Ali Pasha Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Sur, Turkey.
Ali Pasha Mosque is an Ottoman-era prayer building in Diyarbakır's old city with a tall minaret and central dome. The exterior features detailed stone carvings that cover the walls and curved roof sections throughout the structure.
This mosque was built between 1534 and 1537 by order of Ottoman Governor Ali Pasha during a time of growing Ottoman influence in the region. Its construction marked an important period of religious and political expansion in southeastern Anatolia.
The mosque reflects how Ottoman builders and local craftsmen worked together, blending architectural styles from Istanbul with stoneworking methods from the Diyarbakır region. You can see this fusion in the carved details and the way the building stands against the skyline.
The building follows traditional Islamic customs with separate prayer spaces for different groups of worshippers. Plan your visit around the prayer schedule, as the building is primarily used as an active place of worship.
The complex once housed a madrasa, a school for Islamic learning, which meant it served both as a prayer house and as an educational center for the community. This teaching function made it a place of knowledge beyond just worship.
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