Friends, today I’ll tell you about the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul — the first major religious complex built after the conquest of Constantinople. Over the centuries, it has become one of the symbols of the city’s central district.
History of the mosque
The mosque — just like the district where it is located — is named after Sultan Mehmed II Fatih, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror. It was under his rule that the siege and capture of Constantinople took place, after which the city became the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Remarkably, Mehmed II was only 21 years old at the time.
Fatih Mosque was built on the ruins of the Church of the Holy Apostles, where Byzantine emperors and their family members were once buried. Construction of the complex began immediately after the conquest of the city, in 1453. The architect was Atik Sinan. His name may remind you of the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, but they were different people.
The mosque was heavily damaged by the 1766 earthquake. Reconstruction began almost immediately afterwards, led by architect Mehmed Tahir Agha. Only the courtyard, the gates, the mihrab (a niche indicating the direction of Mecca), and the lower parts of the minarets survived from the original structure.
Over the years, the complex was rebuilt multiple times; some structures were demolished, but eight madrasas (Islamic educational institutions) have survived. In the past, up to 1,000 students studied there. The former caravanserai is also located here, built with columns taken from the Church of the Holy Apostles mentioned above.
According to online maps, the mausoleum of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror is also located within the complex. However, I only noticed this while preparing the article for publication and realised that I hadn’t taken any photos of it during my visit.
How to get there
You can walk to the mosque from Aksaray metro station — it takes about 15 minutes. If you want to save time, you can ride to Vezneciler station and transfer to a bus that stops very close to the mosque.
Fatih Mosque is active, and entry is free, but visitors must follow certain rules and remove their shoes at the entrance.
A number of interesting attractions are located near the complex and can conveniently be included in your route. On the way from Vezneciler Station, for example, you can see the Valens Aqueduct. Closer to the Golden Horn is the Pantokrator Monastery (Molla Zeyrek Mosque).
Have a nice trip!
