description Ortaköy Mosque Overview
Officially the Büyük Mecidiye Mosque, this Ottoman imperial mosque is situated in the Ortaköy district of Istanbul, on the European shore of the Bosphorus at the mouth of the Golden Horn. It was designed by the Armenian Ottoman architects Garabet and Nigoğayos Balyan and completed in 1856 for Sultan Abdülmecid I. The building exemplifies the Neo-Baroque style of the Tanzimat period, with thin pencil-shaped minarets and large windows overlooking the Bosphorus. It is part of a long tradition of monumental waterfront mosques built by the Ottoman sultanate.
help Ortaköy Mosque FAQ
What is the official name of Ortaköy Mosque?
Ortaköy Mosque is officially called the Büyük Mecidiye Mosque. It stands in Istanbul's Ortaköy district on the European shore of the Bosphorus.
Who designed Ortaköy Mosque?
The mosque was designed by the Armenian Ottoman architects Garabet Balyan and Nigoğayos Balyan. The same architectural family also worked on major Ottoman buildings in Istanbul, including Dolmabahçe Palace.
When was Ortaköy Mosque built?
The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Abdülmecid I and completed in the mid-1850s. Sources commonly give 1854 or 1856, so the safer date is the mid-19th century.
Where can I see Ortaköy Mosque?
It is located beside the Bosphorus in Ortaköy, beneath the First Bosphorus Bridge area. Its waterfront position and ornate 19th-century Baroque-influenced design make it one of Istanbul's most recognizable mosque views.
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