Arap Mosque

Experience of the Beauty of Arap Mosque

Istanbul has plenty of mosques, but not all of them have the same history and architectural wonder as the big hitters that we all know about. From Blue Mosque to Fatih Mosque, there are countless to visit, but one which you should have on your list is the interesting and easily accessible Arap Mosque.

This is a huge city, so if you want to visit the main attractions, you need to know how to get to them and you need to be prepared to use public transport. The great thing about Arap Mosque is that it is close to many other major attractions, such as Galata Tower, Taksim, and even the Blue Mosque itself. They are all easily walkable.

So, what is so special about the Arap Mosque?

The Arap Mosque, One of a Kind

Arap Mosque is situated in Galata, which as we have just mentioned, makes it super easy to visit as part of a busy sightseeing day. Known in Turkish as ‘Arap Camii’, this beautiful place of worship is actually only mosque in the whole city which was once a Roman Catholic Church, and was then converted into a mosque. Yes, there are many other old churches which are now mosques, but none of them were Roman Catholic; Hagia Sophia for example, was once a Byzantine Orthodox Church. For this very unique reason, Arap Mosque remains a special sight and place to visit for people of all religions and interests.

Arap Mosque was originally called Church of San Domenico, and it was ordered to be built in the 14th century, by Dominican Monks. Prior to this time, the site was home to another small church, which was dedicated to San Paolo, and was built in 1204. As you can see, there is plenty of history to explore here!

The church remained Roman Catholic until 1453, when the Ottomans took over Istanbul, then named Constantinople, and converted the church into a mosque, naming it Galata Mosque. The current name came about when Sultan Bayezid II was in power. During this time, many arabs settled in this part of Istanbul, having been deported from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. From that event, the mosque took on its current name.

Arap Mosque’s Architectural Beauty

As with most historic buildings in this eventful city, Arap Mosque was damaged several times by earthquakes and fires throughout history, and especially during the 1731 fire in the Galata area. Restoration took place after this time, with a few added decorative touches added in, including original Gothic architectural designs being replaced with more Ottoman styles. These days, you can see both styles quite clearly, and the mosque itself is in great condition, still working as an open mosque.

The most interesting part architecturally-speaking is the bell tower, which is very Gothic in style, and is now one of the minarets of the mosque. If you are into history (of course you are, you’re in Istanbul), then you’ll be fascinated by the story the Genoese tombstones that were found under the original mosque. You can head over to the Istanbul Archaeological Museum to check those out for yourself.

Visiting Arap Mosque

We’ve already mentioned that Arap Mosque is super easy to get to, because it’s so centrally located. If you’re on the Asian side, you’ll simply need to jump on the ferry over to Karakoy, and walk up the hill towards the Galata neighbourhood. This is a great walk, despite the rather steep incline of the hill! Take your time and stop off at one of the hipster cafes as you go, for a cay pitstop!

Alternatively, if the ferry isn’t for you, you can use the tram and get off at the Karakoy Tram Station. Again, you just need to walk five minutes to get to the mosque.

The mosque is open every day from 9am until 6pm, but remember that it is a functioning mosque, so during prayer times it will be closed, more so on Fridays, the holy day. It is free to enter the mosque, but you might want to leave a donation, as the mosque does rely on these kind donations to run the upkeep of the mosque itself.

Of course, you will want to visit many different mosques during your time in Istanbul, but the Arap Mosque is different because of its small size and feel, as well as the history which surrounds it. The fact it is so close to so many other attractions also makes it a must do for anyone visiting this wonderful part of the city.