Karapinar Sultan Selim CÂmii Ve Külliyesi

It is the mosque and imaret commissioned in Konya by Kanûnî Sultan Süleyman and Selim II. From the mid-XVIth century onwards, it is a group of buildings consisting of the mosque and imaret built on different dates between the Mevlânâ Dergâhı and the tomb bath, which is no longer standing today, together with two madrasas, a library and a muvakkithâne.

The structure known today as Sultan Selim Camii (Selimiye Camii) is recorded in sources as Câmi-i Cedîd and Câmi-i Şerîf-i Sultan Süleyman, and was later attributed to Selim II because of the imaret built by him adjacent to it. Different views have been put forward regarding the construction date of the mosque, located to the west of the Mevlânâ Dergâhı, and its patron. Although researchers identify Selim II as the patron, documents belonging to the reign of Kanûnî show that the mosque was commissioned by this sultan. The work, for which no record concerning its architect has been found, is attributed by some researchers to Mimar Sinan. Hammer is of the opinion that the mosque was built taking Ayasofya as an example, while Şahabeddin Uzluk holds that the old Fâtih Camii was taken as the model. The plan of the old Fâtih Camii, repeated on a smaller scale in the mosque Sinan built in Gözleve, was applied here on a larger scale.

Selimiye Camii, the most important example in Konya of the scheme of classical Ottoman mosque architecture, has a centrally domed plan scheme. It draws attention with its nearly square rectangular prayer hall, the last congregation porticoes to its north, and its two minarets rising at their ends. The prayer hall was covered with a central dome in the middle, carried near the mihrab side by two thick piers of cruciform plan, on the same axis by two small columns, and by thicker piers attached to the north wall, and a semi-dome was added on the qibla side. The east and west sides are covered with three small domes each. The central dome is approximately 12 meters in diameter, and the front dome is half that size. The size of the three equal domes on each side is equal to the radius of the central dome. The thick projections connected to the rear north wall serve as buttresses. The corner spaces remaining between the buttresses and the side walls are covered with vaults.

There are three doors, the small ones on the sides opening to the small domes immediately in front of them, and the larger one to the north. Rich marble workmanship stands out in the northern portal. Especially the muqarnas fillings in the niche are very harmonious.

Places to Visit in Konya Address: Kocatepe Caddesi Karapınar/KONYA