Atik Valide Mosque, Ottoman congregational mosque in Üsküdar, Turkey
Atik Valide Mosque is an Ottoman congregational mosque built with granite facades, marble interiors, and elaborate Iznik tiles covering the walls. The prayer hall is topped by a large central dome supported by four half-domes, with two minarets flanking the structure alongside a paved courtyard.
The building was designed in 1586 by renowned architect Mimar Sinan and commissioned by Sultan Murad III in memory of his mother Nurbanu Sultan. This construction was part of a broader 16th-century movement where sultan family members financed major religious complexes as legacies.
The complex served as a community hub where people gathered for worship, learning, and daily affairs. The pairing of mosque and school reflects how Ottoman society viewed faith and education as inseparable parts of life.
Visitors must remove shoes and cover shoulders and knees before entering; loose clothing and light scarves are practical. Prayer times take precedence, so it is better to visit outside these times or maintain respectful distances.
The tiles come from the famed Iznik tile factories and feature hand-crafted geometric patterns that were time-intensive to produce. These artisanal details are rarer to find today, as many historic tiles were lost or replaced over the centuries.
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