Caferağa Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Sultanahmet district, Turkey.
Caferağa Mosque sits adjacent to Hagia Sophia and displays classical Ottoman architecture with a central dome and courtyard ringed by columns. The structure includes ablution facilities and a restaurant serving Turkish cuisine to visitors.
The structure was built in 1559 by architect Mimar Sinan during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. It originally served as an educational institution for Islamic studies.
The building houses exhibition spaces where artists create and teach traditional Turkish handicrafts such as calligraphy, ceramics, and mosaic work. Visitors can observe craftspeople at work and study their finished pieces.
The site is easily accessible to visitors and has entry areas with appropriate footwear requirements and ritual washing areas. Visit early in the day when it is less crowded and you can better appreciate the architecture and take photographs.
Today the structure serves two purposes: it functions as both an active prayer space and a center for classical Turkish arts. Each year student exhibitions showcase works that demonstrate skills in traditional craftsmanship.
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