Laleli Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Fatih, Turkey
The Laleli Mosque is a mosque in the Fatih district of Istanbul with an octagonal layout within a rectangular plan, featuring two minarets flanking the courtyard entrances and a central dome. The building sits on an elevated terrace supported by eight pillars, with a market hall and shops underneath it.
The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Mustafa III between 1760 and 1763, but a fire in 1783 required extensive reconstruction of the structure. After this disaster, the building was rebuilt and reinforced.
The mosque houses a mausoleum with the tombs of Sultan Mustafa III, Sultan Selim III, and several Ottoman princesses, showing how important this place was to the royal family. Visitors can see these sacred spaces and understand how closely the mosque was tied to the rulers' history.
The building sits in an elevated location in a busy neighborhood with good access and many shops around it. It is easy to find and located near other historic sites you can visit while walking through the area.
The interior walls display multicolored marble in red, blue, yellow, and brown, decorated with medallions made from onyx and jasper semi-precious stones. These handcrafted details make the indoor space particularly beautiful and valuable.
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