Konya, one of Turkey's oldest continuously inhabited cities was known as Iconium in Roman times. The capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to the 13th centuries, it ranks as one of the great cultural centers of Turkey.

Paleogical researches and digs made in recent years have brought to light the prehistory of Konya.Although the paleolithic manuments have not been excavated, neolithic manuments have been discovered in many tumulus along the borders of Konya Province, including the Çukurkent village tumuls and Alaaddin Hill.

The most important antiques from this reriod were found in digs made in Çatalhöyük near Küçükköy in Çumra. These digs have informed us that the first settlement goes back as far as the year 6800 B.C.

From pre-history to modern times, peoples from various nations have settled in and urbanized this region, bringing with them their own culture, art, folklore, customs and traditions.Konya still retains traces of those cultures.

MUSEUM OF TILES - THE KARATAY MUSEUM

The Medrese of Karatay, now the museum of tile works, was built by Emir Celaleddin Karatay during the reign of the Seljuk ruler Izzeddin Keykavus.

INCE MINARE MUSEUM

Designed by the architect, Abdullah bin Kelkuk, and built during the reign of the Seljuk ruler Izzeddin Keykavus II by the Vezir Sahip Ata Fahrettin as a medrese, it became a public museum in 1956. It houses wooden and stone works of the Seljuk period.

THE ARCHAELOGICAL MUSEUM

Opened to the public in 1962, it displays articles from the Neolithic, pre-Bronze, Hittite, Phrygian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Also exhibited are findings from Çatalhöyük, Erbaba, Sızma, Karahüyük, and the Alaaddin Hill.

THE ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Located on Larende Street, this museum displays various types of clothing, handicrafts, belts, knitted pouches, and collections of weapons and coins.

THE ATATÜRK MUSEUM

Built in 1912, this house was presented to Atatürk by the people of Konya in 1928, and opened to the public as a museum in 1964. Clothing, personal belongings, photographs, and documents are on display.

THE KOYUNOĞLU MUSEUM

In this museum is a gallery of natural history where stuffed birds and animals are displayed, and galleries of carpets and kilims, coins, and manuscripts. The museum also has a library of 20000 volumes.

THE SIRÇALI MEDRESE MUSEUM

In the type of medrese with an open courtyard, it was built by Bedrettin Muhlis in 1242, as a school for the Fıkıh (Islamic jurisprudence). There are tombstones of artistic value from the Seljuk, Beylik, and Ottoman periods.

THE SELJUK PALACE

Also called the Alaaddin Palace, it was built during the reign of Sultan Kılıç Arslan II (1156-1192), and restored and widened during the reign of Sultan Alaaddin I. The two-storey building is ornamented with tile patterns.

SELIMIYE MOSQUE

Located near the mausoleum of Mevlana, it is a beautiful example of classical Ottoman architecture. The construction began during the princehood of Sultan Selim II when he was governor of Konya in 1558, and it was finished in 1587.

ALAADDİN MOSQUE

Built on the Alaaddin Hill, it is the oldest historical building in Konya of the Seljuk period. Construction was begun in the time of the Seljuk Sultan Rukneddin Mesut (1116-1156), and was completed in 1221, during the time of Alaaddin Keykubat.