Landmark

Karatay Madrasa

Antalya, Türkiye

Candidate image for Karatay Madrasa in Antalya

Karatay Madrasa’s monumental portal is the most visible surviving part of a thirteenth-century Seljuk school. Its carved geometric patterns turn the entrance into a crafted threshold, inviting attention to learning and patronage in medieval Antalya.

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Karatay Madrasa was commissioned in 1250 by Celaleddin Karatay, a Seljuk regent. Much of the original school has not survived, but its monumental entrance portal remains a powerful piece of the old town’s architectural record.

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Quick facts

  • Celaleddin Karatay commissioned the madrasa in 1250.
  • Its monumental crown portal is the principal surviving feature.
  • The madrasa portal was restored in 2006.

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