Karatay Madrasa – Tile Museum

📖 The Story

Built in 1251 by the vizier Celâleddin Karatay, the madrasa is today the Museum of Tile Arts. Its dome, clad in star- and cross-shaped Seljuk tiles, is like a pool mirroring the sky. Its grand marble portal is a summit of Anatolian Seljuk stonework.

The 24-pointed star at the centre of the dome's navy-turquoise tiles symbolises the celestial vault, and the Turkish triangles of the drum bear the companions' names. The showcases display star tiles with hunting scenes and court figures unearthed at Kubadabad Palace — the richest collection of Seljuk pictorial art.