Nuruosmaniye Mosque (Nuruosmaniye Camii) is the first baroque mosque built in Istanbul. It is located in the Çemberlitaş district, at the entrance of the Grand Bazaar. It was built in 1748-1755.
The mosque and its social complex, which emerged in a period when Westernization tendencies began to emerge in architecture, are considered a turning point in Ottoman architecture.
In the area of the mosque, there was previously the masjid of Fatma Hatun, the wife of Hodja Sadeddin Efendi, one of the Ottoman sheikh al-Islams. When the Fatma Hatun Mosque was about to be demolished, the construction of a mosque began in its place by the order of Mahmud I; The construction was carried out by Mustafa Ağa and his assistant Simeon Kalfa (Architect Simeon). After the death of Mahmud I, his brother, Mahmud III, reigned for three years. It was completed during the reign of Osman under the name “Nur-u Osmani” (Light of the Ottoman Empire) and named after Sultan III.
Along with the mosque, a social complex consisting of a madrasa, almshouse, library, tomb, and public fountain was built. A few shops around it are also included in the complex. The influence of Baroque art is also seen in libraries, tombs, and public fountains.
Address: Mollafenari, Vezirhan Cd. No:4, 34120 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Architects: Simon Kalfa, Mustafa Ağa
Opened: 1755
Style: Ottoman Baroque
Height: 44 m
Function: Mosque
Minaret(s): 2
