DAILY KONYA CITY TOUR ITINERARY:
We start for our daily tour first visiting to Mevlana Museum. We learn some
stories and information about Mevlana and later going to see Selimiye mosque to
see the architecture and to get the information about the mosque. We will have
our lunch in a authentic restaurant and the lunch also including in our tour
programme. After lunch we visit to Alaaddin mosque and castle one of the most
important structures of Konya and was built by Sultan Alaadin in 1221. After
here we visit to Ince Minare Museum and Karatay Medresseh. We take some pictures
and get some information by official guide of Murti’s Tour. After here we visit
to the Sahip Ata Mosque and Medresseh where is one of the biggest complex of the
area and now under restoration.
Mevlana Museum: The Mevlana museum, located in Konya, Turkey, is the mausoleum
of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Sufi mystic also known as Mevlana or Rumi. It
was also the dervish lodge (tekke) of the Mevlevi order, better known as the
whirling dervishes. Sultan Ala al-Din Kayqubad, the Seljuk sultan who had
invited Mevlana to Konya, offered his rose garden as a fitting place to bury
Baha ud-Din Walad (also written as Bahaeddin Veled), the father of Mevlana, when
he died on 12 January 1231. When Mevlana died in 17 December 1273 he was buried
next to his father. Mevlanas successor Husamettin Çelebi decided to build a
mausoleum (Kubbe-i-Hadra) over his grave of his master. The Seljuk construction,
under architect Behrettin Tebrizli, was finished in 1274. Gurcu Hatun, the wife
of the Seljuk Emir Suleyman Pervane, and Emir Alameddin Kayser funded the
construction. The cylindrical drum of the dome originally rested on four
pillars. The conical dome is covered with turquoise faience. However several
sections were added until 1854. Selimoglu Abdulvahit decorated the interior and
performed the woodcarving of the catafalques. The decree of 6 April 1926
confirmed that the mausoleum and the dervish lodge (Dergah) were to be turned
into a museum. The museum opened on 2 March 1927. In 1954 it was renamed as
Mevlana museum.
Selimiye Mosque: Konyas Selimiye Camii (mosque), right next to the Mevlana
Museum, is an example of the Ottoman style of mosque from the great period of
Ottoman architecture. Its founder was Sultan Selim II (the Sot, 1566-74), who
endowed the mosque while he was still an Ottoman prince and governor of the
province of Konya. It was finished after he became sultan. If youve visited
Istanbul, you will notice the similarity to other Ottoman mosques, although this
one is smaller and not as finely proportioned. A curiosity is the spire on the
mimber (the wooden pulpit): its shaped like the cylindrical green tiled dome
over the tomb of Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumî, as shown in the photo to the right. In
the historic photo in the right-hand column, men sit beside the Selimiye Mosque
beneath a sign that reads: It is forbidden to sit beside the mosque.
Alaaddin Mosque: The Alaeddin Mosque (also spelled Alaettin) is the largest and
oldest mosque in Konya, constructed by the Seljuk Sultan of Rum in 1221. It lies
on Alaettin Hill, the site of Konyas original acropolis. The Alaeddin Mosque has
some interesting architectural features, such as columns of different sizes and
decorations incorporated from different periods. The interior includes a tomb
chamber with the sarcophagi of a dozen Seljuk sultans.
Alaaddin Castle: The shopping-mall arcade chain that became Aladdin’s Castle
began as American Amusements, Incorporated, in the early 1970s. It was purchased
and renamed Aladdin’s Castle by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in 1974. Over
the next several years, the number of store locations grew from 20 in 1974, to
221 in 1980, to 360 when the chain was spun off in 1989.
Ince Minare Museum: The Ince Minare Medrese (Seminary of the Slender Minaret) is
among Konyas finest and most impressive Seljuk Turkish architectural
masterpieces. Located on the west side of the Alaettin Tepesi hill near the
Great Karatay Medresesi, the Ince Minare is one of Konyas must-see buildings.
Though built (1267) as a Muslim theological seminary, it has been restored and
is now Konyas Museum of Wooden Artifacts and Stone Carving. The exhibits inside
are significant, but it is the building itself that you come to see. Its grand
portal, heavily and completely carved with Seljuk decoration and Kuranic
inscriptions, is among the finest of all Seljuk grand portals. Exhibits within
the museum include elaborately carved wooden mosque doors and decorative panels,
marble panels carved with typical Seljuk designs of birds, lions, angels and
double-headed eagles and even a few elephants. Keep in mind the buildings
original purpose: the main hall, with its restful, refreshing pool of water, was
the center of seminary life. The large eyvans (alcoves) were used for classes,
the smaller rooms as living quarters.
Karatay Medresseh: The Buyuk Karatay Medresesi, on the north side of Alaettin
Hill near the Ince Minare Medrese and just down the hill from the Alaettin
Mosque, has Konyas finest Seljuk Turkish tilework in it. Your Travelshop Turkey
guide will show you to the dome of the medrese is spectacular in its dark and
light blue Seljuk tiles. The squinches supporting the dome are just as
elaborate, and significant amounts of the tilework in the eyvans (alcoves) and
the main hall have survived. The water pool at the center of the main hall has a
curlicue drain to generate a musical ripple to soothe those at study in the
seminary. This elegant seminary was endowed by Emir Jelaleddin Karatay, one of
the Seljuk Turkish empires greatest generals, statesmen and grand vezirs.
Sahip Ata Mosque and Medresseh: The Seljuk vezir Sahip-i Ata Fahrettin Ali was
one of the Seljuk Turkish Empires great builders. Besides Konyas sublime Ince
Minare Medresesi, he endowed this kulliye (mosque complex) south of Konyas
Alaettin Tepesi, and had it built between 1259 and 1283, just when the Mongol
invasions and overlordship was bringing an end to the golden age of the Seljuk
architecture. The formal entrance to the complex is a fine Seljuk tac kapi, or
monumental gateway, an asymmetrical but harmonious structure with its own grand
and unusual minaret. The gate was beatifully restored in 2006-07. The center of
the complex was of course its mosque, only part of which has survived the
centuries. What has survived is much smaller and quite simple, except for the
mihrab (prayer niche) with its mosaic tiles in geometric designs. Behind the
mosque, the fine medrese (theological school), has been beautifully restored
(2006-07) as a Museum of Seljuk Arts(Sahip Ata Vakiflar Eserleri Muzesi). Its
classic Seljuk cruciform configuration has four eyvans (three-walled rooms) for
classes, a central pool for the sound of water, and exquisite dark-and-sky-blue
Seljuk tilework. Off to one side of the main medrese structure is a turbe (tomb)
chamber containing cenotaphs of Sahip-i Ata himself, his daughter, sons and
grandsons. (The actual tombs are beneath, underground.) Long, graceful Kuranic
inscriptions high on the walls and arches are fine reminders of the artistic
excellence of Seljuk tilemakers and architects. The complex also had a tekke, or
dervish hall, and a hamam, currently under restoration. Just west of the Sahip-i
Ata Kulliyesi is Konyas worthwhile Archeological Museum, with artifacts from the
Neolithic excavations at Catal Hoyuk.
DAILY KONYA CITY TOUR INCLUDES:
- Pick up transfer from your hotel in Konya at approx. 9:00am
- Guided Konya City Tour
- Lunch
- All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
- Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
- Professional English-speaking tour guide
- Return transfer to your hotel at approx. 7:00pm
DAILY KONYA CITY TOUR PRICES IN EURO:
from 4. March to 5. November
Prices Per Person |
Minimum 2 people |
€ 110.00 |
3-4 people |
€ 90.00 |
5-6 people |
€ 80.00 |
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