Nuruosmaniye Mosque

Nuruosmaniye Mosque, also known as Osmani and Nuruosmani, is located in Çemberlitaş, Fatih district in İstanbul. Its unique feature is that this is the first mosque that was built with Ottoman baroque style in İstanbul. The mosque and its social complex (külliye) is an important piece of architectural work as it is considered a turning point in Ottoman architecture.

On the location of the mosque, there was another masjid built by the wife of shaikh al-islam. However, the masjid was damaged as the time passed on so the construction of Nnuruosmaniye mosque began with the order of Mahmud I in 1748. The mosque was completed in 1755 during the reign of Osman III. The name of the mosque is thought to be a reference to Osman III. The name Nuruosmaniye means “the light of Osman”. The architects were Mustağa Aga and his student Simon. The mosque was part of a social complex. In addition to the mosque, a library, a madrasah, a soup-kitchen, a mausoleum, a caravanserai and a public fountain were built.

Materials that are used in the annex were prepared very carefully. The marbles in the building were brought from Marmara island and columns were brought from the remains of a church in Pergamon. The complex is surrounded by two outer gates opening to the Grand Baazar and Cagaoglu. Inner court was designed with 14 domes on 12 columns with a semicircle shape. Mihrab, minber and mouldings are embroidered in baroque style. At the end of the dome arches of the walls, Surah Fatih is written in a long line. On the dome, “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.” (Surah Nur, 35) is written.