MOSQUES OF ISTANBUL
THE BLUE MOSQUE (SULTANAHMET CAMİ)
The Ottoman Emperor Ahmed I built the Blue Mosque on Istanbul’s ancient peninsula between 1609 and 1617. Sedefkar Mehmed Aga designed it.
It is also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, although international tourists refer to it as “The Blue Mosque” due to its mostly blue decorations. The mosque’s most notable architectural and artistic feature is the over 20,000 Iznik-style porcelain tiles that adorn it.
The Blue Mosque became Istanbul’s major mosque after Hagia Sophia was converted to a museum. The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most important structures, as it is the country’s first mosque with six minarets and a social complex.
Address: Sultanahmet, Atmeydani Cad. No:7, 34122 Fatih/Istanbul
HAGIA SOPHIA MOSQUE
Hagia Sophia, with its architecture, magnificence, scale, and functionality, is one of the most important artifacts in the world of architecture that has survived to this day. The grandest church the Eastern Roman Empire has ever built in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, has been built three times at the same spot.
From the 5th century until the conquest of Istanbul, it was known as “Megale Ekklesia” (Grand Church), and later Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom). During the riots, the Megale Ekklesia, constructed in 360 by Emperor Constantinus II, and the church of Theodosius II, renovated in 415, were both demolished.
The structure, which first served as a church in 916, was converted to a mosque in 1453 following Mehmed II’s invasion. On Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s command and the Ministerial Cabinet’s edict, Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum in 1935. With the new legislation adopted in 2020, it was opened for worship as a mosque.
Address: Ayasofya Meydani No:1 Posta Kodu:34122 Sultanahmet – Fatih/ISTANBUL
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Suleymaniye Mosque, considered a work of Mimar Sinan’s journeyman phase, was built between 1551 and 1557 as a dedication for Suleiman the Magnificent. The mosque is situated at the highest point in the Suleymaniye Social Complex, the second biggest of the Ottoman complexes, with views of the Golden Horn, Marmara, Topkapi Palace, and the Bosporus. It is regarded as one of the most important specimens of Ottoman architecture. In terms of décor, it is pretty understated.
There are four minarets at the Suleymaniye Mosque. The rationale for this is that after the conquest of Istanbul, Suleiman the Magnificent was the fourth sultan, and the 10 balconies on these four minarets imply that he was the tenth sultan of Ottoman.
Address: Suleymaniye Mah. Prof. Siddik Sami Onar Cad. No:1, 34116 Fatih/Istanbul
FATIH MOSQUE
Mehmed the Conqueror erected the Fatih Mosque and Social Complex, which is located in the Fatih district, which was founded on one of Istanbul’s seven hills.
The mosque’s construction began in 1462 and ended in 1469. Sinauddin Yusuf bin Abdullah designed it (Atik Sinan). The mosque was severely damaged in Istanbul’s earthquake of 1509, and it was restored during the reign of Bayezid II. Because it was destroyed in the 1766 earthquake, Sultan Mustafa III had the mosque rebuilt between 1767 and 1771, giving it its current appearance. During the Byzantine Era, the Church of the Holy Apostles is supposed to have been discovered on the slope of the mosque. The first Turkish azan was sung by
In 1932, this mosque shouted the first Turkish ezan. The tombs of various notable Ottoman figures, particularly that of Mehmed the Conqueror, may be found here.
Address: Ali Kuscu, Hattat Nafiz Cad. No:6, 34083, 34083 Fatih/Istanbul
SEHZADE MOSQUE
Sehzade Mosque, in Istanbul’s Fatih neighborhood, was built in remembrance of Prince Mehmed, Suleiman the Magnificent’s late son who died at a young age.
The mosque, which was constructed between 1543 and 1548, is credited to Mimar Sinan during his apprenticeship years. The dome’s 18.42 meter diameter is supported by four enormous semi-domes. It features two minarets, each with two balconies. The mosque’s decorations, like those of Master Architect Mimar Sinan’s earlier works, draw a lot of attention.
NURUOSMANIYE MOSQUE
Nuruosmaniye Mosque, located at the Grand Bazaar’s entrance in the Cemberlitas area, was erected between 1748 and 1755 by Mustafa Agha and his apprentice Simon Kalfa (Architect Simeon). It is Istanbul’s first mosque with baroque features.
The mosque and its complex, which were constructed at a time when the influences of westernization were beginning to show in design, are regarded as a turning point in Ottoman architecture. The name “Nur-u Osmani” translates to “The Light of the Ottoman Empire.” The mosque’s courtyard serves as a link between Cagaloglu and Cemberlitas.
