Sırçalı Madrasah 🇹🇷

Located on Sırçalı Street in Konya, Turkey, the Sırçalı Madrasah is a remarkable 13th-century Islamic school built in 1242 during the reign of Seljuk sultan Kaykaus II. Ordered by Emir Bedrettin Muslih for studying Hanafi Fiqh doctrines, this historic two-story structure now serves as Konya's Museum of Gravestones, showcasing Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman gravestones. When you visit, you will step into an open rectangular courtyard featuring a central basin, surrounded by student cells and winter classrooms built with rubble masonry stone and brick.

You can explore the striking stone portal with geometric relief work, Arabic calligraphy, and a marble inscription in thuluth script. Inside, you will see magnificent glazed tile decorations, known as sırça, which gave the building its name. Be sure to examine the main western iwan, where original light-blue, dark-blue, and manganese tile mosaics display Quranic verses, Persian couplets, and the craftsman's signature.

Nearby, you will also find a northern tomb containing three anonymous cenotaphs, possibly including the patron's resting place. As one of only seven surviving Seljuk madrasas in the former Anatolian Seljuq capital, Sırçalı Madrasah offers you an extraordinary glimpse into Anatolian architectural heritage and intricate tilework craftsmanship.

What to see at Sırçalı Madrasah

• Ornamented stone entrance portal featuring geometric relief work and Arabic thuluth calligraphy
• Western iwan decorated with original light-blue, dark-blue, and manganese glazed tile mosaics
• Open rectangular courtyard with a central basin flanked by student cells and domed winter classrooms
• Tomb on the northern side containing three anonymous cenotaphs
• Exhibits of historic Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman gravestones

Visiting tips

Look closely at the tilework on the left side of the western iwan to spot the craftsman's medallion signature and Persian inscription.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Sırçalı Madrasah is easy to reach on Konya’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Mevlâna Museum and Alâeddin Mosque. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Konya travel guide.