Kocatepe Mosque, Religious monument in Ankara, Turkey
Kocatepe Mosque stands on a hill in central Ankara and carries a central dome with four half-domes, surrounded by four minarets reaching 88 meters (289 feet). Below the prayer hall are a conference room, library, mortuary space, parking garage, shopping area and administrative offices.
Construction began in 1967 following designs by Husrev Tayla and Fatin Uluengin and lasted two decades. Prime Minister Turgut Ozal opened the building in 1987.
The name comes from an old city park and the building now marks the skyline as a visible landmark across the capital. Visitors see worshippers at prayer and can admire handcrafted marble work along with decorative script on the walls and domes.
The main entrance sits on the south side and visitors should wear modest clothing and remove shoes before entering prayer spaces. Women receive scarves at the entrance if needed and prayer times offer quieter moments for a visit.
The floor space of 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet) accommodates up to 20,000 people and makes this the largest mosque built during Turkey's republican period. Despite its size, the design follows classical Ottoman models from the 16th century.
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