Yivli Minaret Mosque, Antalya

Yivli Minaret Mosque, Antalya (must see)

Yivli Minaret Mosque is a historical mosque in Antalya. The mosque's fluted minaret, which is decorated with dark blue tiles, is a landmark and symbol of the city. The mosque is located in the Antalya old town.

The mosque was first built in 1230 and fully reconstructed in 1373. The first building may have been a Byzantine church originally and may have been converted into a mosque around 1225-1227, during the reign of the Seljuk sultan Ala ad-Din Kay Qubadh I. The original mosque was destroyed in the 14th century and a new mosque was built which, with its six domes, is one of the oldest examples of multi-dome construction in Antalya.

Yivli Minaret is located behind the mosque of the same name and is a separate structure. A four-sided base supports a minaret composed of eight fluted sections, which enclose a series of 90 steps leading to the top. Its very beautiful blue and dark blue tiles draw one's attention to this landmark. The minaret was constructed between 1219 and 1236.

Today the building houses the Antalya Ethnographic Museum and contains clothing, kitchen utensils, embroidery, tapestries and looms, socks, sacks, kilims, ornaments, and nomadic tents.

Besides the famous minaret and mosque, the Yivli Minaret complex includes other notable structures, such as a building once used as a lodge for the Mevlevi Dervishes. Two domed tombs are also located on the grounds: the tomb of Zincirkıran Mehmet Bey was built in 1377, and another was built in 1502 as a memorial for Ayşe Hatun who was the consort of Sultan Bayezid II, and mother of the next sultan Selim I. A former Islamic seminary, Atabey Aramgan Medresseh has been restored to function as a bazaar.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Antalya. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Yivli Minaret Mosque on Map

Sight Name: Yivli Minaret Mosque
Sight Location: Antalya, Turkey (See walking tours in Antalya)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Antalya, Turkey

Create Your Own Walk in Antalya

Create Your Own Walk in Antalya

Creating your own self-guided walk in Antalya is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Bazaars & Shopping Streets Tour

Bazaars & Shopping Streets Tour

Shopping in Antalya can be both a peaceful therapy session or an exhilarating adrenaline rush, depending on where you go. Either way, it is quite enjoyable, given an amazing range of retail offerings, which, apart from a few striking photo opportunities, provide setting for an ideal shopaholic's paradise.

Some of the best shopping in town is found in the old district of Kaleiçi replete...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Old Antalya (Kaleici) Walking Tour

Old Antalya (Kaleici) Walking Tour

Centrally located along the Mediterranean coastline, adjoining the yacht harbor with origins dating back to the Roman era, Kaleiçi is the historical core of Antalya. The name itself translates to "Inside the Kale" or "Inner Kale," in which "Kale" means castle or fortress. Indeed, in earlier times, the majority of the city was encompassed by protective walls.

The...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Antalya Introduction Walking Tour

Antalya Introduction Walking Tour

A gateway to Turkey's southern Mediterranean, Antalya was founded circa 150 BC by Hellenic King Attalus II of Pergamon, and was named Attaleia or Attalia in his honor. Today, this name is still used in Greek, whereas in Turkish it has evolved as Adalia and eventually Antalya.

Throughout its history, the city changed hands several times. Not long after its foundation – in 133 BC – it...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles