Karatay Medrese

The Karatay Medresesi was built in 1251 by Celaleddin Karatay, a vizier of the Seljuk sultanate of Rum, and it now houses the city's tile museum - which is fitting, because the building is the exhibit. Its main hall is a square chamber roofed with a dome on Turkish triangles, and the dome and pendentives are covered in mosaic faience in dark blue, turquoise and black: an interlacing star pattern spiralling toward an oculus at the centre, with the names of the prophets in Kufic script around the transition zone. The intention, as the museum explains it, was to represent the night sky, and an opening at the summit once let light and rain fall into a pool below, so the stars appeared reflected. The stone portal outside, in interlaced bands of marble, is among the finest Seljuk carving anywhere. The collection inside covers Seljuk and Ottoman tile from Kubad Abad palace and elsewhere.

What you'll find

• The tiled dome - the interlacing star pattern in blue and black.
• The Kufic band - prophets' names around the transition.
• The carved portal - interlaced marble at the entrance.
• The tile collection - Seljuk work from Kubad Abad and beyond.

When to go

Year-round; it is indoors and small. Weekday mornings are quiet. Check the weekly closing day before going.

Good to know

It is one main room plus side chambers - an hour is plenty. Lighting is dim to protect the tiles. Labelling is largely Turkish with partial English.

Nearby

The Mevlâna Museum is a short walk east; Alaeddin hill and the İnce Minare medrese are alongside.

Key facts