ORTAKÖY MOSQUE

Ortaköy, Beşiktaş - Istanbul - Turkey

GPS : 41°02'50.3"N 29°01'36.7"E / 41.047306, 29.026861



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The Ortaköy Mosque (Büyük Mecidiye Camii) is situated on the waterside of the Ortaköy pier square in the Beşiktaş District, one of the most popular locations on the Bosphorus. The mosque was built on the order of Sultan Abdülmecid I (1839-1861), the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, and was constructed by the Nigoğos Balyan in 1853. Ortaköy Mosque, officially the Büyük Mecidiye Camii (Grand Imperial Mosque of Sultan Abdülmecid) in Beşiktaş, Istanbul.

It was during the same century that the mosque rose to a higher level of importance on the European side of Istanbul. It is also known as “Great Mecidiye Mosque” and is one of the most beautiful samples of the Baroque architecture in Istanbul. Previously, there was a little mosque built by Mahmut Ağa, the son-in law of the Vizier Ibrahim Paşa, on the former site of the mosque. The little mosque built in 1721 but was destroyed during the revolt of Patrona Halil in 1730.

The current mosque, which was erected in its place, was greatly damaged during the earthquake of 1894, and the spire of the minaret needed to be rearranged. When it was understood that the building was in danger of collapsing in 1960, ground reinforcement efforts were carried out. After the conflagration in 1984, it was completely restored and reattained its previous magnificence.

Designed in a neo- Baroque style, its wide, high windows let the ever-changing light reflections of the Bosphorus shine in the mosque. It is composed of a Harim (sanctum sanctorum) and a Hünkar Kasrı (sultan’s summer palace). The Harim section is composed of a square-shaped main chamber with an edge length of 12.25 m, and the middle chamber which passses through the main chamber. The ceiling of the Harim section consists of a dome construction covered with pink mosaics and the dome was placed on the main wall.

The stair cased building has two minarets with single balcony each. The walls are made of white hewn stone. The walls of the single dome are made of pink mosaics. The mihrab again is made of mosaics and marble and the mimbar is made of porphyry coated marble, all products of an elegant workmanship.  Designed in a neo- Baroque style, its wide, high windows let the ever-changing light reflections of the Bosphorus shine in the mosque.

Within the mosque hang several examples of Islamic calligraphy executed by Sultan Abdülmecid I himself, who was also a hattat (master calligrapher.) The wide, high windows let the ever-changing light reflections of the Bosphorus shine in the mosque. There are two minarets and when entered the mosque Allah, Muhammad and the four caliphs’ names in calligraphy draw the attraction, they were written by Sultan Abdülmecid I.

Ortaköy Mosque, which is composed of parts of prayer hall and the sultan, was built to reflect the lights of Bosporus inside with its wide and high windows. The walls of mosque were made of white hewn stones and the walls of dome were made of pink mosaics, all of them are hand works. The mosque has a whiter appearance thanks to water conditions and the blue waters of Bosporus.

The mosque has two minarets with a single sherefe (minaret balcony) each, the niche is made of mosaic and white marble, and the pulpit is a marble craftsmanship covered with porphyry. The two-storey house, with its elliptical stairs at the northern entrance, is called Hünkar Kasrı. The Ortakoy Mosque, built in the 19th century, has reached our times as the main component onlooking the Bosphorus.

The foundation of mosque was damaged by the flows of Bosporus and restored with extensive work. After a fire in 1984, the mosque was damaged and restored again then it gained current appearance.

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BEYLERBEYİ MOSQUE

Beylerbeyi, Üsküdar - İstanbul - Turkey

GPS : 41°02'42.6"N 29°02'44.6"E / 41.045167, 29.045722



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Beylerbeyi Mosque (Hamidi Evvel Mosque) is located on the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus next to the Beylerbeyi quay. The mosque was built by Sultan Abdülhamid I (1725-1789) in memory of his mother, Rabia Sultan, in the middle of the 18th century. The architect, Mehmed Tahir Ağa, started the construction in 1777 and completed it in 1778. Abdülhamid I and his son Mahmud II usually performed Friday Prayer in this mosque.

After the collapse of the Istavroz (Cross) Palace in the middle of the 18th century, which had previously been standing on the present site of the Beylerbeyi Mosque, the Beylerbeyi Mosque was built on the site of the Hırka-i Şerîf Chamber (private chamber of the cloak of the prophet Muhammad pbuh), which had been carried to Istavroz Palace by Sultan Ahmed I (1590 -1617).

The last prayer section of the Beylerbeyi Mosque was converted into its present state, the single minaret was pulled down, and instead of the previous single minaret, two new minarets were erected on both sides of the mosque during the period of Sultan Mahmud II (1784-1839). Additionally, Sultan Mahmud II added a muvakkithane (time-keeping room) as well as a fountain located on seaside of the complex.

The mosque is constructed in Baroque style, of cut stone. It is octagonal in shape with two minarets and 55 windows. There is just one dome with the area in front of the mosque niche covered with a half-dome. The interior is decorated with inscriptions and engravings. The mosque is covered with both Ottoman and European glazed tiles. It is a fine example of the meeting and merge of different cultures.

The ceiling of the central prayer area of the mosque, which has a size of 14.60 x 14.60 m, consists of one large dome and five half domes. The ceiling of the mosque containing the large dome was extraordinarily placed on two pulleys and  the circumscribed circle of the upper pulley with its twenty windows  illuminated the interior of the mosque. A sharp curve, round, curly S-shaped and C-shaped of four different arch samples were used in the mosque.

The last prayer section of the Beylerbeyi Mosque was converted into its present state, the single minaret was pulled down, and instead of the previous single minaret, two new minarets were erected on both sides of the mosque during the period of Sultan Mahmud II (1784-1839). During renovations conducted in 1810, a room for the mosque’s timekeeper (muvakkithane) and a fountain were added.

Sultan Mahmud II added a time-keeping room as well as a fountain. The ceiling of the central prayer area of the mosque has a size of 14.60 by 14.60 meter. The ceiling consists of one large dome and five half domes. The part of the mosque containing the large dome is extraordinarily placed on two cranks and twenty windows illuminate the interior of the mosque. The windows create a beautiful, sacred atmosphere.

Because of this unique feature, the mosque has become a popular landmark for tourists. There are two fountains on each side of the gate that opens on Yalıboyu Street. To the left of the entrance is a mounting block made of granite that was used by the Sultans. On the left there is a bathhouse. Across from the mosque there is a fountain that has two façades, one facing the sea and the other the street. It was built by Sultan Mahmud II in the memory of his father Sultan Abdülhamid I in 1811.

After the fires of 1969 and of March 13th 1983, the mosque was extensively restored twice. Damaged during a fire which broke out in the adjacent Ismail Pasha Residence in 1983, the mosque was renovated and opened again for service in the same year.

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