The Province of Niğde is located within the Central Anatolia. The city is surrounded by the provinces of Konya, Aksaray, Nevşehir, Kayseri, Adana and Içel.
The historical core of the city is located within the District of Alaeddin which is situated on the hill known today as the Hill of Alaeddin. Several significant monuments are located on this hill such as the citadel, Alaeddin Mosque, the Mosque of Rahmaniye, Sungur Bey Mosque, the Covered Bazaar of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa, Nalbantlar Fountain, Armenian and Greek Churches etc.
Alaeddin Mosque is located in the southern part of the inner citadel. It was constructed in 1223. The mosque includes all features of the Classical Seljukian Mosque Architecture in their original forms. Having completely geometrical ornamentation program the mosque is significant from the point of presenting the first examples of the Anatolian stone ornaments. The star-shaped geometric pattern on the Eastern Portal reflects the first examples of the ornamentation of the Seljukian Architecture.
The Mosque of Sungur Bey is located in the southwest of the Niğde Citadel. It was constructed in 1335. The mosque has a rectangular plan and double minarets. Especially kündekari and inlaid work techniques were used together on the door of the mosque. The inlaid work techniques used on the door leafs were seen firstly in Sungur Bey Mosque and its minbar with mother pearl inlaid is one of the first examples. The mosque has the features of the Anatolian Seljukian Art as well as some features of the Gothic Art.
Having completely geometrical ornamentation program, Alaeddin Mosque is significant from the point of presenting the first examples of the Anatolian stone ornaments. The star-shaped geometric pattern on the Eastern Portal reflects the first examples of the ornamentation of the Seljukian Architecture. Creating double façade concept by opening portals in different forms on the eastern and northern facades of the Mosque was continued then in the Great Mosque of Divriği and Sungur Bey Mosque. The flat vault placed on the mukarnas with the rich cover system in the Mosque is not seen in the other structures constructed before the mosque. The madder ornament on the motives of the halters of the minbar with the mukarnas on which the flat vault was placed was seen firstly in this structure.
The inlaid work techniques used on the door leafs were seen firstly in Sungur Bey Mosque and its minbar with mother pearl inlaid is one of the first examples.
The site where Alaeddin Mosque was located was determined as the 1st Degree Archeological Site and Urban Archeological Site. Sungur Bey Mosque was situated within the site designated as the Urban Site.
Alaeddin Mosque and Sungur Bey Mosque were registered as a monumental building to be conserved with the decision of the Superior Council of Immovable Antiquities and Monuments in 1978. The mosques are under the ownership of the General Directorate of Pious Foundations. All kind of conservation works concerning the properties have been carried out by the General Directorate of Pious Foundations in accordance with the decisions taken by the related Conservation Council. In addition, the conservation plan prepared for the urban site covering the archeological sites was approved by the related Conservation Council in 2000.
When we compare the other mosques inAnatolia, Alaeddin Mosque is significant from the point of presenting the first examples of the Anatolian stone ornaments. The star-shaped geometric pattern on the Eastern Portal reflects the first examples of the ornamentation of the Seljukian Architecture. The flat vault placed on the mukarnas with the rich cover system in the Mosque is not seen in other structures constructed before the mosque. The madder ornament on the motives of the halters of the minbar with the mukarnas on which the flat vault was placed was seen firstly in this structure.
