Queen Mother Bezmialem Valide Sultan commissioned the mosque, and her son Sultan Abdülmecid finished it after her death. Garabet Balyan, a Turkish Armenian architect, designed it. Groundbreaking was in 1853 and completion in 1855, though the text also says Balyan designed it in 1855, which fits poorly with the earlier start.
The infobox lists Ottoman architecture, while the text calls it a baroque waterside mosque combining baroque, rococo and empire styles. A large dome crowns the prayer hall, and huge stone arches are cut with large windows. The interior has gold-accented calligraphy, floral ceiling designs and a large central chandelier. The only dimension given is a minaret height of 132 feet (40.25 m).
The mosque stands on the Bosphorus shore in Kabataş next to Dolmabahçe Palace. Road widening removed its courtyard and sebil. Earthquakes damaged the west minaret, which has been restored. The article gives no visiting details.
Comments