I am not familiar with mosques. In all honesty, I had not been in one until I entered the New Mosque in Istanbul. I am not a religious person, so it always amazes me that these buildings were built by the masses at huge expense in the service of God....that one or two were not enough is also pretty crazy to me....just like there's a church on every corner in Italy, there seems to be a huge mosque in every quarter of Istanbul...there's even smaller ones next to the big ones....the buildings are, as in all churches the same. Basic elements are required, but the subtle decoration changes from one to the next. I have to say that I have now only been in 4 or 5 mosques, but I really like this one....the colors, the size....it's goldy locks...not too big, not too small....just right. I like the lightness above with the wieghtiness of the perimeter and I like that it's not crowded! and I like the large overhangs similar to the ones at Topkapi. It's a nice, nice building.
The New Mosque [Yeni Camii] on the banks of the Golden Horn sits just off the Galata Bridge.
While the Hagia Sophia was built in 5 years and the Blue Mosque was built in 7, the New Mosque took 50 years to build and was actually begun before the Blue but completed after most of the others in the city. Ordered by Safiye Sultan, the wife of Sultan Murad III in 1597, she envisioned a mosque built in the Jewish quarter of town would enhance the Muslim sphere of influence. However one year into construction and the architect, Davut Aga, an apprentice to the great Mimar Sinan, died. He was replaced by Dalgic Ahmed Cavus. It took another 50 years and another Sultan, Turhan Hadice to complete the building which had by that time fallen into ruin.
One of the reasons that I name so many names is that I do like history and useless info AND it's so long ago, that we still know who these people were is pretty amazing......
While the Hagia Sophia was built in 5 years and the Blue Mosque was built in 7, the New Mosque took 50 years to build and was actually begun before the Blue but completed after most of the others in the city. Ordered by Safiye Sultan, the wife of Sultan Murad III in 1597, she envisioned a mosque built in the Jewish quarter of town would enhance the Muslim sphere of influence. However one year into construction and the architect, Davut Aga, an apprentice to the great Mimar Sinan, died. He was replaced by Dalgic Ahmed Cavus. It took another 50 years and another Sultan, Turhan Hadice to complete the building which had by that time fallen into ruin.
One of the reasons that I name so many names is that I do like history and useless info AND it's so long ago, that we still know who these people were is pretty amazing......
The Spices Bazar in from of the Yeni Camii
There are fountains which the faithful use to wash their feet before they enter the mosque.
The inner courtyard.
One of two minarets.
Looking at the domes.
I love the antique tiles, they seem to be placed haphazardly almost as if they were left overs or restorations. Beautifully faded.
More Iznik tiles. The blue is so vibrant, even when faded.
The domes with very elegant and refined decoration.
The decoration on the walls is looking like Isfahan or Tabriz carpets....
I liked the decoration of this mosque more than the Blue and even than the painting in the Hagia Sophia.
The back of the Yeni Camii
Our spare room from many years ago......It was an Arabian Nights fantasy.....maybe that's why I like this mosque...it reminds me of our guest room...
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