Karatay Madrasa was founded by Celaleddin Karatay, a vezier of Sultan
Izzeddin Keykevus. Because of its perforated dome, which covers a central
space with a pool in. the middle, Karatay Madrasa falls into tfie enclosed-madrasa
group. There is a comprising iwan on the west opening to this central space.
The main entrance gate of the madrasa is not on the same axis with this
iwan. There was a square entrance section covered with a dome in the south-eastern
corner behind the portal. This part is totally collapsed today. There are
domed rooms on the two sides of the iwan facing the pool. The southern
one of these rooms is the tomb of Celaleddin Karatay. The small rooms between
the domed spaces are student cells and the iwan was used as the main classroom.
The interior wall surfaces are covered with .mosaic tiles which are mainly
coloured in turquoise and dark blue. The geometrical star designs on the
mosaic tiles of the dome create an image of heavens wiih its stars and
planets.