Aladža mosque, Ottoman mosque in Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Aladža Mosque features decorative stonework and intricate calligraphy on its walls, with a central dome rising above octagonal drums. The nearly square floor plan creates a balanced interior space.

Built in 1549 by Hasan Nezir, the Ottoman supervisor of state goods and finance in Bosnia and a close associate of Mimar Sinan, with Ramadan-aga as master builder. It was the first mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the classical Ottoman style, and later mosques emulated its design. The Army of Republika Srpska blew it up on 22 April 1992 and demolished it completely on 2 August 1992. Rebuilt from 2014 to 2018 under the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, financed by TIKA, it reopened on 4 May 2019.

The name Aladža means "the Colourful", given for the decoration that once covered the walls; the mosque is also called Šarena džamija. Its master builder, Ramadan-aga, was trained in Persian culture and architecture, which shaped the stone carving of the mihrab, minbar and muezzin mahfili. The restored building was opened in 2019 by Aziza Kurtović, a Foča woman who lost her son in the war.

The structure underwent extensive restoration and reopened to visitors in 2019, and it is easily accessible on foot. When visiting, take time to observe the interior details and respect any local customs.

During reconstruction, workers gathered original stones that had scattered throughout the city and incorporated them into the rebuilt structure. This careful process preserved physical connections to the original construction.