Set between the rolling steppes of south-central Turkey, the city of Konya nestles amidst the hills of Anatolia in countless treasure-laden neighbourhoods of Seljuk majesty and mysterious Eastern opulence. At its heart, the iconic Whirling Dervishes flurry in arabesque halls and pilgrims prostrate themselves before the tomb of the revered Rumi at the Mevlana Museum. On the skyline, the spikey tips of mosque minarets punctuate the wispy outlines of clouds, keeping watch over leafy Aladdin Hill, where the footprints of ancient Sultans can still be imagined between the crumbling Seljuk Palace and on the paths that circumvent the groves of date trees. Elsewhere, below the remarkable outline of the Alaeddin Mosque, narrow streets weave their way out into the country to the noises of purring scooters. Way side, clusters of locals munch on etli ekmek pizza and sip gritty coffees in al fresco terraces, or chat excitedly between the ubiquitous silk and carpet stalls; all while Konya tour guides eagerly help travellers unravel the wonders of the Hittite, Roman and Greek cultures that have occupied this corner of Asia Minor in millennia gone by.