Address: Mollafenari, Vezirhan Cad. No:4, 34120 Fatih/Istanbul
EYUP SULTAN MOSQUE
In 1458, Mehmed the Conqueror (Mehmed II) ordered the construction of the Eyup Sultan Mosque and Tomb, which is located in the Eyup area near the coast of Istanbul’s Golden Horn.
In the social complex where the mosque, which was utilized as a place for enthronement rituals of Ottoman sultans, especially Mehmed II, is found, it is known that there are components such as a madrasa, soup kitchen, bathhouse, and tomb. The complex’s bathroom is the oldest Ottoman bathhouse still standing today.
The Eyup Sultan Mosque is a rectangular building with a ridged mihrab. The grave of Sahabah Eyup Sultan, a prominent Muslim figure, may be seen on the mosque’s outer court. Selim III repaired the mosque after it had been damaged for many years. The construction of the mosque began in 1798, and it took two years for it to reach its current state. For centuries, the Eyup Sultan Mosque has been regarded as a major place of worship for Muslims from Istanbul and other Turkish cities.
Address: Merkez Mah. Cami Kebir Sok. No:1, 34050 Eyupsultan/Istanbul
YAVUZ SELIM MOSQUE
The Yavuz Selim Mosque, one of Istanbul’s seven sultan mosques, was built in 1522 by Suleiman the Magnificent as a memorial to his father, Yavuz Sultan Selim (Selim I). The mosque, which is located in Fatih district, was built on the hill that is closest to the Golden Horn. It is thought to have been designed by Mimar Ali. (Turbe Gate, Carsi Gate, and Kirkmerdiven Gate are the three entrances to the mosque’s court with trees and a vast garden.)
Traditional Turkish artworks were used to decorate every section of the Yavuz Selim Mosque (Engraving, marquetry, ceramic works, ornamentation, calligraphy, embroidery). The beauty of ceramics and the subtleties of engraving art found on doors and windows draw attention. Next to the mosque are two guest homes with nine domes and a madrasa across the street.
Address: Balat, Sultan Selim Cad. No:18, 34087 Fatih/Istanbul
BUYUK MECIDIYE (ORTAKOY) MOSQUE
Sultan Abdulmecid erected the Buyuk Mecidiye Mosque in Ortakoy, Besiktas, Istanbul in 1853. The mosque’s architecture was created by Nigogos Balyan and Garabet Amira Balyan and is Neo-Baroque in style. The Ortakoy Mosque, also known as the Ortakoy Mosque, is located in one of the most magnificent places of the Bosporus.
The mosaics and ornaments were meticulously made. After three years of renovation work between 2011 and 2014, the Buyuk Mecidiye Mosque reopened for service and visitors in 2014. The Ortakoy Mosque is one of the Bosporus’ most important and valuable architectural works.
Address: Mecidiye, Mecidiye Koprusu Sok. No:1 D:1, 34347 Besiktas/Istanbul
GRAND CAMLICA MOSQUE
The building of the Grand Camlica Mosque, which is located in Istanbul’s Uskudar district, began on March 29, 2013. It is the Republic’s largest mosque. The mosque has a seating capacity of 63,500 people, six minarets, and a total area of 57,500 square meters. In the museum’s courtyard, there is also a museum, an art gallery, a library, a conference hall with a capacity of 1000 people, eight art workshops, and a parking space with a capacity of 3,500 vehicles.
The mosque’s main dome was planned to be 34 meters wide to represent Istanbul, and 72 meters tall to commemorate the 72 ethnicities that once resided in Istanbul.
Address: Ferah, Ferah Yolu Sok. No:87, 34692 Uskudar/Istanbul
THE NEW MOSQUE
The New Mosque, which has been under construction for the longest, is located across the Spice Bazaar. The construction of the mosque began in 1589 by Safiye Sultan, Murad III’s wife, and was completed in 1661 by Valide Turhan Sultan, Mehmed IV’s mother. In 1663, the mosque’s construction was completed. With its architecture and craftsmanship, the New Mosque has a stunning appearance.
Address: Rustem Pasa, Yeni Cami Cad. No:3, 34116 Fatih/Istanbul
RUSTEMPASA MOSQUE
Rustem Pasa Mosque was erected in 1581 by Mimar in a very crowded region in the Eminonu district. The mosque is among the masterworks of the Ottoman Era and the prominent mosques of Istanbul and is known for its Iznik pottery and architecture. It was restored following the earthquake and fires that occurred during the Mustafa II period, but some of its original forms was lost in the process.
Address: Rustem Pasa, Hasircilar Cad. No:62, 34116 Fatih/Istanbul
KALENDERHANE MOSQUE
Kalenderhane Mosque, located near the 12th century Bozdogan Aqueduct between Fatih and Beyazit, was built as one of the mosques for dervishes during the Ottoman Era.
