Konya
Konya (also spelled Qonya, Koniah, Konieh, Konia, and Qunia) is an ancient city in central Turkey. It has a population of about 900,000 and is known for the piety of its residents and as the center of Sufi mysticism. Once known as Iconium, Konya is historically and religiously significant on several counts: it was one of the missionary destinations of St. Paul; the site of one of the first church councils; the capital of the Seljuk empire from 1150 to 1300; and the home of Rumi (Mevlana), the Sufi saint who founded the Whirling Dervishes. Follow a link below to explore the rich spiritual heritage of Konya.
Konya Travel Resources
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See our Konya Map for a closer view. |
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Religious Attractions in Konya
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Located on the site of Iconium's acropolis, this is the largest and oldest mosque in Konya. It was constructed by the Seljuk Sultan of Rum in 1221 and contains the tombs of a dozen Seljuk sultans.
The archaeological museum in Konya has an excellent collection of ancient artifacts from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine Era. Among the displays are ancient Roman sarcophagi, Greek altars and pottery, important inscriptions in Latin and Greek, and Byzantine mosaics.
This museum contains the tomb of the 13th-century Sufi saint Mevlana or Rumi, which is an important place of pilgrimage.
Commissioned by Sultan Selim II, the Selimiye Mosque in Konya was built from 1558 to 1567.
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