KONYA

Konya is the second largest city in central Turkey.

The environs of the city are considered to house the earliest planned human settlement of the world.

From 1097 to 1243 it was the capital of Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate.

Theolegian and poet Mevlana lived in Konya in the 13th century. The name Mevlânâ means “our master and president” and implies the love of people for him. The name Rûmî (pertaining to Anatolia) was given to him as he lived in Konya.

2007 was the 800th anniversary of the birth of Mevlana and the UNESCO Universal Mevlana Year.