The historical and architectural splendor of some of the world's finest mosques may be found in Turkey. If you are visiting Turkey and are interested in art, architecture, culture, or heritage, you should make it a point to visit a few mosques. Historic mosques can be found all over Turkey, with some of the most well-known examples being found in Istanbul. Some of the more impressive remnants from the early Seljuk era are hidden away in less obvious places, but they are well worth the effort to find.
Outside of prayer hours, mosques welcome people who are not Muslim. At mosques, there is no need to pay to enter. Men should wear long pants or skirts (at least ankle length) and women should bring a scarf to protect their heads. Larger mosques with high visitor volumes may keep a box of borrowed head scarves near the front door. Our recommended mosques in Turkey are a great place to start exploring the Islamic cultural legacy. The mihrab and minbar, which face the direction of prayer, are the most elaborate features of a mosque's qibla wall.
Turkey's tourist attractions include mosques. Due to their antiquity or architecture, several are considered historical masterpieces. In June 2016, 93,210 mosques were counted in Turkey.
Sultanahmet Camii (the Blue Mosque) – Istanbul
The Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmet Mosque, was finished in 1617, just before the sad death of its namesake patron, Sultan Ahmet I, who was only 27 years old at the time. The mosque dominates Istanbul's regal skyline, elegantly composed of rising domes and six thin soaring minarets.
The Sultanahmet Mosque's presence of six minarets was met with opposition because it was the only mosque in Istanbul at the time. The sultan was accused of being a little conceited for putting on a show intended for the Prophet's mosque in Mecca.
Urban legend has it that the sultan and his architect had a misunderstanding that started all of this trouble. It is said that the sultan requested gold minarets or golden (in Turkish golden is altın) minarets, and the architect translated this to imply exactly that (which means six minarets. Six is similar to golden in Turkish altin (golden) and alti (six)
A second, less convincing myth claims that the architect made a cost-benefit analysis and settled on constructing only six of the gold minarets. Whatever the reason for the original six minarets, the sultan resolved the issue by having a seventh one built at the mosque in Mecca at his own expense.
The Blue Mosque is well-known, but why? The Blue Mosque, which is a famous example of Ottoman architecture, is a World Heritage Site because of how important it is historically and how beautiful it is. It has a rich history and is well known for its distinctive architecture. The magnificent interior is adorned with blue Iznik tiles, and the building has six minarets.
Süleymaniye Camii (the Magnificent) – Istanbul
It was finished in 1557 as a memorial to Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent after an eight-year construction period. Both the ruler and the architect may take pride in the stunning Suleymaniye Mosque. As the Ottoman Empire's longest-reigning sultan, from 1520 to 1566, Suleyman is often called a "Second Solomon" for the peace and prosperity that flourished throughout his reign.
The Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii) is not only beautiful but also represents Sinan's crowning achievement as an architect. The Blue Mosque is the most well-known, and as a result, it attracts the most tourists. The Süleymaniye Mosque, perched atop Istanbul's highest hill, is rarely overwhelmed by the city's hordes of sightseers. But that isn't the only advantage it has.
In addition to the restaurant, which is located in the former public kitchens just outside the mosque's outer walls, the public caravanserai is also located there.
Ulu Camii (Grand Mosque) – Bursa
Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, and its greatest mosque, known as the Ulu Camii or "Great Mosque," is a hallmark of early Ottoman architecture that developed from Seljuk Turkish architecture. It was commissioned by Sultan Bayezid I and constructed by architect Ali Neccar between 1396 and 1399.
The Grand Mosque of Bursa, often known as the Great Mosque, is a city icon. The edifice is one of Bursa's most impressive and significant due to its two soaring minarets and twenty domes. After Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, and Damascus, Ulu Cami'i is the fifth most important mosque in Islam. To add to its significance, in 2014, Bursa was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Seljuk and early Ottoman influences may be seen throughout the Bursa Great Mosque, which was commissioned by Sultan Yldrm Bayezid I and opened in 1399. There are a total of 20 domes atop the mosque, grouped in four rows of five each. This configuration separates the 2200 square meter rectangular area into more intimate spaces within the vast structure.
