Konya

Konya is one of first cities inhabited in human history and it still holds remains of many different civilizations that gives entire city atmosphere of a live museum. Legend says that Perseus killed dragon who ravened city, which is why people build special monument in his honor, stone oblesik with Perseus image carved in it. This was reason for first name of the city: Ikonyum.

Konya is located in the middle of Anadolya which made it one of most important trade centers on the “Silk road”. Fertile land around city made it a center of Turkish wheat industry.

Konya is traditional city, one of most important conservative and religious cities in the country, thanks to the fact that it is famous for being a home to Celaleddin Rumi, sufi mystique who created whirling dervish dance. You will notice conservativism everywhere-lot of women still cover head with scarfs. City is still home to Dervish order, location for the practice and teaching, which makes a visit to Mevlana Museum, former home to Dervish order the most important point of turkey tours in the city. Konya is also well known for lot of buildings that are great examples of Seljuk art of constructing.

Konya is flat city, only having one hill-Alaaddin Tepesi that has been made by Seljuk in the city center. Hill was made to hold palace and enable rich citizens to observe town under them. There are basically no remains of that palace which made hill into town park, where you can enjoy resting between several points on your daily sightseeing tour. Alaaddin mosque still stands on the hill and is open for tourist visits. Alaaddin Palace was built on order of Sultan Kilicarslan second and renovated under sultan Alaadin Kekubad, both Seljuk sultans. Remaining pieces of palace are in process of renovation since last year.

HOW TO MOVE AROUND KONYA

There are several modes of transport, dolmus being most affordable one, although there are taxis and city tram. Dolmus is basically minibus that goes on predetermined route and picks passengers along. However, since most of touristic sites are within city center you can also choose to walk around. City tram covers most remote parts of city and you can travel with it to suburbian Selcuk University or Japon Parki.

WHAT TO SEE IN KONYA

Mevlana Museum is one of most important sights on turkey guided tours in Konya, as it has already been mentioned. This object was home to first sufi Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi, and now is location where tourists can see important artefacts from that period, like old writings, personally written Koran copies, some instruments played on and amazing artistic pieces dating back from Seljuk time. Artefacts in the museum display Islamic culture and artwork, and is amazing to personally observe and experience during turkey guided tours. After you walk through museum and enjoy historic artwork within, it is interesting to continue tour outside, as neighborhood looks very similar as in previous era, with old houses built in otoman and seljuk style. Several streets from museum itself you will come to Seljuk built mosques that were constructedd in 12th century. Most famous one is Iplikci Mosque, that has been built in 13th century, and renovated in 19s. Muslims still use it for praying. You can enter it and observe artwork for free. You can visit Kapu and Aziziye Mosque and round up visit to local islamic religious objects of Konya, especially because these two have distinctively different minaret style.

Ince Minare Museum used to be religious school (in Turkish  madrasah) that was originally built in 13th century during Seljuk period. This museum is near the center of city and hold numerous artefacts from Ottoman and Seljuk period. Tourist often visit it on turkey guided tours, as the building itself is remarkable presentation of Seljuk architecture.

In the Konya district called Meram you can enjoy in picnic as it has larger green areas, but there are also several buildings from previous periods, such as Tavus Baba Turbesi and Atesbazi Turbesi, promenades often used by locals for leisurely afternoons.

Japon Parki is park designed and constructed as a result of friendship between Konya and Kyoto, Japanese city. It is supposed to show style of Japan with built pagoda, small lakes and waterfall, and after you walk around it you can sit in local restaurant with great food and relax along tasty meal.

Despite the fact that Konya is such traditional Muslim city, there is Saint Paul catholic Church, located on Aladdin Tepesi. Church has been built in 1910, because Italian workers were then in the region building railway. Since then, church has maintained with services and is these days cared for since by a pair of nuns.

Catalhoyun is location of historic site dating back to neolithic era, as far as 7500 b.c. This is one of the oldest human colonies not only in the region, but in general, as well as one of best preserved. Many different artefacts were located on the site, such as small sculptures, paintings, pottery, and houses are in excellent condition, enabling one to get pretty good image of how people back then lived.

Tuz Golu means salt lake and is located some 80 kilometers north of Konya toward Ankara, and is very large, although just two meters deep. It evaporates during summer, leaving white salty “spot” that will “fill in” back in the autumn and winter. It is also good for bird lovers, as most of migrating birds stop in the region during migration toward or from Africa.

Sema is whirling dervish ceremony, and is held in building located some 20 minutes walk away from Museum of Mevlana, where you can enjoy it for free every Saturday evening from 8 p.m. Guide will give introduction before the actual dance, enabling you to learn more about dervish history and tradition, and icing on the cake will be dervish dance, which is indeed something amazing and colorful.

SHOPPING AND EATING IN KONYA

While in Konya, you can either choose to shop in modern shopping centers such as Kule Site, or choose to wonder through small shops in the streets further from center, where you will be able to find local looking clothes and souvenirs at more affordable prices. If you are looking for local souvenirs, it is good idea to buy Rumi products: boxes, jewelry or candy made by dervishes.

In Aydincavus in Meram district, you should enjoy in cup of traditional Turkish coffee, because you will not only savor the taste but also the beautiful view on entire city.