Old Mosque, Tarsus, Historic mosque in Tarsus, Turkey.
The Old Mosque in Tarsus is a former Christian house of worship featuring a central prayer hall with arcades and plaster columns throughout its interior. Natural light filters through the space, illuminating historical ceiling paintings and creating the layered appearance of centuries of use.
The structure was originally built in 1102 as a Christian house of worship during the Byzantine period. It was converted into a mosque in 1415 under the Ramazanid dynasty and has served both religious communities of the city since then.
The interior walls display architectural elements from both Christian and Islamic traditions, with plaster columns and blind arches that reflect the long history of the place. Visitors can see this blend of styles when walking through the prayer space.
The building sits near other historical sites in central Tarsus and is easy to reach on foot from the main areas. Visitors should be aware of prayer times since the structure remains in active use for worship.
The northeast corner preserves a belfry from when the building served as a Christian cathedral, a rare remnant of this transformative phase. The entrance columns may have been sourced from ancient Roman or Hellenistic structures that once dominated the region.
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