Famous Ottoman Mosques in Turkey

During the six centuries of its rule, the Ottoman Empire left numerous architectural beauties to Turkey. Among these architectural wonders, the most magnificent, eye-catching, and famous ones are the mosques. In this article, we have listed the famous mosques inherited from the Ottoman Empire.

Selimiye Mosque, Edirne

Mimar Sinan created the Selimiye Mosque at the age of 80 and described it as his masterpiece. It is regarded as one of the important works of Ottoman-Turkish architectural history. Being the symbol of Edirne and also the Ottoman period, the mosque was built between 1569 and 1575 by the order of Selim II.

Containing elements of Islamic and Ottoman architecture, the mosque has four elegant minarets. The mihrab and pulpit of the mosque are among the masterpieces of marble workmanship. Selimiye Mosque is on the World Heritage List by UNESCO.

Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul

Mimar Sinan built the Süleymaniye Mosque between 1551 and 1558 with the order of Süleyman the Magnificent. Süleymaniye is one of the most important examples of classical Ottoman architecture. The buildings within the Süleymaniye Complex are lined up around the Süleymaniye Mosque by drawing a U-shaped profile. The mosque has four minarets, two of them with three balconies and the other two with two balconies. The dome of the mosque is 53 meters high.

The mosque has a central dome, two semi-domes, two-quarter domes, and ten small domes. The central dome rests on four elephant feet, and the dome arches rest on four large granite columns. There are 64 cubes placed inside the dome and at the corners, with an open mouth to the inside to create sensitive acoustics. The mosque has an interior area of ​​approximately 3,500 m2. It is 59 meters long and 58 meters wide and receives light from 238 windows. The sultan and muezzin loge based on granite and marble columns draw attention to the minbar and mihrab workmanship.

Dazzling with its imposing stance, this mosque attracts the attention of tourists.

Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Blue Mosque is known as Sultanahmet Mosque in Turkish. The construction of the Blue Mosque started in 1609 and took approximately eight years. After its construction, it was about 45 meters long. The Blue Mosque was formed by the combination of the characteristics of Ottoman mosque architecture and Byzantine architecture. Built during the reign of Ahmed I, the architect of this historical mosque is Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa.

Approximately 20,000 Iznik tiles were used in the construction of the Blue Mosque. The mosque is the first mosque in the country with six minarets.

New Mosque

New Mosque’s foundations were laid during the reign of Sultan Mehmed III. It was completed in 1447 during the reign of Sultan Murad II. The mosque built by the Ottoman family is known as the last example of the great mosques. It is one of the mosques that took the longest time to build.

This structure, which could be finished 66 years after it started to be built, was originally by the sea. However, filling works have been carried out, and its distance to the sea has increased. The domes on the side facade and the height of the porches are among the designs used by architects Mehmet and Mimar Sinan. It was designed as a complex while the mosque was being built.

Rustem Pasha Mosque

Rüstem Pasha Mosque was built in 1560 by order of Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha, husband of Mihrimah Sultan, the daughter of Süleyman the Magnificent. The mosque is the first example of Mimar Sinan’s eight-pillared domed mosque plan.

Rüstem Pasha Mosque is located in Tahtakale, one of the most active places in Istanbul today. At that time, this region was also active as a commercial area. Since the site where the mosque is located in the pit, shops and warehouses are built in the lower part. The mosque was built on them.

Şehzade Mosque

Şehzade Mosque, built for Süleyman the Magnificent’s son Şehzade Mehmet, who died at the age of 22, is one of the most important monumental structures among the historical mosques in Istanbul. Also known as the Şehzadebaşı Mosque, the building is one of the works showing the development of Mimar Sinan’s art after he became the chief architect.

The plan of the Şehzade Mosque is square. It covers a middle dome with a diameter of 18,4 meters and four large semi-domes to complete and continue the effect of this dome. The large dome rests on four elephant legs. Besides, there are small domes in each of the four corners of the mosque. The pulpit and mihrab are handcrafted from pure marble and are caged and railed.