OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
Ottoman sultans or other members of the dynasty commissioned these historic monuments. They were usually built as a külliye, a complex of buildings with a mosque in the centre, surrounded with madrasas, kitchens and other buildings for various charitable services for the poor.
The biggest are the 16th and 17th century complexes, although mosques built in the 18th and 19th century are equally significant. Fatih Sultan Mehmed constructed two big mosques in the 15th century, right after he conquered Constantinople. But these two original structures were destroyed by earthquakes or fires and were rebuilt at a later date.
The chief imperial architect Mimar Sinan constructed most of the existent complexes in Istanbul. The master architect of the Ottoman Empire for 50 years, he set the pattern for other külliye architects.
Many Ottoman imperial mosques are in other cities in Turkey. Bursa was the first proper capital of the Ottoman Empire and some historically very important religious temples are there. Other Ottoman imperial mosques are in Edirne, Konya, Amasya, Manisa and even in Damascus.
YENI MOSQUE
Without any doubt, the Yeni Mosque in Eminönü is one of the most recognisable Istanbul’s landmarks. Safiye Sultan started its construction in 1597.
By constructing a mosque in that part of the city, she wanted to impose the Islamic dominance on what was a mainly Jewish neighbourhood.
But Safiye’s son Sultan Mehmed III died in 1603 and she lost all power. The new sultan, Ahmed I, abandoned the project and redirected the energy and funds on what will become the biggest and most famous Ottoman imperial mosque in Istanbul – the Blue Mosque.
After these events, the construction site turned into ruins which were further severely damaged by the 1660 Great Fire.
In that same year, the imperial architect Mustafa Ağa proposed to Turhan Hatice Sultan to complete the mosque. She accepted and also instructed that the Spice Bazaar is built as part of the imperial complex. The new mosque opened for prayers in 1665. Its initial name was Yeni Valide Sultan Mosque but, over time, it became Yeni Mosque.
When I was in Istanbul back in 2019, they were restoring this mosque. They kept only a small part open for prayers, but they didn’t let the tourist in. This time, I could see it in its full glory.
SULTAN’S PAVILION
The Sultan’s Pavilion (Hünkâr Kasrı) is behind the mosque. A long corridor, that you can see below, provided safe and secluded passageway for the sultan. Unfortunately, I haven’t been inside of this building as it was closed when I went there. So, this is one more thing that I’ll try to see next time.
Apparently, the Pavilion is beautifully decorated with Iznik tiles, making it a splendid example of the Islamic art of that era.
EGYPTIAN SPICE BAZAAR
They built the Egyptian Spice Bazaar at the same time. In fact, it’s part of the complex that Turhan Hatice Sultan commissioned.
The name in Turkish is Mısır Çarşısı. Misir means Egypt in English. They used revenues from the Ottoman eyalet of Egypt to build this market, which gave the name to this bazaar.
It’s the second biggest covered market in Istanbul, after the Grand Bazaar. Also, it’s still the best and most important place for spice trading in the city.
TURHAN HATICE SULTAN MAUSOLEUM
She died in 1683 in Edirne. They brought her body back to Istanbul to be buried in her mausoleum next to the Yeni Mosque.
Six Ottoman sultans are also buried in this same mausoleum – Mehmed IV, Mustafa II, Osman III, Ahmed III, Mahmud I and Murad V – plus various other members of the Ottoman dynasty.
In total, 82 people were buried in this tomb.
UNMISSABLE YENI MOSQUE
There is no point in saying that, if you are visiting Istanbul, you should make sure to see this mosque. Due to its superb location by the Galata Bridge on Golden Horn, it’s a structure that everyone sees simply by crossing the bridge.
But I’m not sure that every tourist goes inside of this mosque. I went inside twice during my latest stay in Istanbul. Both times, the mosque was empty, perhaps there were several worshippers that you can see in the photos above.
The mosque has a fascinating history, perhaps if more people knew it, they would make sure to visit it.
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