The city of Istanbul is a cultural and religious beacon characterized by its ancient history and wonderful Islamic heritage and among its notable landmarks are mosques that reflect the beauty of Islamic architecture and the cultural influence of the empires that ruled the region, so we will learn about the most famous mosques in Istanbul, which represent a unique blend of history, art, and spirituality. All you have to do is continue reading to find out more details.
What are the most famous mosques in Istanbul?
Here are the most famous mosques in Istanbul:
Hagia Sophia:
Hagia Sophia Mosque is considered one of the most famous tourist attractions in European Istanbul, and is distinguished by its history dating back to the year 537 AD, when it was built by the Roman Emperor Justinian, as its history began as a church, but with the Ottomans’ conquest of Istanbul, it was transformed into a mosque by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror and after Turkey became a republic, the mosque was transformed into a religious museum that houses a large collection of huge pictures and the Hagia Sophia Mosque is an outstanding example of Byzantine architecture and Ottoman decoration, as it is located in the Sultanahmet area near the Sultanahmet Mosque, which gives it a unique artistic and architectural character.
Eyup Sultan:
Eyup Sultan Mosque is considered one of the prominent landmarks in Istanbul, as it is located in the Eyup area in the European side of the city, near the Golden Horn area, as this ancient Ottoman mosque is among the first mosques built after the conquest of Constantinople in 1458, and the current building dates back to the beginning of the nineteenth century.
The mosque is distinguished by its unique design, and forms part of a complex that includes a separate building containing the tomb of the great companion Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may God be pleased with him) and the complex also allows visitors to visit other graves in the surrounding area, in addition to the presence of some of the belongings of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, in the shrine located outside the mosque.
Eminonu Mosque:
The New Eminonu Mosque is a prominent location in the heart of Istanbul. It has a charming view of the Golden Horn Bay and is located near the Egyptian Market and this mosque was built by order of the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Murad III in the early seventeenth century, and was officially opened in 1665 AD, as this landmark cultural and religious landmark took more than almost half a century to build, and has become one of the most important monuments in Istanbul.
Sultan Ahmed mosque:
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is considered one of the most prominent historical mosques in Istanbul, as it enjoys its unique location in Sultan Ahmed Square, opposite the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Sultan Ahmed I built this mosque between 1609 and 1616 AD, and it is distinguished by its magnificent architecture, which made it among the largest and most important mosques in the Islamic world.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque shines with the uniqueness of its architectural arts, which blend the Byzantine and Ottoman eras and overlooking the Sea of Marmara, it features a spacious courtyard, 43 meters high, and more than 200 windows. Its interior walls are decorated with decorative blue tiles from Iznik.
Ortakoy Mosque:
Ortakoy Mosque, located in the Ortakoy area overlooking the Bosphorus, stands out for its unique location directly facing the strait, which gives the mosque a special charm and built on the orders of Sultan Abdul Majeed in 1853, this mosque was established on strong foundations and 20-meter-deep supports to increase the durability of the building and protect it from earthquakes.
The mosque was designed by the architect Qarahabt Amir Balyan in the style of Baroque architecture, and it consists of two main corners: a worship corner and a special corner for the Sultan’s forum, the latter of which features an ornamental dome and beautiful decorations.
Sulaymaniyah Mosque:
The Suleymaniye Mosque was built by the architect Sinan during the rule of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the period from 1550 to 1557 AD, and it was designed in the style of classic Ottoman architecture and the Sulaymaniyah Mosque is located in the Sulaymaniyah region, near the Bosphorus Strait, and is considered among the most famous mosques in Istanbul and a prominent tourist landmark.
The mosque features four minarets that reflect the order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent IV in the history of the Ottoman Empire and the design of the mosque reflects architect Sinan's interest in building details to echo the sounds inside it, as Sinan placed internally hollow cubes around the perimeter of the dome and at various points inside the mosque, which improved sound propagation and it is also said that these designs reflected Sinan's experiments with sound, as rumors spread about his use of a hookah inside the mosque.
Rustem Pasha Mosque:
Rustem Pasha Mosque is located in the Eminonu area, affiliated with the Fatih municipality, near the New Eminonu Mosque and the Suleymaniye Mosque, in a market close to the busiest main square in Istanbul and the mosque is characterized by simplicity in the design of its external walls, while the wonderful decorations inside it are harmonious, as it contains 66 different types of tulip decorations and 45 different types of carnation decorations and this mosque was built by Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha, the husband of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent’s daughter, known as Sultana Mahrimma, and it was opened for worship in 1561 AD.
Sitra Mosque:
The Noble Sitra Mosque of the Prophet, also known as the Noble Mosque of Al-Kharqa, is located in the Fatih area, as its name is due to the presence of the cloak of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, in this mosque, as Sultan Selim I presented it to Istanbul in the year 1516 AD and preserved it in this mosque and the building of the mosque shows its influence on the Arabic style, as the interior walls are decorated with Arabic calligraphy, and it is characterized by the presence of a wide dome in its middle.
At the conclusion of this exploration of the most famous mosques in Istanbul, the ancient civilization and history of this city is revealed through these prominent religious monuments, as from the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which tells the story of its transformation from a church to a mosque and museum, to other architectural gems such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul emerges as a place that combines artistic beauty and religious significance.
Related articles:
Types of villas in Istanbul… Get to know them
Apartments for sale in Esenyurt Istanbul
Apartments for sale in Basaksehir, Istanbul
Apartments for sale in Istanbul in installments
Buying an apartment in Turkey or opening a company?
The most important ways to obtain Turkish citizenship
Methods of real estate ownership in Turkey
Stages of obtaining Turkish citizenship
Buying an apartment in Turkey in installments…benefits and features
