Fatih Mosque

The Beauty of Fatih Mosque

If you know anything about Istanbul at all, you will probably know that Fatih is one of the oldest and most historic parts of the entire city. This is where the oldest parts of Constantinople laid, and not far away from the very edge of Fatih’s main district, you will find the remnants of the old Walls of Constantinople. This is where history can be heard, seen, and felt at every corner, even today.

Fatih is a very traditional part of the city, so when visiting it’s a good idea to remember this and dress conservatively, simply to respect the residents who live there. In addition, you will also feel much more ‘part of the furniture’, and this will give you a more authentic and traditional experience.

One place in Fatih that has to be visited, is Fatih Mosque.

There are many mosques in Istanbul, and all of them are beautiful and special in their own ways, but Fatih Mosque has history and beauty to rival some of the most popular within the centre of the city itself.

The History of Fatih Mosque

Also known locally as Fatih Camii, Fatih Mosque is located right in the centre of the Fatih neighbourhood. This makes it very easy to find when visiting this part of Istanbul, which can be easily reached from any other section of the city via bus, or on foot.

The mosque itself is part of the Fatih Mosque complex, which was ordered to be constructed in 1463 by Sultan Mehmet II (Mehmet The Conquerer). Building took seven years to complete, and the mosque was complete by the year 1470.

Whilst the mosque complex as you see it today looks a little different from the original design, it is useful to know about the original set-up, so you can look for hints of the old buildings as you visit. The original complex was home to a madrasas, student dormitory area, a hospice, hospital, market, library, a hamam, and tombs. You can’t see all of these standing today, but you will be able to see the madrasas, library, tombs, and the hospice. As Istanbul has been affected by many natural issues over the years, such as earthquakes and fires, the original complex buildings were damaged as a result.

It’s interesting to know that the complex was built on the Church of the Holy Apostles site, which dates back to around the fourth century CE. If you look closely within the grounds of the Fatih Mosque complex, specifically in the old hospice’s courtyard, you will see several columns which are made from granite, marble, and verde antico, which are said to be from the original church itself. This church is important in history also, as several Byzantine emperors are believed to have been buried within the church’s grounds.

The original Fatih Mosque complex was huge in its first days, covering around 3400 square metres, however this has become smaller in size as several rebuilds and reconstruction rounds have been carried out, as well as reduction due to many complex buildings no longer being around. The original mosque itself was completely destroyed in 1766 by a large earthquake, causing the central dome to collapse. Fatih Mosque as you see it today was rebuilt in 1771, during the era of Mustafa III. Today, the only original surviving element are the tombs of Mehmet II and his wife, certain parts of the courtyard and the external portal of the mosque itself.

Visiting Fatih Mosque

Fatih Mosque is very easy to reach from almost any part of Istanbul. If you are over on the Asian side, you simply need to take a ferry over to Eminonu and then get the bus from there. Simply get off the bus at the mosque’s bus stop. If you prefer to walk, this is do-able, but will take around 20 minutes up the main road from Eminonu itself. Buses also leave from Besiktas and Taksim, as well as other main points within Istanbul.

Remember that Fatih Mosque is a working mosque, so it is going to be closed during prayer times and also at extra times during religious holidays. Friday prayer times are also very busy, so bear this in mind. The courtyard patio is also very large, and for this reason there are sometimes funerals which take place here for people of importance. During these times, the mosque is likely to also be closed to general visitors. Other than those times however, the mosque is open from 9am until 6pm every day, and there is no admission charge. If you want to leave a donation, this will be very greatly received and will be put towards the upkeep of the mosque, for future generations to enjoy.

If you can try and time your visit for a Wednesday, you’ll be able to enjoy a huge street market which takes place on the streets just outside of Fatih Mosque too. This is the largest of its kind in Istanbul, and you’re sure to find some souvenirs to take back home, and a chance to practice your haggling skills!

Of course, Fatih is also very close to many sights of importance, and is right on the Golden Horn. You can head back up towards Eminonu, or you can venture over to Sultanahmet and visit any of the historic sights in that part of the city. The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia are located very close by, as well as the Grand Bazaar and the Basilica Cistern, to name just a few.