Fatih Mosque

Crowning the fourth hill of the historic peninsula, Fatih Mosque is the mosque of Sultan Mehmed II, known as Fatih, "the Conqueror", who captured Constantinople in 1453. It was the first monumental imperial mosque complex of Ottoman Istanbul and gave its name to the whole district. Today it is one of the city's most important places of worship and pilgrimage, as the Conqueror lies buried in the tomb behind the prayer hall.

History

Mehmed II chose the site of the ruined Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles, once the burial place of the emperors, for his new foundation. The mosque was built between 1463 and 1470 by the architect Atik Sinan (not to be confused with the later Mimar Sinan). Around it rose a vast külliye, or charitable complex: eight great madrasas known as the Sahn-ı Seman, which became the leading university of the empire, together with a hospital, a public kitchen, a caravanserai, a library and a bath.

The original mosque was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1766. Sultan Mustafa III had it rebuilt in 1767–1771 by the architect Mehmed Tahir Ağa, who replaced the original plan with a new design: a central dome supported by four half-domes, a scheme inspired by the Şehzade and Sultanahmet mosques. Parts of the original structure survived, including the courtyard, the main gate and the lower sections of the minarets, so the building you see today combines 15th-century and 18th-century work.

What to See

The arcaded courtyard, with its marble columns and old trees around the ablution fountain, is one of the most harmonious spaces of early Ottoman architecture. Inside, the prayer hall is wide and bright, lit by many windows and decorated with calligraphy. Behind the mosque, in a garden cemetery, stand the domed tombs of the founder and his wife.

• Tomb of Mehmed the Conqueror: rebuilt after the 1766 earthquake in the Ottoman Baroque style.
• Tomb of Gülbahar Hatun: resting place of Mehmed II's wife, mother of Bayezid II.
• The courtyard: marble columns and inscriptions surviving from the 15th century.
• The prayer hall: a central dome with four half-domes.
• Neighbourhood life: the Wednesday street market (Çarşamba Pazarı) held around the complex.

Visitor Tips

Entrance is free. Visit outside the five daily prayer times and avoid Friday midday. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, women should cover their hair, and shoes are removed at the entrance. The tomb of Mehmed II is a place of prayer for many Turkish visitors, so please be respectful and quiet. Fatih is a conservative, lively district a short ride from Sultanahmet, and the mosque combines well with the Valens Aqueduct, the Zeyrek Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque on a guided Ottoman Istanbul tour.