Mevlana Muzesi, Konya

Mevlana Muzesi features a green mausoleum and the original lodge of the 13th-century mystic Sufi Muslim order, the whirling dervishes. The museum houses musical instruments, conical caps, and robes belonging to Mevlana, the founder of the sect. You'll also find illuminated Korans, a 9th-century gazelle-skin Christian manuscript, and a valuable silk prayer rug bearing a picture of the Kaaba. The interior of the mausoleum is ornamented with Islamic script and enameled reliefs. Behind a 16th-century silver gate, look for the tomb of Mevlana covered in velvet cloth embroidered with gold. Ethnographical exhibits in the dervish cells illustrate their daily lives. Be aware that the complex can get very crowded, since it is still a place of pilgrimage. Plan your Mevlana Muzesi visit and explore what else you can see and do in Konya using our Konya trip maker app.