The Medrese of Nefesi Sultan, also called the Hatuniye medrese. It was built in 1382 by the famous architect Hoca Ahmet, who built this on orders of the daughter of the Ottoman sultan Murat I, the wife of the Karamanoğlu Alaeddin Bey. The portal in front has been higher, inside there now is a restaurant, but I was allowed to take every picture I wanted. Friendly people there.

On the picture: The monumental ‘Taşkapı’ (stone gatehouse) of the medrese takes up 60% of the facade. It is one of the finest examples of Karaman decorative stone carving, executed in late-Seljuk style. Above the door, and under the muqarnas vaultings, the building inscription gives the date and the initiator of the building.

Muqarnas is a stalactite-like decoration initiated in Anatolia by the Seljuk (in the 11th – 12th century). They imported it from Iran. Later on it continued to be used in the late-Seljuk architecture of the Beyliks (14th century) and by the Ottomans up to the 19th century.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.