Ottoman Period

Istanbul, preserving her importance as cultural and religious center of the Christian World in the Byzantium period, became the cultural and religious center of the Muslim World in the Ottoman Period. Ottomans inherited from Byzantium of a collapsed, neglected town with decreased population (1453).

Mehmet II (Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror) invited the Mediterranean artists to Istanbul and wanted them to repair the damaged buildings. As a requirement of Islamic life, construction projects of mosques, masjids (small mosques without minaret), foundations, bath houses, markets, covered bazaars, inns and caravanserais were undertaken. Water systems and walls were repaired. Complexes of buildings around mosques were in the position of universities providing education in the field of religion, science, law and medicine. Ottoman art was formed in Istanbul and spread all over the Empire

Ottoman Period Mosques

Murat Pasa Mosque :
It is one one of the oldest mosques of the city built between 1471-1472.

Molla Aski Mosque :
Situated in Balat, it was built in the Period of Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror.

Rum Mehmed Pasha Mosque :
Situated in Uskudar, it was built as a complex by Rum Mehmed in 1471-1472.

Firuz Aga Mosque :
It is on the Sultanahmet Square. Firuz Aga, head treasurer of Beyazid II had it built in 1491.

Zincirlikuyu Mosque :
It is situated in Edirnekapi. Hadim Atik Ali Pasha had it built in 1499.

Bali Pasha Mosque :
Bali Pasha and his wife, Huma Hatun, had it built in 1504.

Iskender Pasha Mosque :
It is situated behind the Fatih Public Library. Iskender Pasha had it built in 1505.

Sinan Pasha Mosque :
It is situated across the monument of Barbaros in Besiktas and was built by Architect Sinan between 1553-1555.

Rustem Pasha Mosque :
Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha had it built by Architect Sinan in Hasircilar Carsisi (Strawmat Weavers Market), in Eminonu in 1561.

Piyale Pasha Mosque :
Piyale Pasha had Architect Sinan built it in 1573.

Azapkapı (Sokullu) Mosque :
Sokullu Mehmed Pasha had it built by Architect Sinan in Ayazkapi in 1577.

Ivaz Efendi Mosque :
It is situated in Ayvansaray. Ivaz Efendi, Chief Army Judge of Roumelia had it built by Architect Sinan in 1585.

Molla Celebi Mosque :
Mehmed Celebi, Judge of Istanbul, had it built by Architect Sinan in Kabatas in 1589.

Takkeci Ibrahim Aga Mosque :
Takkeci Ibrahim Aga had it built in Topkapi in 1591. This building is noted for its tiles.

Aga Mosque :
It is situated on Istiklal Street in Beyoglu. Huseyin Aga had it built in 1597.

Aziz Mahmud Hudai Mosque :
It is situated in Uskudar (Sentari). It was built in 1598.

Osman Aga Mosque :
It is situated in Sogutlucesme of Kadikoy and was built in 1713.

Ayazma Mosque :
It is situated in Uskudar. Sultan Mustafa III had Architect Mehmed Tahir Aga built it in 1760.

Iskele Mosque :
It is situated near Kadikoy Quay. Mustafa III had it built in 1761.Laleli Mosque: It is situated on Ordu Street in Aksaray. Mustafa III had Architect Mehmed Tahir Ağa built it in 1759-1763.

Zeynep Sultan Mosque :
It is situated in front of Gulhane Park. Sultan Zeynep, daughter of Sultan Ahmed III, had it built in 1769. Architect of this classical style mosque is Mehmet Tahir Aga.

Beylerbeyi Mosque :
Abdulhamit I had Architect M. Tahir Aga built it in 1778. It is a Baroque-style building.

Emirgan Mosque :
Sultan Abdulhamid I had it built in Emirgan in the Bosphorus in 1782. Sebsafa Hatun Mosque: It is situated in Zeyrek. Sebsafa Hatun had this baroque-style mosque built in Uskudar in 1787.

Selimiye Mosque :
It is situated in front of Selimiye Military Barracks. Selim III had it built in 1804. It was built in Classical Ottoman Mosques plan.

Nusretiye Mosque :
Sultan Mahmut II had architect Kirkor Balyan built it in Tophane in 1825-1826. The mosque is one of early examples of transformation from Baroque to Empire style.

Hırkai Serif Mosque :
It is situated in Atikali. Sultan Abdulmecid had it built in 1850.

Dolmabahce Mosque :
Sultan Bezmi Alem had Architect Kerabet Balyan built it in Dolmabahce in 1853. Abdulmecid had Architect Karabet Balyan built it in 1853.

Ortakoy Mosque :
It adjacent to the Ortakoy Ouay. Sultan Abdulmecid had Architect Karabet Balyan built it in 1853.

Altunizade Mosque :
It is situated between Baglarbasi and Kisikli. Ismail Zuhtu Pasha, a member of the Senate had it built in 1865

Valide Sultan Mosque :
Sultan Abdulaziz had it built for his mother, Pertevniyal Valide Sultan, in Aksaray Square in 1871. Its architect is Italian Montani. It is built in Rococo style and is a well omamented building.

Zuhtu Pasha Mosque :
It is situated in Kiziltoprak, Kadikoy. Ahmed Zuhtu Pasha had it built in 1884.

Yıldız (Hamidiye) Mosque :
It is stiuated in front of the Yildiz Palace in Besiktas.Abdulhamit II had it built between 1885-1886.

Bebek Mosque :
It is next to the Bebek Quay. It was built by Architect Kemalettin in 1912. It is one of the buildings evaluated within the Neo-Classical (1 st National Architecture) style. Architect Kemalettin has also built the Bostanci Mosque in Neo-Classical style.

Istanbul stands between Europe and Asia and is a once in a life-time 'must visit'. Istanbul, was formerly known as Constantinople, and before that Byzantium. It was also home to the largest building in the world for a thousand years and Haghia Sophia is still standing despite earthquakes. The design of Mosques actually comes from this building which was originally a church built in 535AD. You should not miss this city.




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