Selimiye Cami (Selimiye Mosque) – Edirne
Located in what is now known as Kavak Meydan or Sarbayr, Sinan, the famous Ottoman architect, constructed the Selimiye Mosque. Because of its innovative design and massive scale, it is widely regarded as his greatest work of architecture. The mosque and the two madrasas to its southeast and southwest share a courtyard that is 190 meters by 130 meters in size. During the reign of Sultan Murad III (r. 982-1003/1574-95), the architect David constructed a row of shops (arasta) and a recitation school (darülkurra) to the west side of the courtyard.
To many, the Selimiye Mosque represents the pinnacle of Islamic architecture in the Ottoman Empire and the work of the great architect Sinan. The clock tower, several courtyards, and library were all intended to be a part of the larger architectural complex, or külliye, which also included a mosque, two medreses (theological schools), a covered bazaar called Selimiye Arastas, and a tower. In 2011, the entire complex was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for its outstanding architecture and well-balanced design.
Sinan, the Ottoman Empire's chief architect, made the final decision on the precise location of the new building. Although there was a more impressive hill nearby called Kiyak Tepe, he chose the more strategically located Sari Tepe, which provides sweeping views of the Edirne Plain. Sinan had built a water cistern at Sari Tepe 50 years earlier, so he was more familiar with the geological features of the site. He also considered the fact that Edirne is in an earthquake zone and that the bedrock is 20 meters below ground.
Büyük Mecidiye Camii (Ortaköy Mosque) – Istanbul
The Ortaköy Camii, Turkey (Ortaköy Mosque, Turkey), located in a lovely area of Istanbul immediately before the Bosphorus Bridge, is a must-see. In fact, pictures of the Ortaköy Mosque are frequently used to illustrate the unique contrast between the old and the new in Istanbul, with the bridge in the background.
The most stunning mosque on the European side of the Bosphorus is the Ortakoy Mosque. Although its official name is Buyuk Mecidiye Mosque, it is more commonly known as the Ortakoy Mosque because it is located in one of Istanbul's most popular neighborhoods.
Beautiful scenery complements the abundance of waterfront eateries and night spots. You can enjoy the sights and sounds of the constant marine activity while smoking a hookah and playing tavla (backgammon) on a charming platform right in front of the mosque, which overlooks the Bosphorus Bridge, the first to unite Asia and Europe.
Yivli Minare Camii (Alaaddin Mosque) – Antalya
At the intersection of Cumhuriyet Street and Kalekapsi Square in Antalya's Kaleiçi (the old town center), you'll find the Yivli Minaret Mosque. The Yivli Minaret, the mosque's fluted minaret, is a landmark and a symbol of the city due to its decoration with dark blue tiles. According to an inscription by the mosque's entrance, Mehmet Bey, a descendant of Yunus Bey of the Hamitoglu dynasty, built the Yivli Minaret Mosque in 1373. In 1230, a mosque was first constructed on the site, utilizing the crumbling walls of an earlier Christian church.
The Yivliminare is one of the first Islamic buildings in Antalya. It was built during the reign of Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Kaykubad I (1220–1237).
The Yivli Minare Mosque is supposed to have started out as a tower meant to celebrate a military victory. The victorious Mediterranean conquering war is also associated with the time period when the mosque was built. The timeframe for that section is 1207–1226. Historians estimate that this Ottoman landmark was built in 1226.
Alaaddin Keykubad I, the Seljuk Sultan who ruled the Sultanate of Rûm from 1219 to 1237, is credited with building the minaret, according to a carved inscription on the tower. The minaret was finally rebuilt in 1373.
