Ottoman Konya

In fact, this was really the only thing that I knew about Konya when I decided to visit during my initial travel across Turkey in 2019.

OTTOMAN KONYA

Two major Ottoman dynastic mosques testify to Konya’s special place within the Ottoman state. Certainly, other places that I visited, such as Izmir, Antalya, Ankara and Kayseri, are also rich in Ottoman heritage. But Konya has the distinction of having major mosques associated with the Ottoman dynasty. In Istanbul and Bursa, of course, you can see many more examples.

Ottoman sultans and members of the Ottoman dynasty commissioned monumental mosques in important cities and locations throughout the empire.

Ottoman Şehzades (princes) also governed in Konya. In the earlier centuries of the Ottoman Empire, princes were commonly appointed as governors of provinces. There, they would gain administrative and political experience before potentially becoming sultans. Konya was one of the cities where several members of the Ottoman dynasty served as governors. Other cities with an important tradition of royal patronage and major Ottoman mosques include Trabzon, Manisa, Amasya and Edirne.

More specifically, Şehzade Mustafa and Şehzade Cem governed in Konya. They were both sons of Fatih Sultan Mehmed, although neither became sultan. Şehzade Mustafa served as governor of Konya in the late 1460s and early 1470s and died in 1474. Cem Sultan subsequently governed Konya for about seven years before becoming involved in his famous struggle for the Ottoman throne against his brother Bayezid. Cem eventually died in exile in 1495.

Suleiman the Magnificent’s son, Şehzade Selim, also governed in Konya. After the death of his father in 1566, he became Sultan Selim II. His time in Konya was particularly significant because construction of the Selimiye Mosque began during his governorship and was completed during his reign.

SELIMIYE MOSQUE (1570)

That day, when I arrived at the square that you can see below, I immediately knew that the big mosque was an Ottoman mosque. But I didn’t know which one it was. I had already visited another major Ottoman mosque in Konya and I certainly didn’t expect to find yet another monumental mosque so close to the Aziziye Mosque.

I remember thinking that, whoever built it, they had chosen a spectacular location next to another impressive historical complex, the Mevlana Museum and the 13th century Mevlana Mausoleum.

So, I approached the entrance and read the inscription: Sultan Selim Mosque. I had to think. I had already seen the Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque in Istanbul, so could this be another one of his mosques? But then I looked at the date and tried to remember who ruled in the 1560s.

The construction date revealed that this was Sultan Selim II’s mosque, not one associated with his grandfather, Sultan Selim I.

Interestingly, three major mosques are particularly associated with Sultan Selim II – the one here in Konya, another in Karapinar, a small town not far from Konya and the magnificent Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. The Edirne Selimiye was commissioned by Selim II and built by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan between 1568 and 1574-1575.

Perhaps, Sultan Selim II considered that there were already enough imperial mosques in Istanbul. The magnificent Süleymaniye Mosque had been completed only about nine years before Selim took the throne in 1566.

ŞERAFETTIN MOSQUE (1636)

I mentioned the Şerafettin Mosque in one of my previous posts. That’s because behind the mosque you can see the Şerafettin Tomb, associated with the Seljuk era origins of the site. Sheikh Şerafettin is traditionally associated with the original mosque, which dates back to the 12th century. The mosque was repaired during the Karamanid period and, after falling into disrepair, was demolished and rebuilt in 1636 by Mehmed Çavuşoğlu Memi Bey.

Unfortunately, the mosque was being restored in 2019 and, with scaffolding outside and inside, I couldn’t really see much. In other words, I didn’t get the chance to see this historic mosque in its full glory. Additionally, when I went back to Konya in 2025, the restoration work had still not been finished. I missed it twice and, most likely, I will never have the chance to see it properly inside unless I go back to Konya at some point in the future.

KADI HACI ALI EFENDI DARU’L KURRASI

Initially, when I saw this building directly opposite the Şerafettin Mosque, I thought that it was a mausoleum. This small building is actually a madrasa, a traditional Islamic educational institution.

In Ottoman times, madrasas provided religious and other forms of higher education. Students studied subjects that could include the Qur’an, Islamic law, theology, Arabic and other scholarly disciplines. Konya had numerous madrasas during the Ottoman period.

