New Mosque

The New Mosque, in Istanbul

The New Mosque, or Yeni Cami, is one of the emblematic imperial mosques of Istanbul, at the entrance of the Golden Horn. The Istanbul audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this building whose name misleads, completed in 1667 after decades of interruption, willed first by the sultana Safiye then finished by the sultana Hatice Turhan, and whose pyramidal arrangement of domes draws inspiration from the mosques of Sinan.

History

Here you are facing another emblematic mosque of Istanbul, the one called the new mosque. With such a name, you would expect a recent building, but it was built in 1663, a bit like the Pont-Neuf in Paris, the oldest of the city. It was first willed by the sultana Safiye, wife of the sultan Murad III, who had in mind a much more ambitious project and chose to raise this mosque in the heart of the Jewish and commercial district. But at the death of her husband, the sultana was relegated to the harem, the construction abandoned, and the building, fallen into ruins, was destroyed by a fire in 1660. The imperial architect then suggested to the mother of the new sultan, the sultana Hatice Turhan, to complete the mosque to testify to her faith: she accepted, and the mosque was completed in 1667. Composed of a pyramidal arrangement of sixty-six domes and half-domes and two minarets, it draws inspiration from the mosques built by the great Sinan. You will visit it with respect, in the calm conducive to contemplation.

What to see

Here you admire, with respect, one of the emblematic imperial mosques of Istanbul, at the entrance of the Golden Horn; begun by the sultana Safiye then completed in 1667 by the sultana Hatice Turhan after the fire of 1660, its pyramidal arrangement of sixty-six domes and its two minarets draw inspiration from Sinan. The New Mosque is a major place of prayer, to be visited with respect. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The New Mosque stands in the Eminönü district, at the foot of the Galata bridge and at the entrance of the Golden Horn, in Istanbul, reachable on foot. It is a place of worship in activity, whose access is made in the respect of the services and of contemplation, outside the hours of prayer. It is best to enquire before coming, to adopt correct attire and to remove your shoes at the entrance.

Why does the New Mosque of Istanbul have this name?

Despite its name, it is old: begun towards the end of the sixteenth century at the request of the sultana Safiye, its construction was interrupted, and the ruined building destroyed by a fire in 1660; the sultana Hatice Turhan had it completed in 1667 to testify to her faith, and its pyramidal arrangement of sixty-six domes draws inspiration from the mosques of Sinan.

Where is the New Mosque in Istanbul?

In the Eminönü district, at the foot of the Galata bridge, in Istanbul, in Turkey.