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A small green hill in the middle of the city, Alâeddin Tepesi, is a place where many people of Konya like to gather to socialize and relax. Also on the hill is the most important Seljuk building in Konya, the Alâeddin Mosque (Alâeddin Camii).
History of Alâeddin Mosque
Built in 1235 by Alâeddin Keykûbad I, the Seljuk Sultan of Rûm, the mosque served as the imperial mosque of the Seljuk sultans. It has a very long prayer hall with columns reused from Byzantine and Greek structures. The original structure on the site was a Christian basilica that was converted into a mosque in 1080 when the Seljuks conquered the city. Click here for a virtual tour.
Courtyard
In the courtyard of the mosque are two tombs. The first one is the tomb of Kılıçarslan II, built in 1197. It houses the tombs of eight Seljuk sultans. Next to it is an unfinished Seljuk tomb, abandoned in 1220.
Gate
My favorite part of the mosque is on the north side of the hill. It’s a very long wall which functioned as the original gate of the mosque. It’s decorated with several Seljuk symbols. In front is a beautiful garden.
