The Crown Portal
The magnificent stone entrance (Taç Kapı) featuring classic Seljuk geometric patterns.
The origin of this grand structure is rooted in a bittersweet royal tragedy. Legend says that Princess Gevher Nesibe fell in love with a palace cavalry commander, a match her brother, Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev I, forbade. After the commander was sent to his death in battle, the princess fell ill with grief. On her deathbed, she requested her brother build a hospital where patients could be cured free of charge and where future doctors could be trained.
The architecture reflects the Seljuk's rationalist approach to science. The "Double Madrasah" design consists of two courtyards connected by a narrow corridor. The southern section served as the hospital, while the northern section was the medical school. This separation allowed students to learn theory in the classroom and immediately apply it in the clinical wards next door.
Inside, you will find the Tomb of Gevher Nesibe located in the northwest corner. The simplicity of the tomb compared to the scale of the hospital serves as a reminder of her selfless legacy. The complex remained a functioning medical center for centuries until the late 19th century, witnessing the evolution of medicine from the medieval era to the modern age.