS
Uğur İbrahim Altay, the Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, stated that Konya is worth seeing in all seasons with its beautiful examples of historic, culture and nature tourism. He also said that “we invite visitors from all other places to live in Konya, which is the capital of Seljuks and home of Rumi. There are lots of places to see such as ten thousand years old Çatalhöyük, which is in UNESCO World Heritage List, Sille, Science Centre, Tropical Butterfly Garden, Panorama Museum, Ecdat Garden, Kilistra, İvriz Rock Monument, Alâeddin Hill, İnce Minaret, Meram vineyards, Yerköprü waterfalls, Nasreddin Hodja and Şems-i Tebrizi. There are also many other beauties to see in different districts of Konya such as Beyşehir, Akşehir, Seydişehir, Hadim, Ereğli, Karapınar, Ilgın, Cihanbeyli.”
CENTURIES OLD CUISINE CULTURE
Beside many other historical values, Konya has a magnificent cuisine culture, too. For instance, Ateşbaz-ı Veli is in Konya and it’s the only tomb of a chef in the world. This city hosts the most beautiful examples of court kitchens. The Metropolitan Municipality has the motto of “it is a civilization to eat here” and has important steps in terms of gastronomy tourism and organizes events. The most preferred cuisines in Konya by the visitors are Fırın kebab, okra soup, etliekmek, tirit, bread&meat cuisine, butter&bread, höşmerim and sacarası.
CITY OF BIKE
Konya is a city of bicycles thanks to its geographic structure. In order to support bike riding, some projects have been conducted by the Metropolitan Municipality. Konya has the longest bike road in Turkey. It is 550 km. long. Especially on newly opened roads, bike lines are musts. A new 35 km long bike line construction has started recently. Also, the bike tram, which was put into service last year and was the first in Turkey, gets great attention from bile lovers. There are other conspicuous services in the city such as closed car parks, double- storey bike parks, bike repair stations, bike bridges, bike traffic lights, bike waiting stations, ABUS (smart bike transportation system), and buses with bike carrying equipment.
