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Lost in Konya, a piece of Türkiye's rustic beauty.
Konya is renowned as one of the most conservative and well-organized religious urban centers in Türkiye, once known as the "stronghold of Islam". The residents of Konya remain relatively more religious than those from other cities in Türkiye.
Konya is the final home of the Persian sage and great poet Rumi – one of the greatest poets of all time. His poems have spread throughout the world from the 13th century to the present day. But few know that Rumi also had a profound impact on the culture and religion of Konya. In 1273, Rumi's disciples in Konya established the Mevlevi Sufi Islamic order, known as the Whirling Dervishes.
During my trip to Konya, I unexpectedly entered the Selimiye Mosque in the city center – it was midday prayer time. The mosque was packed with worshippers, spilling out into the surrounding courtyard. That moment gave me a clear sense of the Konya people's adherence to religious regulations. They still follow the traditional Muslim way of life, not as liberal as the Turks in Istanbul. This is what creates the beauty of Konya and preserves it from being lost amidst the rapid development of globalization.
Come on, come on, no matter who you are.
The wanderer, the worshipper, the lover who leaves - it doesn't matter.
We are not a caravan of despair.
Come on, even if you've broken your promise a hundred times,
Come, come again, come.
(Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī)
And like those verses of Rumi, I came to Konya and inadvertently left a piece of my emotions behind.
Come to the ancient town of Sille and savor the peaceful atmosphere.
The car rolled along, leaving Konya behind, and in less than 20 minutes, it gently came to a stop at the gate of Sille village, where no tourists had arrived before me and my friends. The shops were still asleep at 10 a.m. Children were carrying their books to the primary school located beside the small river – the water source for the ancient town.
Here, the pace of life is tranquil, a stark contrast to my preconceived notions of Türkiye, a land of exclamation points, wide-eyed wonder, and gasps of amazement. Sometimes, travel is about adding more commas, always telling your own story. And Sille is a place that has given me many such commas.
The ancient town of Sille, officially known as Sille Subaşı, is one of the few villages in Konya where Greeks lived alongside Turks for 800 years. Recent excavations suggest the first settlement dates back to around 6,000 BC. Sille was a Greek village until the Turkish-Greek trade agreement was reached in 1922. This is why most of the houses here today are in the Greek style. This cultural blend makes Sille a must-see destination when visiting Konya.
Nowadays, there aren't many Turks living here. But as I walked by, everyone flashed a bright smile and asked, "Where are you from?". A local vendor even offered me some pastries as I just passed by.
Sille stands out to me because of its quiet streets, its colorful houses adorned with blooming almond blossoms. The old shops also make for beautiful backdrops for this trip. Here, you won't find the towering mosques you see so often in Konya. Instead, it offers a gentle atmosphere reminiscent of the European countryside.
While exploring Sille, one cannot miss the Byzantine St. Helen's Church, located near the last bus stop. Founded by Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, this church was chosen by her as a stop on her pilgrimages to God. Legend even says that Saint Paul, an apostle of Jesus, came here to preach and stayed. Now, the church is a popular tourist attraction in Sille. You can go inside to admire the vivid paintings. Many relics were once housed here, but due to wars, they were moved to Rome.
Particularly noteworthy is the bridge at the end of the village called "Devil's Bridge," connecting two precarious cliffs, built by the locals. This is a fantastic photo spot for adventurous tourists.
A full day in Sille left me feeling relaxed, sitting at a cafe as they opened at 11 am, ordering a cup of Turkish tea. Just watching the gentle flow of water around me was enough to soothe me.
Sille is likely a place easily overlooked by travelers. But for me, this ancient town is the place I most want to return to, simply to write my own comma.
Additional information
Visa:Türkiye is not part of the EU, so tourists need to apply for a Turkish visa. The processing time is 15 days if applying in person at the embassy. If you have a valid European, American, or Irish visa, you can apply for an e-visa with a very quick procedure, receiving your e-visa in just 2 hours.
Trip:From Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, you'll need to take an international flight to Istanbul and then a domestic flight from Istanbul to Antalya. It's recommended to use Turkish Airlines – Turkey's national airline – to avoid the hassle of transferring luggage during your transit in Istanbul. Furthermore, Turkish Airlines is a high-quality airline with ideal flight times from Vietnam to Europe, departing in Vietnam in the evening and arriving in Turkey in the morning.
From Istanbul to Konya, you will need to take a short 1 hour and 25 minute flight, costing approximately 600,000 - 1,400,000 VND one way. This is the fastest way to visit Konya, as traveling by road would involve a journey of 635 km.
Alternatively, you can travel to Konya by train and from Konya to many other cities. Konya is the southernmost railway station in Turkey. Turkish high-speed rail, with frequent express trains to Istanbul, Eskişehir, and Ankara. There are three trains daily from Istanbul to Konya via Eskişehir, taking 4.5 hours; from Ankara, there are 8 trains/day, taking 90 minutes; there is one daily train between Konya and Adana with a journey time of approximately 6 hours.
Means of transportation:Public transportation is very convenient here, with trains, buses, and taxis making it easy for people to get around Konya. Sille is only 10 km from Konya city center, so the easiest way to get there is by taxi. If traveling by bus, go to Aladdin Hill in Konya to catch a bus to Sille.
Time:This region is at its most beautiful in April and May because of the mild climate and the almond blossoms lining the stunning roads. Importantly, it's not Ramadan, so you can also enjoy Konya's amazing cuisine.
Weather:Konya has a temperate climate. In April and May, the weather is warm, sunny, dry, and very pleasant.
Cuisine: Konya is Türkiye's best agricultural region, so agricultural products here are always cheaper than in other cities. When you visit, you absolutely must try Etliekmek – a long, thin pizza (with meat or cheese) that can be over a meter long! It's available at many restaurants in Konya. Additionally, lamb is also a very popular dish in Konya.
Accommodation:Hotels in Konya are very affordable. For just $50 or more, you can stay in a 5-star hotel.
Money: Türkiye uses the lira, with 1 lira being approximately worth 4,000 Vietnamese dong.
AMAZING TOUR
"Türkiye - A Legend Come True" is a series of programs promoting destinations for Vietnamese tourists, launched by Travellive magazine. It's the 4th Amazing Tour exploring four legendary cities of Türkiye, organized with sponsorship from Nokia and Turkish Airlines.
