Konya

The City of the Whirling Dervishes There is a saying that almost everybody in Türkiye knows: Travel the world, see Konya! Konya, located in the Central Anatolian Region, is the largest province in Türkiye in terms of geographical surface area. It has an area larger than many countries, with a surface area of 38,873 square kilometres. In terms of population, it is the seventh most populous city in the country. It is one of Türkiye's oldest continuously inhabited cities and was known as Iconium in Roman times. Konya, the place where the first known settlement, the first urbanization and the first animal domestication took place in the world, has been home to various civilizations since Çatalhöyük, one of the Neolithic Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. As the capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to the 13th centuries, it ranks as one of the great cultural centers of Türkiye. During that period of cultural, political and religious growth, the mystic Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi founded a Sufi order known in the West as the Whirling Dervishes. One of the most economically developed cities in Türkiye, Konya attracts visitors with its amazing kitchen as well as its unique natural and historical richness. Etli Ekmek, a pizza-like dish, is one of the most famous dishes of Turkish cuisine. Its homeland and the best place to taste it is Konya. Because its location on a flat plateau in the middle of the country, transportation to Konya is very easy from all parts of the country. It has airport and high-speed train transportation.