Ortaköy Mosque
Ortaköy Mosque is located in Istanbul, in the Ortaköy neighborhood near the Bosphorus Bridge. Its official name is the Grand Mejidiye Mosque. Interestingly, the place where the shrine stands today was called “the key to the Bosphorus” by the Byzantine inhabitants. In ancient times there was another compact mosque, the construction of which dates back to 1721. The initiator of the construction of the Ortaköy Mosque was Mahmut Agha. The building in the Ottoman Baroque style was built in 1853-1854. Sultan Abdul-Mejid I entrusted the project to Armenian architect Nikoghos Balian, who erected the mosque in just 2 years. There are two minarets made of white stone slabs adjoining the Ortaköy Mosque, each of them has a separate balcony (sherefe). Like all mosques built during the era of Abdul-Mejid I, Ortaköy consists of two parts: the harem and the sultan’s private quarters “hunkar”. The interior of this single-domed mosque is decorated with pink mosaics. High and wide windows let in sunlight and reflect the waters of the Bosphorus. The prayer niche is made of marble and complemented by mosaics, while the marble of the pulpit, in turn, is covered with porphyry. If you find yourself in Istanbul, we recommend taking the time to visit this attraction and stroll through the picturesque Ortaköy neighborhood.
