Mangalia Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Mangalia, Romania.
Esmahan Sultan Mosque is built from stone blocks fitted together without mortar and features a wooden porch with detailed carved ceiling elements at its entrance. Inside, prayer spaces for men and women are separated by wooden partitions that define the layout for worship.
The structure was built in 1575 by Ismihan Sultan, daughter of Sultan Selim II, making it Romania's oldest mosque. Its creation reflects Ottoman influence in the region during the empire's era of expansion.
The mosque serves as a gathering place for Muslim families of Turkish and Tatar descent who use it for regular worship and community events. Its continued active use reflects its importance as a living center of faith in the region.
The building sits on Oituz Street and is easy to locate walking through the town. Visitors should know this is an active place of prayer, so appropriate dress and respectful behavior are expected.
The stone blocks were taken from the remains of ancient Callatis and joined together using cast steel clasps inserted into drilled holes. This construction method links the ancient city with the later building that now stands on its grounds.
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