Çifte Minareli Madrasa, Historic madrasa in Yakutiye district, Erzurum, Turkey
The Çifte Minareli Madrasa is a Seljuk-era stone and brick educational building in Erzurum, in eastern Turkey. It is built around a long, open courtyard flanked by covered walkways and study rooms, with two tall minarets rising above the main entrance portal.
The madrasa was likely built in the late 12th or early 13th century, during the Seljuk period, on the remains of an older Saltukid fortification. In the 17th century the building was repurposed as a gunpowder factory, and it was later restored to preserve its original structure.
Visiting in daylight brings out the carved stone details around the entrance portal and the tile work on the minarets. The courtyard floor is paved with uneven stone, so sturdy footwear makes moving around easier.
The two minarets are faced with blue and white ceramic tiles carrying Quranic inscriptions in calligraphy, a feature that stands out against the red brick of the rest of the building. This combination of tile and brick is rare among Seljuk structures in Anatolia.
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