Istanbul, Turkey
Coordinates: 41.010300, 28.970300
The Nuruosmaniye Mosque is an 18th-century Ottoman mosque located in the Çemberlitaş neighbourhood of Fatih district in Istanbul, Turkey.
The dome of the mosque is extremely distinct, and the fourth largest in the city of Istanbul, behind the Hagia Sophia, Süleymaniye Mosque, and Fatih Mosque, respectively.
It was commissioned from the order of Sultan Mahmud I in 1748 and completed under his brother and successor Sultan Osman III in 1755. It was named Nuruosmaniye Mosque, meaning “The light of Osman”, after Osman III, but also because of the 174 windows which illuminate the mosque’s hall.
The Nuruosmaniye mosque is part of a larger religious complex, or Külliye, acting as a centre of culture, religion, and education for the neighborhood.
In Istanbul, the area of the Nurosmaniye Mosque is close to the Forum of Constantine, where the Column of Constantine still stands.
Surrounding the mosque is Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.
After the construction of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Nurosmaniye mosque was the first imperial mosque to be built in 100 years
The mosque contains library, madrasa, and a tomb, which are enclosed in a prescient with an irregular shape, therefore the sites slope downward in the north area.
In the back-garden there is a Türbe (tomb) built for Shehsuvar Sultan, mother of Osman III, which also houses other royal family members.
Know This
Nuruosmaniye Mosque is an active mosque so respectful dress is required if you visit. The mosque is open 9am-6pm daily, but closed for an hour at prayer times. There is no entry fee, but donations are welcome.
