DOLMABAHÇE MOSQUE

BEZMİALEM VALİDE SULTAN MOSQUE (DOLMABAHÇE MOSQUE)

The construction of Bezmialem Valide Sultan Mosque was started by the order of Bezmiâlem Valide Sultan, who played a role in Ottoman social life as a benevolent personality with her numerous foundations, and was completed by her son, Sultan Abdülmecid, upon her death in 1853. Bezmiâlem Valide Sultan Mosque has been called Dolmabahçe Mosque since the day it was built, because it fell directly across the courtyard door in the direction of the Clock Tower of Dolmabahçe Palace, and this is how it entered the literature.

Dolmabahçe mosque was built by Nikogos Balyan, who signed many important works in 19th century Ottoman architecture at a time when Western currents were most heavily influenced. During this period, an interesting understanding of interpretation was achieved as a result of the fusion of styles such as baroque, rococo, empire (Empire) with established art accumulation and pleasure. 

  The distinctive feature of the mosque, which was opened for worship on March 23, 1855, is that it has a clear design and geometry. The central domed, square planned Dolmabahçe Mosque is very similar to the Ortaköy Mosque built by the same architect, with only the difference in lighting windows and minaret realms. The imperial pavilion of the mosque, on the other hand, is rectangular and lower.

When we look at the interior architecture of the mosque, it is clearly seen that the interior of the dome and pendentives were processed in Western style with gilding and oil painting, the last point of colored marble workmanship at that time, and the presence of baroque decorations in the mihrab and pulpit, moving away from the traditional design. It is an important example that clearly shows that the decoration features in the Baroque and empiric style applied in the exterior decoration have begun to replace the traditional Ottoman decoration and ornamentation. Dolmabahçe Mosque continues to defy history as one of the magnificent and glorious structures of the Bosphorus.