Historical Mosques
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Rüstem Paşa Mosque
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Dolmabahçe Camii (Dolmabahçe Mosque)
This mosque located on the Bosphorus in the southern part of Dolmabahçe Palace
is one of the artworks of the Balyan family of architects. It is one of the
highly decorated Baroque-style mosques. As a part of the palace complex it contains
a front section in which the Sultan and state officials could worship. The spherical
arrangement of the windows, resembling a peacock tail is an unusual sight fairly
uncommon among the architect of mosques. The two minarets both have a gallery.
The inner door is ornamented in a combination of the Baroque and Empire styles.
A precious chandelier hangs from the niche. The mihrap (niche) and the
minber (pulpit) of the mosque are made of porphyry marble.
Eyüp Camii (Eyüp Mosque)
This is considered to be holiest mosque in all of Istanbul. The Ottoman Sultans
held their coronation ceremonies here. The faithful still flock here to pray
to the relics of Eyüp, a companion of the Prophet Mohammed who died during the
Islamic assault on Constantinople in 670. It is outside the city walls, near
the Golden Horn. Eyüp was also the first mosque built after the Ottoman conquest
of the city. Be sure not to visit on Fridays, when the mosque is packed with
worshippers. Up the hill through the graveyard is the impressive Pierre Loti
Café House, offering refreshments and a fascinating view of the Golden Horn.
Fatih Camii (Fatih Mosque)
The imperial Fatih Mosque, constructed between 1463 and 1470, bears the name
of the Ottoman conqueror of Istanbul, Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and is the site of
his mausoleum. Standing on one of the seven hills of Istanbul, it is vast in
size and great houses a complex of buildings, Medrese (theological school),
hospices, baths, a hospital, a caravansary and a library, making it well worth
a visit.
Mihrimah Sultan Camii (Mihrimah Sultan Mosque)
Walls of glass fill the four immense arches that support the central dome at
the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque inside the old city walls at Edirnekapı. 161 windows
illuminate this mosque, built by the famous Architect Sinan for Mihrimah Sultan,
the daughter of Süleyman the Magnificent, in 1555.
Nuruosmaniye Camii (Nuruosmaniye Mosque)
An 18th century mosque located at Cağaloğlu and influenced by baroque architecture
is considered a turning point in mosque architecture. This mosque has also given
its name to one of the major entrances of the Kapalı Çarşı (Covered Bazaar)
that is situated near by.
Nusretiye Camii (Nusretiye Mosque)
Nusretiye Camii, located at Tophane district is a 19th century mosque constructed
in the Empiric style and is widely known as Tophane Mosque among natives. It
is one of the artworks of famous Balyan family of architects. There is a fountain
with 12 taps in the stone courtyard and a pointed spire supported by ten trim
columns. The interior is decorated with calligraphy of well-knows artists of
its time. The dome highlights the generous style as it is ornamented with wooden
bas-reliefs covered with gold leaves. The prayer niche and the pulpit are made
of marble and bear complicated embroidery.
Ortaköy Camii (Ortaköy or Büyük Mecidiye Mosque)
A superb setting on a point extending into the Bosphorus. This Ottoman baroque-rococo
mosque displays a wonderful sculptural approach. It is situated in Ortaköy Square,
which is a very attractive place for the people of İstanbul and visitors especially
on the weekends. It was built in 1854-55 by the famous architect Nigos Balyan
under the directive of Sultan Abdülmecid. There is a two-story pew on the left
reserved for the Sultan's prayers. The quay in front of the mosque was for the
Sultan to approach by his Sultanate boat and enabled him to go directly to the
pew. Some plates and on the walls and the Kelime-i şahadet (testifying
one's belief in Islam) on the pulpit are the art works of Sultan Abdülmecid.
Rüstem Paşa Camii (Rüstem Paşa Mosque)
The mosque complex also includes four Medrese (theological school), a
school of medicine, a caravansary, a Turkish bath, and a kitchen and hospice
for the poor. The Rüstem Paşa Mosque was built in 1561, another skillful accomplishment
of the architect Sinan, on the orders of Rüstem Paşa, Grand Vizier and son-in-law
of Süleyman the Magnificent. Exquisite İznik tiles panel the small and superbly
proportioned interior.
Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Camii (Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Mosque)
The 16th century Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Mosque built in an awkwardly shaped plot
on a steeply sloping hill near Sultanahmet is one of the most beautiful examples
of classical Turkish architecture and a masterpiece of the architect Sinan.
Inside, breathtakingly beautiful blues, greens, purples and reds color the elegant
designs of the Iznik tiles.
Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque)
This most famous mosque of the city and stands facing Haghia Sophia magnificence
with its tremendous elegant six minarets and is the only one of its kind in
Turkey. It was built by the Architect Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, who adhered to the
mosque building traditions established by Architect Sinan, for Sultan Ahmet
I in the square carrying his name, between 1609-1616. In Ottoman period only
Sultans and the members of their immediate families were allowed to build mosques
with multiple minaret. It has three doors, the largest opening into the main
courtyard, which is used as the entrance today. The mosque is almost square
in plan. The central dome is 43 m in height and is 33.4 m in diameter supported
by four marble piers with four arches sprung between and flanked on all four
sides by a semi-dome with cupolas at the corners. 260 windows surround the mosque
providing the interior with a warm, overall light that illuminates the rich
tiling and tracery. As you enter you will surly be silenced by the overwhelming
beauty and the proportion and balance of its internal spaces. Due to its beautiful
blue, green and white tiling on the lower walls of the mosque and those of the
gallery it has been named the "Blue Mosque" by Europeans. These tiles,
whose blue tones imbue the interior with an ethereal atmosphere, were produced
in İznik when the industry there had achieved full maturity and are decorated
with superb floral motifs in an exquisite blue-green palette. The inscriptions
were made by Seyyid Kasım Gubari. The practice of stringing up lights between
the minarets of mosques and of spelling out messages during Ramazan was
begun by Ahmed I and has since become a custom. During the tourist season a
light and sound show both entertains and informs not only the tourists but also
the natives. We strongly recommend you watch the sun set behind the mosque in
an ever-changing exhibition of light and shadow.
Süleymaniye Camii (Süleymaniye Mosque)
The cascading domes and four slender minarets of Süleymaniye Mosque dominate
the skyline on the Golden Horn's west bank. Considered the most beautiful of
all imperial mosques in İstanbul, it was built between 1550 and 1557 by architect
Sinan, the most famous architect of the Ottoman golden age. On the crest of
a hill, the building is conspicuous for its great size, which the four minarets
that rise from each corner of the courtyard emphasize. Inside, the mihrab
(prayer niche) and the mimber (pulpit) are made of finely carved white
marble; fine stained glass windows color the incoming streams of light. It was
in the gardens of this complex that Süleyman and his wife Hürrem Sultan had
their mausoleum built, and near here also that Sinan built his own tomb.
The massive scale of this mosque is best appreciated from a distance. Up close,
the mosque is formal and rather forbidding, but it is interesting to stroll
around the surrounding complex of buildings.
Şehzade Camii (Şehzade Mosque)
Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (The Magnificient) had this mosque built by famous Architect Sinan in memory of his favorite son Mehmed. The construction started in 1544 and completed in 1548. This was the first royal mosque that Sinan built and he referred it as “the work of my apprenticeship” later. It is located at Saraçhane across the Municipality Palace overlooking both the Golden Horn and the Marmara sea.. The mosque is in the middle of a complex composed of theology school, hospice, stables, imaret and the mausoleum of Şehzade Mehmed that attracts attention with its exterior decorations and sliced dome. Like many of his mosque constructions, the Şehzade Mosque has a square base upon which rests a large central dome flanked by four half domes on the sides and one small dome at each corner. The ornaments on the minarets are striking.
Yeni Cami (New Mosque)
Built between 1597 and 1663, the Yeni (New) Mosque hovers over the harbor at
Eminönügreeting the incoming ferryboats and welcoming tourists to the old city.
It is considered a late example of classical Ottoman architecture; this is one
of the most familiar landmarks in the city not only with its architecture but
also with thousands of pigeons waiting to be fed. Marvelous İznik tiles decorate
the sultan's balcony.While there don't miss out on visiting the famous Mısır Çarşısı (Spice Market) which is just next door and was built to meet the
maintenance cost of the mosque
Also See:
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