Nilüfer Hatun Imareti, Ottoman museum in İznik, Turkey
The Nilüfer Hatun Imareti is a museum building in İznik featuring five bays supported by alternating piers and columns. A central dome and cross vaults define the interior structure.
The building was constructed in 1388 under Sultan Murad I and originally served as a convent and hospice for dervishes. It later transformed into the museum it is today.
The building shows early Ottoman features, with stone and brick layering that reflects 14th-century construction methods. These techniques are visible in how the walls and vaults come together.
The museum houses archaeological findings and ethnological collections, including artifacts from the renowned Iznik ceramic kilns of the region. The displays showcase the local crafting tradition of the area.
The main hall features a high dome supported by Turkish triangles, a distinctive structural solution from this period. The two side rooms with lower domes previously served as kitchens and dormitories.
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