Egri (Leaning) Minaret

Egri (Leaning) Minaret

A remarkable piece of history from the Seljuk Period, the Leaning Minaret of Aksaray is often compared to the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Located on Nevşehir Street in the heart of Aksaray, this minaret is a valuable historical treasure. It acquired its name due to its lean of 3° 11'.

Egri (Leaning) Minaret

The Egri Minaret, also known as the Crimson Minaret due to its red brick color, was constructed by master builders between 1221-1236. This 30.6 meter tall tower has 92 steps and balconies on all four sides. The leaning position of the minaret is believed to be a result of its construction rather than the buildings around it.

The cylindrical tower has two sections separated by a moulding. The lower section is adorned with zig-zags while the upper section is decorated with blue and green tile mosaics. To reinforce the minaret, steel ties were attached to it in 1973 when it was at risk of collapsing. Later, a mosque was constructed adjacent to the minaret.