Karaman

Karaman province to the south of Konya is an important center in terms of Turkish history and the Turkish language. It was in Karaman in 1277 that the Turkish language was adopted as the official language of an Anatolian state for the first time. The Karaman Citadel was constructed by the Seljuks in the 12^th century and the Araboğlu Mosque, which is interesting because of its dragonhead shaped gutter-pipes and original arches, was built by the Karamanoğulları in the 14^th century. There are numerous monasteries and churches dating back to the early Christian period in the environs, and at the summit of Karadağ (2,288 m.), to the north of the city. The city was called “the Region of 1001 Churches” by the early Christians.