Bereketzade Ali Efendi Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Beyoğlu, Turkey.
Bereketzade Ali Efendi Mosque is an Ottoman place of worship located below the Galata Tower in Istanbul. It features a courtyard, a main prayer hall with wooden roof framing, and a minaret that reflect the building style of that period.
The mosque was built in the 15th century following the conquest of Constantinople and served as the first Islamic place of worship in the Galata area. After being demolished in the mid-20th century, it was entirely reconstructed in the 1990s.
The name honors a member of the Bereketzade family, a powerful dynasty in Ottoman times. The courtyard and prayer hall remain active spaces where visitors can observe how the community gathers and maintains religious life in this historic quarter.
The mosque is easily accessible on foot from the Galata Tower and sits in a well-connected neighborhood with nearby shops and restaurants. Keep in mind that this is an active place of worship, so visitors should dress appropriately and conduct themselves respectfully.
Local lore speaks of a hidden passage that once connected the minaret to the Galata Tower and extended to the old port of Karakoy below. While these underground tunnels are not open to visitors today, they remain part of the neighborhood's intriguing stories.
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