Burmalı Üç Şerefeli Camii (Burmali Three Balconies Mosque) – Edirne
In 1438–1447/841–851, Murad II constructed the Üç Serefeli Mosque, so named for its distinct minaret with three balconies (serefe). Because of earthquake damage in 1752, Mahmud III had the mosque restored in 1763. A large renovation occurred in 1930, and the frescoes received further attention in 1999. The madrasa (medrese)—called Saatli or Timekeeper's—and the dar'ül hadis have survived in heavily renovated form, although the Koranic School (mekteb) and the soup kitchen (imaret) of the larger complex no longer exist.
It is a big open courtyard with an arcade surrounding it, and then an oblong prayer hall with a large central dome. This design combines elements of traditional Syrian mosque architecture with the central dome layout of early Ottoman mosques (e.g., the Great Mosque of Damascus, with its courtyard and oblong prayer hall). In the annals of Ottoman architecture, this is a first.
The courtyard can be reached from the northwest, the northeast, or the southwest, and it has arcades on three sides. Even though the prayer hall has arcades on three sides, the fourth side is much larger. At the exact center of the court, just to the north of the transverse axis marked by the portals, is an ablution fountain. The trough vault in the portico's northeast bay shows how the roof was originally constructed before the 1752 earthquake, when it was completely destroyed and replaced with domes.
Why Is Mosque Architecture Different in Turkey?
Throughout its existence, the Ottoman Empire achieved great success. In 1299, Osman I, a tribal chieftain in Anatolia, founded a dynasty that would eventually extend from the Balkan States and parts of Northern Africa to the eastern provinces of Iran and the southern region of the Hejaz in Saudi Arabia. Because of the wide variety of people that lived within the empire, it inevitably became a cultural melting pot. It is especially clear in a cultural hub like Istanbul how the Ottoman Empire absorbed and synthesized the arts and cultures of its many trading partners, including the Chinese, the Javanese, and the Western empires.
The buildings of the Ottoman Empire are a great example of this. Even if we don't know the exact date of a building from the Ottoman Empire period, we can develop a timeline based on the styles and influences that were prevalent at the time.
By looking at the building's design, you can figure out that it was probably built during the time of the Ottoman Empire. In this article, I try to explain the different styles of architecture that I have seen when I was in Turkey, as well as how the styles came to be.
Why Do Turkish Mosques Have Domes?
Qubba domes can be seen atop the vast majority of mosques. Although the mihrab plays a key role in the ritual, the dome is not as significant. Dome designers often use intricate geometric, stellate, or botanical elements in the interior design to make people feel awe and want to act.
This mosque has two domes, in contrast to the single dome of the Ottoman Suleymaniye Mosque. A mosque has only one dome, and it is always positioned over the qibla wall, the holiest part of the building.
There are three domes at the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia. One is atop the minaret, another is above the prayer hall's entrance, and the third is above the wall that faces Mecca (qibla).
Most mosques place the most emphasis on the qibla wall, which houses the mihrab and minbar and is used to lead worshippers in prayer.
What Can You Expect to See in a Mosque?
In order to enter a mosque, you must first take off your shoes and place them in the designated area. To keep the prayer hall clean and reverent. In Saudi Arabia, instead of chairs and benches, rows of carpets face Mecca, which is the most important place in Islam.
The primary function of a mosque is to facilitate the five daily Muslim prayers known as salat/namaz. Mosques typically open one hour before the start of the Fard prayers. The larger mosques are open continuously.
Beautiful Arabic calligraphy is used to write the Quran all over the mosque. Muslims believe that the Quran was given to Muhammad in the seventh century. There could be intricate designs on the hall's walls, columns, ceiling, and flooring. Because depictions of living things can lead to idolatry, neither sculptures nor images of humans are present in this culture.
There are books on Islamic philosophy, theology, law, and the sayings and practices of Muhammad to be found at every mosque. To prevent the sacred text from touching the floor during worship, believers can purchase a wooden book stand (rihal or tawla) to prop up their copy of the Quran.
Both spiritual renewal and adult education programs are available at mosques (halaqa). Madrasahs are religious schools within mosques that educate young Muslims in the Islamic faith. Arabic is also included in the curriculum.
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