The old town of Koya holds a special place among Northern Iraqi historic towns. Its architecture, still preserved today, reflects the great prosperity of this regional centre in the late Ottoman period. At that time, Koya was a bustling town that benefited from trade in livestock and agricultural products and was home to many literati and talented people in religious and cultural fields. Two valuable domed trade buildings (qaysariyas), the Great Mosque, the Mahmud Agha Khan (caravanserai) and numerous heritage houses dated from the 1840–1930 period represent this heyday. After many decades of neglect, destruction and reckless modernisation, the gradual restoration of this heritage is beginning with the cooperation of Kurdish, German and Czech experts, directed by WADI e.V., with the financial contribution of the Aliph Foundation.

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF KOYA / KOI SANJAQ