In the dead center of Konya Plateau in Anatolia lies the sprawling city of Konya, or from the Antiquities Iconium. In a spur of the moment last weekend while waiting for a friend of mine in Ankara I got on a bus to Konya to take some pictures. Actually, I was in Konya five years ago for a pass-through on my way down to the Mediterranean. This time I stayed over and wanted to see Mawlana's grave and the complex consisting of several mosques, imarets, libraries and the museum. It is always breathtakingly beautiful: the gilded interior, soft Sufi music and the scent that have not changed, perhaps, in ages.

In addition to Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī, Konya is known for its Seljuki pass which was the center of authority in Anatolia from the twelfth to beginning of fifteenth centuries in the Common Era. The Ince-Minaret Madrasah, now a museum, from those times represents a very exquisitely detailed stone work of the Seljuki art and architecture.

From the root top of my hotel, called Dergah, I could see the vast space of concrete blocs as far as the eye can see. But what is interesting is that the buildings are relatively same level, but with the three exceptions of the Afra Commerce Center, Kule Site and a bit farther near the university the Rixos hotel and Commerce Center. These three building reach into the skies in the middle of the Anatolian steppes. Konya also has the most populated University in Turkey with fulltime students numbering over 60 thousand.

Konya is one of the very fortunate cities that have many different Architectural styles from different times. After the visit at the Rumi’s complex walking towards the Alaeddin Hill on Alaeddin Street one can see many different buildings representing different times: the Iplickci mosque from 1332 CE, off to the side a bit the Aziziye Mosque with its rococo styling from 1676 CE, the Governorship Building and the PTT building from the 1st National Architectural Movement in the early 20th century, the City Council Building as some sort of an Austrian House from the late 1800s, the Tekel Headquarters from the 1940s and the Modern multistory building of the Treasury from the present times. This is an extraordinary street that has the potential of many further explorations. Enjoy!...