The Mosques Of Istanbul And Their Secrets
The most important city in Turkey is also one of the most impressive and mysterious in the world. Walk with us through some of the most important mosques in Istanbul and discover their most precious secrets. Can you come with us?
Istanbul is known as the “city of a thousand mosques”, but in reality there are many more. We are going to visit just some of them, the most famous and important for their beauty or their particular history.
The mysteries of the mosques of Istanbul
1. The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque owes its name to the blue composition of its tiles. It was built between 1609 and 1616, when the Ottoman Empire was going through one of its most difficult times.
The main controversy that accompanies the construction of this important mosque is that it was the only one whose design challenged the Great Holy Mosque of Mecca. The grandeur of this mosque can be summed up in the construction of 6 impressive minarets, something that very few mosques share. As additional information, we will tell you that later the sultan had another minaret built in the Great Mosque of Mecca.
2. Ortaköy Mosque
The Ortaköy Mosque is also known worldwide as the Great Imperial Mosque and is one of the most famous and most photographed in all of Istanbul. It is situated on the western shore of the Bosphorus and is one of the most impressive creations of the 18th century.
The Great Imperial Mosque was built between 1854 and 1856 after Sultan Abdülmecit gave the order. The beautiful building is built in white stone and marble mosaics and inside you can see some calligraphic strokes made by the sultan himself.
3. Eyüp Mosque
This mosque is one of the most special, since it was the first one built by the Ottomans, in the year 1458. This temple is one of the most famous in the city and the one that the faithful go the most, the reasons are mainly due to its antiquity, as well as that it is built on the tomb of the first Muslim leader who tried to conquer the city, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari.
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was the champion of the Prophet Muhammad. In this mosque you can find some belongings of such an important prophet, so it is extremely interesting and enriching to visit this important temple.
The most famous mosques in Istanbul
4. Tulip Mosque
The Tulip Mosque is one of the most beautiful that you can find in Istanbul. Its vertical facade, its octagonal shape and the marble tones that cover its walls with colors ranging from blue, through red, brown and yellow, delight locals and tourists, not in vain is it one of the most photographed temples in the city.
This Ottoman imperial mosque was built in the 18th century by order of Sultan Mustafa III. On several occasions the temple has been affected by fires, having to be rebuilt in 1783 and later in 1911.
5. Fatih Mosque
In this mosque lie the remains of the conqueror Mehmet II, the Ottoman sultan who conquered Constantinople, thus beginning the era of Muslim domination.
Despite the fact that the mosque was built in the 15th century, currently a temple that has undergone numerous reconstructions can be seen in the place, this due to the numerous earthquakes that in one way or another damaged the original structure. In fact, in 1766 the mosque was completely destroyed, so another one was rebuilt, which was completed in 1771.
6. Süleymaniye Mosque
This Ottoman imperial mosque is the largest in the city and also one of the most emblematic and well-known points, both by locals and tourists.
This important mosque was built between 1550 and 1557 by order of Sultan Suleiman I, better known as “The Magnificent.” The architect of Armenian origin, Mimar Sinan was commissioned to design such a splendid work, which was characterized by having a much more avant-garde style than the constructions of the time.
Like other temples, the Süleymaniye Mosque had to be rebuilt several times. This is mainly due to fires and earthquakes that damaged part of its original structure. During the First World War it also suffered numerous damages and it was not until 1956 when it was repaired in its entirety.
These are just some of the many extraordinary mosques that you will be able to visit on your next visit to Istanbul. As you may have observed, we have not made reference to the famous Hagia Sophia. The reasons? Its particular history (originally it was an Orthodox basilica that was later converted into a mosque) and that for years has functioned as a museum.