Address: Kalenderhane, 16 Mart Sehitleri Cad. No:11, 34134 Fatih/Istanbul
SOKULLU MEHMED PASHA MOSQUE
The mosque was built in 1557 by Mimar Sinan on an area that dominates the Historical Peninsula in the Kucuk Ayasofya district.
Address: Kucuk Ayasofya Mahallesi, 34122 Fatih/Istanbul
KILIC ALI PASHA MOSQUE
Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque, built-in 1580 by Mimar Sinan in Tophane, Istanbul, is a mosque dedicated to Ali Pasha. During the construction of the mosque, Mimar Sinan was inspired by Hagia Sophia.
Kilic Ali Pasha, the mosque’s name, was initially an Italian who later converted to Islam and became a Muslim. During the reigns of Suleiman the Magnificent and the three sultans, he was also the top admiral. With its stunning Iznik pottery and the porch at its main gate, Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most beautiful mosques.
Address: Kemankes Karamustafa Pasa, Kemeralti Cad. No:50, 34425 Beyoglu/Istanbul
MIHRIMAH SULTAN MOSQUE
Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, also known as Iskele Mosque, is located just opposite the ferry dock in Uskudar. It was constructed in 1548 by Mimar Sinan for Mihrimah Sultan, the daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and the bride of Sadrazam Rustem Pasha. From the mosque’s shadirvan (fountain), one of Istanbul’s most magnificent views may be enjoyed.
Address: Karagumruk, 34091 Fatih/Istanbul
ARAP MOSQUE
Although the constructor and date of construction are unknown, it is believed that this mosque was once a church built by the Latins on the ruins of the Byzantine Empire in the 13th century. Arap Mosque, which has Gothic architecture, was restored for the last time in 1868, giving it its current design.
Address: Azapkapi, Balat 34421 Beyoglu/Istanbul
VALIDE ATIK MOSQUE
In 1583, the Valide Atik Mosque was built on Uskudar’s tallest hill for Valide Sultan Nurbanu, Selim III’s wife and Murad III’s mother. The mosque, Mimar Sinan’s final major achievement, was planned in the same style as the Suleymaniye Mosque, and granite, ceramic, and marble were used in its construction.
Address: Validei Atik, Toptasi Meydan Sok. No:1, 34664 Uskudar/Istanbul
BAYEZID MOSQUE
The Bayezid Mosque, built between 1501 and 1506, is the second mosque built following Istanbul’s conquest. Bayezid II’s mosque was not designed by a specific architect. Mimar Sinan repaired the mosque after it was damaged in the earthquake in 1509. Bayezid State Library uses the mosque’s Imaret (soup kitchen) and caravansary. Today, the madrasa building houses the Museum of Calligraphy.
Address: Beyazit, Yeniceriler Cad. 34126 Fatih/Istanbul
DOLMABAHCE MOSQUE (Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan)
The mosque, which is located on the coast of Kabatas, was built in 1852 by Sultan Mahmud II’s wife and Sultan Abdulhamid’s mother, Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan. Nikogos Balyan designed the mosque, which was finished after a one-year building period. The mosque, which was built with stone and marble, has characteristics of Western and Ottoman architecture from the 19th century. Between 1948 until 1961, the Dolmabahce Mosque served as the Maritime Museum before being refurbished and reopened for service in 1966.
Address: Omer Avni, Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. No:34, 34427 Beyoglu/Istanbul
YILDIZ HAMIDIYE MOSQUE
The mosque, which was built in Sultan Abdulhamid II’s direction between 1884 and 1886 by architect Sarkis Balyan, is located on Barbaros Boulevard in the Besiktas neighborhood. In the courtyard of the mosque, which was built in 1890, there is a Clock Tower.
Address: Cihannuma, Serencebey Yokusu No:63, 34353 Besiktas/Istanbul
PERTEVNIYAL VALIDE SULTAN MOSQUE
This mosque was built in 1871 for Sultan Mahmud II’s bride and his mother, Sultan Abdulaziz, Pertevniyal Valide Sultan. The Italian Architect Monteni designed the mosque, which is located near the crossroads in Aksaray, Fatih. The structure incorporates Gothic, Indian, and Turkish architectural influences.
Address: Iskenderpasa, Ataturk Bulvari No:3, 34080 Fatih/Istanbul
CHORA MOSQUE
Chora Mosque is noted for its well-preserved mosaics and frescos all over the world. The mosque houses some of the most important and finest specimens of late Eastern Roman art. The concept of depth on the mosaics, as well as the characters’ mobile behavior, reflect a greater creative value that announces the Renaissance in the Medieval Age. With a state decree issued in the Official Gazette on August 21, 2020, the structure, which was formerly utilized as a museum, was converted into a mosque.
Address: Kariye Mahallesi, Kariye Camii Sokak, No: 18 Edirnekapi / Fatih, Istanbul
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