KAPI MOSQUE (1869)

Without any doubt, the Kapi Mosque is one of the most prominent buildings within the historic Konya Bazaar. It is in the middle of the historic area, surrounded by many shops.

Unlike the Selimiye Mosque, which appears slightly isolated in the large square where it stands, this mosque is closely integrated into the daily life of the historic bazaar. It is surrounded by shops and remains part of the everyday activity of people who come to the area for various reasons. It also fits beautifully in the historic urban landscape.

The inscription at the entrance refers to the original construction in 1658. Indeed, Pir Hüsein Çelebi, a descendant of Mevlana and a postnişin of the Mevlevi lodge, established the original mosque in that year. The building was renovated in 1811, but it was destroyed in the major Konya Bazaar fire of 1867.

So, the mosque that we see today is actually the 19th century reconstruction, built around 1868 – 1869. The date 1868 is also recorded in the inscription on the entrance.

I didn’t know anything about its history when I visited this mosque. I saw the inscription at the entrance and, once inside, nothing within the mosque suggested that it wasn’t the 17th century building.

Of course, I don’t claim to be an expert, but I’ve seen a lot of 16th and 17th century Ottoman mosques. In terms of its interior decoration, this one certainly looked like that to me. Perhaps, the chandeliers in the mosque are not from the 17th century, although decorative elements can be added or replaced over the centuries without necessarily changing the overall architectural impression.

There were a lot of people in the mosque at prayer time, although there were people around the mosque at other times as well.

AZIZIYE MOSQUE (1874)

Possibly, the Aziziye Mosque is the most beautiful of all the mosques in Konya. Like the Kapi Mosque, it is located in the centre of the historic Konya Bazaar. Together, these two mosques create a particularly beautiful urban scene.

Additionally, the Aziziye Mosque has a history that is closely connected with the Kapi Mosque. The original mosque on the site was built in the 17th century and was destroyed in the great fire of 1867 – 1868. The present Aziziye Mosque was subsequently built with the financial support from Sultan Abdülaziz and his mother, Pertevniyal Valide Sultan. Construction started in 1872 and the mosque was completed a few years later, generally dated to 1874.

When you see this mosque, you can immediately guess that it’s not particularly old. Although the Kapi Mosque, built around the same period, has an appearance that can seem closer to the older Ottoman mosques.

Its architecture combines elements of Turkish Baroque with the classical Ottoman tradition. Inside, the Baroque influence is particularly noticeable.

It has stylistic similarities with the Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque in Istanbul, which was built only a few years earlier. Both belong to the eclectic architectural tradition of the late Ottoman period, when Ottoman architects combined established Ottoman forms with European influenced styles.

The Aziziye Mosque doesn’t have a conventional courtyard and is not laid out like the large classical Ottoman mosque complexes. Instead, it occupies a very busy position within the historic commercial district, surrounded by buildings on several sides. It has two fountains incorporated into the lower sections of its minarets. The main photo of this post shows one of them.

THE REST OF OTTOMAN KONYA

The four mosques that I’ve mentioned are among the most important examples of Ottoman architectural heritage in Konya. You can also see many other smaller Ottoman mosques, such as the Tahir Pasha Mosque in the photo below. However, I couldn’t pay attention to absolutely everything.

But that doesn’t mean that these smaller buildings are of less importance, far from it. It’s just that you need a lot of time to see everything. Also, you need to invest a lot of time and effort in reading and learning about it all. Otherwise, what’s the point of seeing historical places if we don’t know what they are and what they represent?

KONYA BAZAAR

Finally, you also have the Konya Bazaar to explore. It is a maze of streets, lined with historic houses and buildings reflecting the city’s Ottoman era commercial character. The area has undergone substantial reconstruction and restoration, particularly following the major Konya Bazaar fire of 1867. So, not everything that you see today dates from the Ottoman period.

The bazaar area is where you can really get a feel for Ottoman Konya. You can also gain an impression of how the city’s historic commercial centre developed during the Ottoman period.

Apart from the many shops, there are also restaurants and coffee shops where you can sit down and have a rest.

Undoubtedly, the Ottoman heritage in Konya is an important complement to the city’s much better known Seljuk heritage. But when you add the mystical and spiritual legacy of Mevlana, represented above all by the Mevlana Museum and its historic complex, you understand that Konya is a special and unique place.