EYUP SULTAN MOSQUE
Visiting the Eyüp Sultan Mosque is often described as one of the most spiritual experiences one can have in Istanbul. While the shared photos appears to be a personal memory from the 2018 trip, the mosque remains a cornerstone of the city’s identity.
The mosque is considered the 4th holiest site in Islam (after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem). It is built on the site where Abu Ayuub al-Ansari (the Prophet companion) and standard -bearer of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w, is believed to have been buried during the first Arab siege of Constantinople in the 7th century.
It was the first mosque built by the Ottomans after the conquest of Istanbul in 1453.
The tomb of Eyüp Sultan is adorned with exquisite Iznik tiles from various eras, creating a vibrant blue and green interior that is deeply revered.
The hillside behind the mosque is covered in historic Ottoman tombstones. Many visitors take the teleferik (cable car) over these graves to reach Pierre Loti Hill for a view of the Golden Horn.
THE BLUE MOSQUE
The Blue Mosque, officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), is one of the most iconic and visually stunning landmarks in Istanbul. Located directly opposite the Hagia Sophia, it remains a symbol of the Ottoman Empire’s architectural and spiritual grandeur.
The mosque earned its popular nickname from the more than 20,000 handmade İznik ceramic tiles that line its interior. These tiles feature over 50 different tulip designs and create a mesmerizing blue-hued atmosphere when illuminated by natural light.
It is the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets. At the time of construction, this was highly controversial as only the Great Mosque in Mecca had six; to resolve the dispute, Sultan Ahmed I funded the addition of a seventh minaret in Mecca.
The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616, commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I, designed by Sedefkar Mehmed Aga, a student of the legandary Mimar Sinan.
BURSA GRAND MOSQUE
The Bursa Grand Mosque (Bursa Ulu Cami) is widely regarded as the most significant landmark in Bursa and a masterpiece of early Ottoman architecture. Built between 1396 and 1399 by Sultan Bayezid I, it represents a transition from the Seljuk style to the grand imperial Ottoman architecture that would later define Istanbul. Located in Bursa's old city, adjacent to the historic Koza Han (silk market) and the Grand Bazaar.
The mosque is famous for its unique roof featuring 20 domes arranged in four rows of five. According to legend, Sultan Bayezid I promised to build 20 mosques if he won the Battle of Nicopolis; after his victory, he chose to build one massive mosque with 20 domes instead.
The mosque is often called a "museum of Islamic calligraphy" because it contains 192 monumental wall inscriptions. These were created by 41 different Ottoman calligraphers and include Quranic verses, the names of Allah, and various classical compositions.
Famous traveler Evliya Celebi once referred this mosque as the "Hagia Sophia of Bursa". The mosque houses a 500-year-old door from the Kaaba in Mecca, a gifted by Sultan Selim I after his conquest of Egypt.
BURSA GREEN MOSQUE
The Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami) and the Green Mausoleum (Yeşil Türbe) are the centerpiece of the historic Yeşil (Green) Complex in Bursa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2014. Built in the early 15th century, these structures represent the pinnacle of early Ottoman architectural and artistic achievement.
Commissioned by Sultan Mehmed I Çelebi in 1412, construction was completed between 1419 and 1420. It was built to symbolize the revival of Ottoman rule following a period of civil war known as the Ottoman Interregnum.
The mosque is named for its extensive use of green and blue-turquoise interior tiles. Its original minarets, which collapsed in an 1855 earthquake, were also believed to have been covered in green tiles.
The Green Mausoleum (Yesi Turbe) : built in 1421 by Sultan Murad II, it is the final resting place of his father, Sultan Mehmed I.
The hexagonal structure is famous for its turquoise and green-tiled exterior. While much of the original tile work was damaged in the 1855 earthquake, it was largely restored using contemporary Kütahya tiles in the 19th century.
Both sites are located in the Yesil neighborhood of Bursa, within the walking distance of each other.
AL-FATIH MOSQUE
The Fatih Mosque (Al-Fatih Mosque or Fatih Camii) is a historic imperial mosque located on one of Istanbul's seven hills. It serves as a monumental symbol of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and the empire's rise to power.
Commissioned by Sultan Mehmed II (the Conqueror), construction of the original mosque took place between 1463 and 1470.
It was built on the ruins of the Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles, which was the city's second most important church after Hagia Sophia and the burial place of several Byzantine emperors.
The original structure was almost completely destroyed by a massive earthquake in 1766. The mosque seen today was rebuilt in 1771 by architect Mehmed Tahir Ağa under Sultan Mustafa III with a significantly different design.
The mosque features one of Istanbul's oldest sundials built into a minaret wall, designed by the astronomer Ali Qushji.
The complex's graveyard contain the tomb of Sultan Mehmed II and his wife Gulbahar Hatun, as well as many prominent Ottoman and Turkish historical figures.
HAGIA SOPHIA
The Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi), meaning "Holy Wisdom," is a world-renowned architectural masterpiece in Istanbul that has transitioned between serving as a cathedral, a mosque, and a museum over its 1,500-year history.
Historical Evolution
- Byzantine Cathedral (537–1453): Commissioned by Emperor Justinian I, the current structure was completed in just five years (532–537). For nearly a millennium, it was the world’s largest church and the spiritual heart of the Eastern Orthodox Empire.
- Ottoman Mosque (1453–1934): Following the conquest of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror converted it into a mosque. The Ottomans added Islamic features, including four minarets, a mihrab (prayer niche), and a minbar (pulpit).
- Secular Museum (1935–2020): Under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the building was converted into a museum to showcase both its Christian and Islamic heritage.
- Grand Mosque (2020–Present): In July 2020, the Turkish government redesignated it as a functioning mosque.
The complex houses the mausoleums of five Ottoman sultans, including Selim II, Murad III, and Mehmed III, alongside many members of the royal family.
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Visiting the mosque located in Istanbul is a journey back to the "Golden Age" of the Ottoman Empire. Built between 1550 and 1557 by the legendary architect Mimar Sinan for Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, this comples was designed to rival the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia.
Inside the mosque is also a final resting place of Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana).
The mosque offers one of the best views of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Galata Tower.
Turkey is home to over 80,000 mosques, many of which are centuries-old architectural masterpieces. If you travel outside Istanbul, you'll find older Seljuk-style mosque which look very different.
| Mosque Name | City | Built | Notable Feature |
| Selimiye Mosque | Edirne | 1575 | Mimar Sinan’s self-proclaimed "masterpiece." |
| Bursa Grand Mosque | Bursa | 1399 | Famous for its 20 domes and incredible calligraphy. |
| Green Mosque | Bursa | 1421 | Known for its unique turquoise and green tilework. |
| Ulu Cami | Diyarbakır | 639 | One of the oldest mosques in Anatolia; built on a former church site. |
| Alaaddin Mosque | Konya | 1220 | The main mosque of the Seljuk Sultans of Rum. |
| Eşrefoğlu Mosque | Beyşehir | 1299 | A UNESCO site famous for its 42 wooden columns. |
Hj Zulheimy Maamor
1/1/2026: 2.02 p.m
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