Nuruosmaniye Mosque

When you set foot outside Grand Bazaar Gate (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı), which is one of the places with intense circulation that is touristic attraction center in Fatih district of Istanbul, you will see the magnificent Nuruosmaniye Mosque. This historical mosque located close to the famous part of the Grand Bazaar known as 'Covered Turkish Bazaar (Turkish: Sandal Bedesteni)' first draws attention with its courtyard shaded by high trees.

Nuruosmaniye Mosque is on a low embankment, which can be ascended by a stairs from different places, and it is a structure that was started to be built by Mahmut I and completed by his brother Osman III. It is known as one of the first examples of French-originated baroque style in the Ottoman Empire. Its first mortar was laid in 1748 and interior of the building is covered with a large dome.

The carefully emphasized arches of the square planned mosque are among eye-catching architectural elements. The part called narthex is located to the west of the mosque. This is a covered area between the interior of the mosque and the courtyard.

Experts expressed Nuruosmaniye Mosque as “a building that has been a victim of the unusual style of its architect”. Because the proportions are not symmetrical, this historical mosque is like a whole composed of pieces placed in a strange and scattered way. Finally, it is one of the most visited mosques in the city due to its beautiful courtyard, spectacular decorations and its touristic location that is the source of its extremely busy nature.