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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).

Alâeddin Tepesi in Konya, Turkey
Alâeddin Tepesi

 

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.

Alâeddin Mosque
Prayer hall
Mihrab and minbar

 

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.

Mosque (left), tomb of Kılıçarslan II (center), and an unfinished tomb (right)

 

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.

Alâeddin Mosque
Original gate
Inscription above the gate
Garden

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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