Alaeddin Mosque The Niğde Alaaddin Mosque is a remarkable architectural marvel, constructed in 1223 during the reign of Keyqubad I, a Sultan of the Seljuks who preceded the Ottoman Empire. The mosque was designed by the chief architect, Sıddık, assisted by his younger brother Gazi, and is constructed entirely out of cut stone. It boasts two doors, a grand one on the east side, and a smaller one on the north side, while the south end features three domes and an ancient minaret. One of the most impressive aspects of the mosque is its portal, which showcases the traditional Seljuk leaning roof style. The portal's East-facing side is particularly noteworthy because at certain times during the summer season, between 10 AM and 11 AM, sunlight creates an image in the shape of a crowned woman's head. The portal's name derives from a statue of a woman's head with a crown and knitted hair at the top, adding to the mosque's unique and exceptional architectural design. According to a legend, the master architect who designed the mosque fell in love with the daughter of the princess who lived in Niğde at the time. Knowing that he could never marry the princess, he decided to reveal his feelings by crafting her portrait beautifully on the marble portal while also taking advantage of the Governor's offer to construct a mosque in the city. The mosque incorporates all the features of Classical Seljukian Mosque Architecture in their original forms. It features completely geometrical ornamentation and is significant for presenting the first examples of Anatolian stone ornaments. The star-shaped geometric patterns on the Eastern Portal reflect a Seljukian quality that appeared just before such decoration became popular with other mosque architects. The Niğde Alaaddin Mosque is surrounded by other historical buildings, such as the Mosque of Rahmaniye, Sungur Bey Mosque, the Covered Bazaar of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa, Nalbantlar Fountain, Armenian and Greek Churches, adding to the mosque's cultural significance. As a result, it was added to the Tentative List of UNESCO in 2012.