Nusretiye Mosque
Located on the shore of Bosphorus in Tophane, the Nusretiye Camii (in Turkish) -also called Tophane Mosque- has to have one of the most ornamented and decorated among all of the Istanbul mosques. Indeed, built in 1826 the Nusretiye Mos. is a very good example of the combination of Baroque and Empire architectural styles.
Nusretiye Mosque was built over a late eighteenth-century mosque that burnt down in 1823 due to the Firuzağa Fire, the Mosque of the Artillery Barracks (Tophane-i Amire Arabacılar Kışlası Camii). Nusretiye Mosque was commissioned by Ottoman sultan Mahmut II right after the Firuzağa Fire in 1823 and was finished in 1826. The mosque was built by Armenian descent architect Krikor Balyan, who also built Beylerbeyi Palace, Aynalıkavak Palace, and many other structures in Istanbul in the first half of the nineteenth century.
Fusion Architecture: Baroque and Empire Styles
The mosque is a successful fusion of Baroque and Empire architectural styles with an ornate exterior and large windows welcoming light into its plainer interior. The main chamber of the mosque is relatively big and square shaped, each edge is 15 meters in length. The mosque has two other additional structures that were built later: a muvakkithane (time keeping house) and a public fountain in its courtyard. Due to its location and unique architecture the the Mosque is definitely worth seeing.
Amazing facts
Nusretiye Mosque is one of the largest Ottoman mosques built outside the historical peninsula of Istanbul. The mosque was commissioned right after Ottoman-Persian War took place in Erzurum between 1821-23 and has no trace of Persian architectural elements.
Nusretiye Mosque is located in Tophane and the easiest way is to take the tram to Tophane, the mosque is only two-minutes walking distance from Tophane Tram Station to east.
What else nearby?
The Nusretiye Mosque is situated in Tophane, outside the historical peninsula of Istanbul and there are a number of important sights of Istanbul including Istanbul Modern Museum, Kılıc Ali Pasa Mosque, Kılıc Ali Pasa Hamam, and monumental Tophane Fountain.
Opening hours
The mosque is open from 9am-6pm every day, but closed at prayer times. There is no ticket price of the mosque, but donations are welcome.
