Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque

A Hidden Gem – Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque

Istanbul is a city of mosques, and most of them are built and decorated in some of the most intricate and stunning styles you can imagine. It will be very difficult to get around the city and visit them all, but the main areas of the city have some beautiful mosques that you should certainly take time out to head to.

Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque is located within Besikas, in the Yildiz neighbourhood. Dating back to around 1884, this mosque was ordered by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, and was completed in 1886. The architect was Sarkis Balyan, who belonged to the renowned Balyan family, and worked on several pieces of beauty across the city.

Many people venture upon Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque by accident, whilst visiting the Besikas region, and although the possibly didn’t mean to visit, they would be glad they had found it! This is often how you find the best hidden gems around, and if you are in the Besikas region, perhaps for football, shopping, food, or Dolmabahce Palace, be sure to keep your eyes open for this stunningly beautiful mosque. It may be small, but it is certainly extremely impressive in design, and the lack of huge crowds means you can really take the time and effort to appreciate it in all its wonderful glory.

The Architecture of Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque

Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque is quite different in decor to many of the other mosques in the region, and the small details which have gone into the interior are certainly very beautiful. It is said that Sultan Abdul Hamid II himself designed the mosque, in collaboration with his architect, and he wanted just one minaret, with the complex done in a rectangular design. This was quite common in the Ottoman period, but the other decorations and intricacies are quite strikingly different.

The overall design is Neo-Gothic, with traditional Ottoman nods. There is one large dome, and another half dome, along with 16 windows which are decorated beautifully. The minaret itself is wonderfully intricate, and the balcony finishes off the careful design.

Visiting Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque

It is quite easy to reach Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque, and you can either walk, take the bus, or head over on the ferry, if you’re on the Asian side.

Besiktas is located on the European side of the city, on the banks of the Bosphorus. This means if you are staying over in Kadikoy or Uskudar, you simply need to take the passenger ferry straight over to Besiktas, and disembark at the pier. From there, it is just a few minutes’ walk to the Yildiz neighbourhood, and the mosque itself.

If you are staying in Taksim or Sultanahmet, for example, you can take the bus or the tram, combined with a little walking. There are regular trams which leave Sultanahmet and head down to Kabitas, and you simply need to walk straight, directly past the Vodafone Arena, into Besiktas. There are buses which run directly from Taksim, with no need for much walking at all! As we mentioned, Yildiz itself is just a couple of minutes from the centre of Besiktas.

Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque is open everyday, although this is a functioning mosque so it will be closed for regular prayer times. Entrance is free, however donations are always welcomed, and go towards the upkeep of the mosque for future generations to visit.

Once you have finished exploring this beautiful mosque, you can head back down towards Besiktas and explore the vibrant region. There are many shopping opportunities to be had here, as well as several beautiful and calm parks. You can sit on the water’s edge and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, or you could walk back towards Dolmabahce Palace, and explore the stunning history and architecture of this former imperial palace. As you walk down this road, be sure to look at the framed pictures of Ataturk on the walls as you go. This region is particularly synonymous with the great man, who is so famously inshrined in the importance of Turkey as it is today.

Besiktas itself is a very busy and vibrant part of the city, and if you are on the lookout for a delicious meal or some nightlife, this is a great space to head to. It does have quite a modern, young feel to it, and if you are visiting when there is a football match being played, you’ll be able to watch the passion of the local Besiktas fans at first hand!