I returned to Turkey in 2025 for another three weeks. Once again, I started in Istanbul before travelling to Kayseri, Aksaray, Konya and Alanya. Since the route from Kayseri to Alanya passes through Konya, stopping there again was an obvious choice.
More importantly, I wanted to revisit the city because, during my first visit in 2019, several of Konya’s most important historic landmarks were undergoing restoration. This time, I finally had the opportunity to see these magnificent structures, which I will cover later in this and in future posts.
ABOUT KONYA
I don’t know anyone who has been to Konya. In fact, I can’t remember anyone ever saying that they wanted to visit the city.
Yet I know many people who are passionate about philosophy, mysticism, yoga, meditation, spirituality, self-discovery and inner peace. They happily travel across the world to sacred places and spiritual sanctuaries, yet almost none of them considers visiting Konya.
That seems surprising because Konya is arguably one of the most spiritual destinations in the world. It is undoubtedly the spiritual heart of Turkey, the birthplace of the Mevlevi Order and the famous Whirling Dervishes. It is also the final resting place of one of history’s greatest philosophers, mystics and poets – Rumi.
Perhaps many people in the West simply know very little about Rumi. To be honest, I knew almost nothing about him before my first visit to Konya. However, throughout Turkey, Iran and much of the wider region, Rumi remains deeply respected, celebrated and honoured.
Konya is significant for other reasons as well. It served as the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum before becoming an important Ottoman city. As a result, you can discover an extraordinary combination of Seljuk and Ottoman heritage.
Like Istanbul and Bursa, Konya feels like an open-air museum filled with remarkable historic architecture. It is also included on the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
WHAT TO SEE IN KONYA
There are several fascinating layers of history in Konya. When I first went there in 2019, I knew that it had been an important Ottoman city. What I didn’t realise was just how historically significant it really was. I certainly didn’t expect to find two monumental imperial mosques alongside so many other Ottoman landmarks.
Then I discovered that Konya had once been the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. That completely changed my perspective because, until then, I knew very little about the Seljuk Empire. Finally, I learned about Rumi and the Mevlana Museum.
In other words, there are three major themes through which you can explore Konya – its Seljuk heritage, its Ottoman legacy and the spiritual legacy of Rumi and the Mevlevi Order. To fully appreciate the city, I spent time reading and learning about all three before I went there.
There is a lot to see in Konya, far too much for a single post. For that reason, this article serves as a general overview of the city. In future articles, I will write about each of these fascinating aspects in greater detail.
KENT MEYDANI
The Seljuk Civilisation Monument stands in the centre of Kent Meydani, a square that was extensively restored in 2013.
What isn’t immediately visible are the numerous surviving Seljuk era structures scattered around the square.
ALAEDDIN HILL
From there, Alaeddin Hill marks the beginning of Konya’s historic centre, where many of the city’s most important attractions are located.
Today, Alaeddin Hill is a peaceful park, but it remains one of the most historically significant places in Konya.
It is home to the Alaeddin Complex. Built in 1235, the mosque served as the “Mosque of the Throne” for Seljuk sultans. The complex also includes a royal mausoleum containing tombs of eight Seljuk Sultans of Rum.
MEVLANA STREET
Mevlana Street is Konya’s main thoroughfare. It stretches from Alaeddin Hill to the large square at the opposite end, home to two of the city’s most magnificent historic landmarks.
Almost every major historic building is located either along this street or within easy walking distance. The first monument that I encountered was the İplikçi Mosque. It is difficult to describe how I felt when I saw the inscription above the entrance stating that it was built in 1202.
Standing before an authentic Seljuk mosque that survived for more than 800 years is an experience. It is hard to comprehend such an immense timescale or fully appreciate the historical world in which it was built.
Almost directly opposite stands the Şerafettin Mosque. Unfortunately, it was under restoration during my visit in 2019. Rather surprisingly, the restoration was still unfinished when I returned in 2025. As a result, I still haven’t had the opportunity to see its interior.
Directly opposite the Şerafettin Mosque is the Konya Valiliği building, which serves as the Governor’s Office. The photo below was taken in 2019 because, during my second visit, the entire building was covered in scaffolding while restoration work was underway.
BEDESTEN ÇARŞI
At this points starts the colourful Bedesten Çarşı, Konya’s historic Ottoman bazaar. Like the traditional markets found in many Turkish cities, it is filled with countless shops selling an incredible variety of goods.
The entire area is well maintained and has that unmistakable oriental atmosphere that makes wondering through Turkish bazaars such an enjoyable experience. Several important historic buildings are also located here.
One of them is the Ottoman era Kapi Mosque, built in 1658.
Another is the magnificent Aziziye Mosque, an Ottoman imperial mosque completed in 1874. Dating from the late 19th century, it was the newest historic monument that I visited in Konya.
SELIMIYE MOSQUE & MEVLANA MUSEUM
At the opposite end of Mevlana Street lies the city’s grand sqare, where two of Konya’s monumental landmarks stand side by side – the Selimiye Mosque and the Mevlana Museum.
I vividly remember my surprise when I first saw these magnificent buildings. After the Aziziye Mosque, I certainly wasn’t expecting another impressive Ottoman imperial mosque.
The Mevlana Museum was an even bigger surprise. I had imagined a relatively modest modern museum, not an extraordinary 13th century complex crowned by its iconic green dome.
THE REST OF KONYA
Beyond the historic centre, Konya is a modern and vibrant city. During the six years between my visits, the local authorities completely transformed the area between the Aziziye and Selimiye Mosques. The old, dilapidated buildings were demolished and replaced with attractive new developments designed in a traditional Turkish architectural style.
The result is a welcoming area filled with coffee shops, restaurants, shops and attractive squares where visitors can relax while watching everyday life unfold.
It is an excellent example of thoughtful urban planning and a valuable investment in preserving the character of Konya’s most visited historic district for future generations.
In my future posts, I will write about Konya’s remarkable Seljuk heritage, its impressive Ottoman monuments and the fascinating Mevlana Museum in much greater detail.
Finally, I hope that this post, and those that will follow, will inspire some people to discover one of Turkey’s most fascinating, historic and spiritual cities.
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