Thanks
to its deep history which is comprised of many empires, cultures and religions,
Istanbul is one of the most culturally rich and diverse cities in the world.
Because of this, you can find numerous historically significant sites here,
from churches to various museums to fortresses. But there is no doubt that the
influence of the Ottomans in Istanbul was the most significant, so there are
many old mosques that still stand today. Since these are some of the most
interesting parts of the city, we prepared this guide so you don’t miss these
amazing historic mosques in Istanbul.
Hagia
Sophia
Even
though it does not function as a mosque anymore, Hagia Sophia was a mosque
before being converted into a museum, so you can still see all of the many mosque
parts of the building as well as many Islamic artworks and relics inside. Nonetheless,
Hagia Sophia Museum is one of the most famous attractions in the world for a
reason. It is no wonder that this cornerstone of architecture is considered the
8th wonder of the world. Built in the 5th century as the Greek
Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, this magnificent monument witnessed
two of the largest empires in the history of mankind. It is said that Hagia
Sophia alone changed the course of architecture and stayed as the largest
cathedral in the world for around 1000 years. When Mehmet the Conqueror took
Istanbul, he converted this place into a mosque. In 1931, it became a museum.
Inside,
its historical mosque parts like the minbar, mihrab, low hanging chandeliers
and Islamic inscriptions still catch the eye easily. Other than that, you
can see many amazing relics and artworks, like urns, columns and doors. There
are countless amazing Christian mosaics on the walls too.
Sultan
Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
Easily
the most famous mosque in not only Istanbul but the whole country as well,
Sultan Ahmet Mosque still draws thousands of visitors from all around the world
each month. Famously known as “Blue Mosque” amongst tourists, it gets this name
from the beautiful blue Iznik tiles that decorate the inside. Built in 1616
during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I, this mosque is a marvel no matter where you
look at it from. Like other imperial mosques of Istanbul, it is was
built as a kulliye (complex), so it also includes a madrasah, Sultan Ahmed I’s
tomb and a hospice. This grand monument has six minarets and five main domes. Its
entire design is perfectly symmetrical. Inside, you will see the peak of
Ottoman mosque architecture as the atmosphere and the artistic value of this
mosque is simply unparalleled. This mosque is definitely one of the most
important parts of the Old City of Istanbul.
Suleymaniye
Mosque
Designed
by Mimar Sinan for the famous Ottoman emperor Suleiman the Magnificent, Suleymaniye
Mosque is one of the top mosques in Istanbul. It was built in 1557 at
the highest point of the historical peninsula. It has a very large courtyard at
the entrance with a fountain at the center. While walking to the entrance in
this yard, you get to see the amazing exterior built with marble, granite and
porphyry along with its large dome and four minarets. When you get inside, you
will be amazed just like you would in any other imperial mosque. The main dome,
decorations on the walls, the spherical design, religious inscriptions and the
low-hanging large chandelier; all of them play a role in creating a unique
atmosphere.
Rustem
Pasha Mosque
Another
spectacular work of Mimar Sinan, Rustem Pasha Mosque was built for the grand
vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent, Rustem Pasha, who was also the husband of
one of the daughters of Sultan Suleiman. Its main feature that sets it apart
from other old mosques in Istanbul is that it is built above the street level,
on top of a series of shops. These shops supported the mosque both physically
and financially.
Inside,
the Rustem Pasha Mosque is known for its use of Iznik tiles. There is a great
number of Iznik tiles in use here, so much so that no other mosque uses these
tiles as much as Rustem Pasha Mosque. These tiles have more than 80 different
patterns for different sections of the interior. All in all, it is one of the most
beautiful mosques in Istanbul.
Mihrimah
Sultan Mosques
There
are two Mihrimah Sultan Mosques in Istanbul. While that may seem confusing,
learning the amazing story behind this fact will transform this confusion into bewilderment.
These
two mosques were made by the famous chief Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan by the
request of the daughter of Sultan Suleiman, Mihrimah Sultan. The mosque in
Uskudar was built on a high hill while the one in Edirnekapi was built in a
rather unknown place. The interesting thing is, in Persian, Mihr-u
Mah means “sun and moon”. Knowing this, Mimar Sinan built the mosques in such
locations that every year during April and May, sunsets down behind one of the
mosques and the moon rises behind the other.
Apart
from this amazing story, the mosques too are magnificent as they are examples
of Mimar Sinan’s earlier works. Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Uskudar is the
smaller one. It has one big main dome like most of Sinan’s works and 3 semi
domes. Its thin minarets, various Islamic scriptures and great interior design
definitely stand out. Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Edirnekapi is a bigger mosque with
a courtyard. This courtyard is surrounded by semi-open corridors with an
ablation fountain in the middle. Its inside is more decorated and modern,
caused by the restorations.
Yeni
Camii (New Mosque)
While
its name may make it seem like this mosque is new, its history goes back more
than 4 centuries. Its construction was ordered by the wife of Sultan Murad III,
Safiye Sultan, in 1595. But due to conflicts in the court about the mosque’s
economic implications, the construction was stopped midway in 1603. After this,
the mosque gradually decayed and was mostly destroyed in the Great Fire of
Istanbul in 1660. It was completed by the Turhan Sultan, who was the mother of
Sultan Mehmed IV. Since Turhan Sultan was the second Valide Sultan to have a
part in the construction of this mosque, the mosque was named “Yeni Valide
Sultan Camii” (New Valide Sultan Mosque), but this gradually shortened to Yeni
Camii (New Mosque).
In
terms of aesthetic value, this mosque is one of the best historic mosques in
Istanbul. This large building looks beautiful from the outside, especially
with the yellow lighting that turns on around it after the sun sets. Its 66
domes and semi domes along with its 2 minarets stand out from the rest of the
city. Since it is an imperial mosque, it was built as a complex, which also
included a primary school and a spice bazaar.
Inside
of the mosque is breathtaking as the natural lighting provided by the countless
windows makes it so that every piece of art on the walls is clearly visible.
Iznik tiles of various colors create a colorful sight while Islamic calligraphy
plates stand out amongst the detailed walls of the interior. When you take all
of these into account, New Mosque is definitely among the Istanbul Classics.
