Alaeddin Mosque The Niğde Alaeddin Mosque is a stunning example of architecture, built in 1223 during the reign of Keyqubad I, a Sultan of the Seljuks who ruled before the rise of the Ottoman Empire. The mosque was designed by the chief architect Sıddık, with assistance from his younger brother Gazi, and is constructed entirely from cut stone. It features two entrances: a grand one on the east side and a smaller one on the north side, while the south end is adorned with three domes and an ancient minaret. A standout feature of the mosque is its portal, which exemplifies the traditional Seljuk leaning roof style. The east-facing side of the portal is especially notable because, during certain times in the summer season, between 10 AM and 11 AM, sunlight casts a shadow in the shape of a crowned woman's head. The portal's name is inspired by a statue of a woman’s head, featuring a crown and intricately knitted hair, adding to the mosque's distinctive and exceptional architectural design. According to a legend, the master architect who designed the mosque fell in love with the daughter of the princess residing in Niğde at that time. Aware that he could never marry the princess, he chose to express his feelings by beautifully carving her portrait on the marble portal, while also seizing the Governor's offer to build a mosque in the city. The mosque embodies all the characteristics of Classical Seljukian Mosque Architecture in their authentic forms. It features intricate geometrical ornamentation and is particularly notable for showcasing the earliest examples of Anatolian stone ornaments. The star-shaped geometric patterns on the Eastern Portal display a Seljukian style that emerged just before such decorations became widely adopted by other mosque architects. The Niğde Alaeddin Mosque is surrounded by several other historical landmarks, including the Mosque of Rahmaniye, Sungur Bey Mosque, the Covered Bazaar of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa, Nalbantlar Fountain, and Armenian and Greek Churches, all of which enhance the mosque's cultural importance. Consequently, it was included on the Tentative List of UNESCO in 2012. If you have any questions or would like further information about Alaeddin Mosque, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected], or simply message us via WhatsApp, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.