Şemsi Pasha Mosque

Şemsi Pasha Mosque is a congregational mosque in Üsküdar on Istanbul's Asian shore, built from granite with a straightforward, compact plan. The structure features one dome overhead and nine large windows fitted with colored glass that flood the interior with daylight.

Imperial architect Mimar Sinan designed this mosque in 1581 for Grand Vizier Şemsi Pasha, creating one of the smaller commissions for a statesman of that rank in Istanbul. The grounds later received a madrasa with teaching spaces that underwent conversion in the 20th century.

The mosque remains an active place of worship integrated into daily neighborhood life. Its waterfront setting makes it a recognizable landmark for locals and visitors passing along the shore.

The building sits directly on the water with limited space around it, so it is accessible from the street above or from the waterside path below. Visitors should know this is an active place of worship, so the interior is open mainly at certain hours of the day.

The tomb chamber has an unusual arrangement extending toward the waterline with three windows overlooking the Bosphorus directly. This creates an uncommon link between the sacred space within and the moving waters beyond.

Location: Istanbul

Inception: 1581

Architects: Mimar Sinan

Architectural style: Ottoman architecture

Made from material: granite

GPS coordinates: 41.02594,29.01137

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:40