Gazi Ali Paşa Mosque, Babadag, Ottoman mosque in Babadag, Romania.
The Gazi Ali Paşa Mosque stands on Str. Geamiei nr. 2 in central Babadag, built of dressed stone on a rectangular plan around 1609–1610. A monumental arcaded portico fronts the prayer hall, and the minaret rises over 20 metres; the Arabic source gives its height as 23 metres. Inside are carved wooden decorations and old Persian carpets brought from Turkey.
Gazî Ali Paşa ordered the mosque built around 1609–1610, when the Dobruja pasha's residence was moved from Silistra to Babadag to coordinate troops against the Russian Empire; sources do not say whether that year marks the start or the end of construction. It burned during the Russo-Turkish War, served as a museum until 1989, and was restored between 1990 and 1999 by a Turkish foundation. It is listed as monument TL-II-m-A-06000.
The name Babadag comes from Turkish: baba, father, and dağ, mountain, referring to an elderly man. Inside are some of the finest carved-wood decorations in the European part of the Ottoman Empire and centuries-old Persian carpets brought from Turkey.
The mosque is centrally located in Babadag and is relatively easy to find if you know the local streets. It helps to be respectfully dressed and to be aware of prayer times when visiting the site.
The mosque served as a museum until 1989, then was restored between 1990 and 1999 by a Turkish foundation. Inside are some of the finest carved-wood decorations in Europe and centuries-old Persian carpets brought from Turkey. The minaret rises 23 metres.
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