Konya in Pictures
Tours and Excursions in Konya, Turkey
Konya
Konya is located in the south of Central Anatolia and is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city is known as an important religious and spiritual center with a layered history that blends Hittite, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman heritage. Konya is also associated with early Christian traditions - Saint Paraskeva-Friday is venerated here as the patroness of fields and livestock.
Archaeological layers indicate the city's inclusion in the Hittite state about 4,000 years ago under the name Kuvanna; later it became known as Iconium in the Greco-Roman era. In the Middle Ages Konya was the capital of the Seljuk sultanate and a center of science and architecture, which left a rich collection of monuments. During the Ottoman period the city retained an important regional role and still preserves a conservative cultural character.
For tourists Konya attracts with religious pilgrimage, historical tours, Seljuk architecture, archaeology and spiritual tourism. The city is also convenient as a base for day trips to Neolithic sites and natural landscapes in the province. Nearby are major Central Anatolian centers - Ankara, Kayseri and Nevsehir - from which transfers or combined tours are easy to arrange.
Main tourist areas are concentrated in the city center and nearby municipalities: Selcuklu with historical monuments, Karatay with museum complexes and Meram, known for its green areas and suburban atmosphere. The old town offers walking routes, bazaars and access to museums and religious sites.
Konya has a continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. The best times to visit the city are spring and autumn, when the weather is comfortable for walks and sightseeing.
Fascinating places for excursions and travel
Konya - the city of Mevlana, Sufi ceremonies and majestic Seljuk architecture.
Konya - Mevlana Museum
The Mevlana Museum, located in the center of Konya, is one of the city's most famous landmarks and attracts visitors from around the world. It is a mausoleum and complex housing manuscripts, items of Sufi ritual and the personal belongings of the 13th-century poet and mystic. The building draws visitors with its architecture and the evocative atmosphere reflecting the history of the Mevlevi order.
In addition to the Mevlana Museum, Konya is worth visiting for the Karatay Medrese with its collection of ceramics and tiles, the Ince Minare Medrese with its decorative minaret detail, and the Alaeddin Hill mosque offering panoramic views of the old town. Nearby is the Neolithic site Catalhoyuk - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the earliest examples of urban settlement.
Among natural and ethnographic points of interest are the village of Sille with its stone architecture and old church buildings, a nearby salt lake and the wide Anatolian steppes, ideal for photography and walking. The city is also convenient for combined trips to Cappadocia and the province's archaeological sites.
The main types of tourism in Konya are religious and spiritual tourism, historical and architectural excursions, archaeological trips and ethnographic tours to suburbs and villages. In December a commemorative week of Mevlevi ceremonies is held, attracting pilgrims and lovers of spiritual music and the dervish dance.
The local cuisine offers hearty Central Anatolian-style dishes, focusing on meat, fresh bread and regional sweets, which complement the sightseeing program. The best seasons to visit Konya's attractions are spring and autumn, when the climate is most favorable for walks and excursions.
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