Konya

Konya is a city in central Anatolia, Turkey, and the capital of Konya Province. It sits on the Konya Plain and is a major regional center for agriculture, industry, and higher education. The area has a long recorded history and was known as Iconium in classical times; it later served as the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum in the 12th and 13th centuries and became a center of Islamic scholarship and Sufism.

The city is best known internationally for its association with Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. The Mevlana Museum, housing the tomb of Rumi, is a major landmark, and the Whirling Dervishes tradition remains part of Konya’s cultural identity. The annual Mevlana Festival in December attracts visitors from across Turkey and beyond.

Key historic and architectural sites include the Alaeddin Mosque on Alaeddin Hill, the late Seljuk İnce Minareli Medrese, and the ornate Karatay Medrese. The surrounding province contains important archaeological sites such as Çatalhöyük and the historic village of Sille.

Economically, Konya has a diversified base with agriculture (grain, sugar beets, and livestock), light industry (machinery components, food processing), and growing services sectors. It is a major transport hub in central Anatolia, with road and rail connections to Ankara, Istanbul, and the Mediterranean coast, and its airport handles domestic and limited international traffic.

Education and culture are prominent, with Selçuk University and Necmettin Erbakan University among the large institutions. The climate is continental, with hot summers and cold winters, and the metropolitan area is home to over a million residents.