Konya Favorite Tips by Kuznetsov_Sergey Top 5 Page for this destination

Mevlana Museum

Favorite thing: The former dervish seminary attached to the mausoleum is now a museum devoted to manuscripts of Mevlana's works and various accoutrements of the sect.
The tomb of the great Turkish thinker and mystic philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi is situated in The Konya Mevlana Dergah (dervish retreat). It was turned into a museum in 1927. It contains objects pertaining to Mevlana and the Mevlevi order.

Rumi teachings expressed that love is the path to spiritual growth and insight. Broadly tolerant of all people and other faiths, he says,
“Whoever you may be, come
Even though you may be
An infidel, a pagan, or a fire-worshipper, come
Our brotherhood is not one of despair
Even though you have broken
Your vows of repentance a hundred times, come.”

The Museum is open: May-October: Monday 10.00-18.00; Tuesday-Sunday 9.00-18.00.
November-April: Tuesday-Sunday 9.00-18.00.
Entrance fee – 5YTL (April, 2008).

You may have Virtual Tour of Mevlana Museum.

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You can watch my 1 min 52 sec Video clip Konya Mevlana Museum with Turkish music.

Fondest memory: You may watch my high resolution photo of Konya on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 37° 52' 14.44" N 32° 30' 15.12" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Mevlana Museum .

Konya historical background

Favorite thing: Konya is a large city on the central plateau of Anatolia. Now it has population about 1,5 million. Konya has a reach history and historically also known as Ikonion (Greek) and Iconium (Latin).
Konya reached its height of wealth and influence as of the second half of the 12th century when Anatolian Seljuk sultans also subdued the Turkish Beyliks to their east, thus establishing their rule over virtually all of eastern Anatolia, as well as acquiring several port towns along the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and even gaining a momentary foothold in Crimea. This golden age lasted until the first decades of the 13th century.

Alongside a generally high level of instruction and modern buildings, we have been told that Konya has a reputation of being one of the more religiously conservative metropolitan centers in Turkey. It was once known as the "citadel of Islam", and it is still more devout than other cities.

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You can watch my 3 min 11 sec Video clip Konya Slide-show with Turkish pop music by Petek Dincoz – Catilmis Kaslarinla.

Fondest memory: You may watch my high resolution photo of Konya on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 37° 52' 17.82" N 32° 29' 59.75" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Central Square .