Arab Istanbul Mosque, Medieval mosque in Karaköy, Turkey
The Arab Istanbul Mosque features a rectangular structure with three naves, Gothic arches, and a bell tower that now functions as a minaret.
Dominican friars constructed the building as the Church of San Domenico in 1325, and Sultan Mehmed II transformed it into a mosque between 1475 and 1478.
The mosque received its name when Sultan Bayezid II designated the building to Muslim refugees who fled from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition in 1492.
Located near the Golden Horn shores, the mosque opens daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with temporary closures during Islamic prayer times.
The structure remains the sole example of medieval Gothic religious architecture in Istanbul, combining Italian church design with Ottoman mosque elements.
Location: Istanbul
Inception: 1325
Architectural style: Byzantine architecture
Address: Galata Mahkemesi Sokağı 34421 İstanbul 34421 İstanbul
GPS coordinates: 41.02444,28.97083
Latest update: May 11, 2025 06:18
This route leads through mosques, palaces and districts of Istanbul. The path includes Galata Tower, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace along with Balat and Karakoy. The Bosphorus with its shores, historic fortresses and hills provide views of the city. The Princes' Islands, Ottoman mansions and modern architecture add to the photographic opportunities.
Galata Tower
309 m
New Mosque
850 m
Galata Mevlevihanesi
538 m
Atatürk Bridge
464 m
Neve Shalom Synagogue
284 m
Golden Horn Metro Bridge
421 m
Narmanlı Han
632 m
SALT
230 m
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha II Mosque
264 m
Ahi Çelebi Mosque
641 m
Yeraltı Camii
520 m
Crimea Memorial Church
639 m
Church of Saint Benoit, Istanbul
488 m
Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul
189 m
Category:Walls of Galata
170 m
Ashkenazi Synagogue of Istanbul
368 m
Genoese Palace
174 m
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church of Galata
651 m
Karaköy Aya Nikola Church
622 m
Italian Synagogue
187 m
Karaköy Pier
580 m
Bereketzade Fountain
323 m
Surp Pirgiç Catholic Church
441 m
Bereketzade Ali Efendi Mosque
290 m
Camondo stairs
253 m
Kemankeş Mosque
533 m
The Swedish Palace of Istanbul
610 m
Galata Tower Museum
307 mReviews
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