Beneath the Sultan Fatih Camii’s dome a story unfolds. This magnificent mosque a symbol of Istanbul’s rich past stands before you. Its current form dates to 1771. This rebuild followed the devastating 1766 earthquake. The original mosque constructed between 1463 and 1470 met a tragic end. It was commissioned by Sultan Mehmet II. He is known as Mehmet the Conqueror or Fatih in Turkish. The name Fatih meaning conqueror is also given to the neighborhood.
The Sultan Fatih Camii wasn’t just a mosque. It was the heart of a vast complex. The Fatih Mosque Complex once included madrasas. These were religious high schools. There were also a dormitory a hospice a library a hospital a market a hamam and tombs. Today only the madrasas the library the hospice and tombs remain. Fires earthquakes and road construction in the 1950s destroyed the rest.
The location of the Sultan Fatih Camii holds deep historical significance. It was built on the site of the Church of the Holy Apostles. This Byzantine church dating back to the first half of the fourth century CE was a crucial place of worship. It even served as the burial place for many Byzantine emperors including Constantine I. The columns in the hospice. These beautiful columns of verdo antico granite and marble are believed to be salvaged from this earlier church. The Sultan Fatih Camii thus stands on layers of history.
The original Sultan Fatih Camii was designed by Atik Sinan. He was the imperial architect of the time. The complex covered an impressive 3400 square meters. However subsequent earthquakes in 1509 1557 and 1754 caused significant damage. The 1766 earthquake completely destroyed the original structure. The current Sultan Fatih Camii a testament to resilience. This is a different design created by architect Mehmet Tahir. This was during the reign of Mustafa III.
Few remnants of the original Sultan Fatih Camii remain. These include the mosque’s external portal. The tombs of Mehmet II and his wife are still present. Some parts of the courtyard also survived the devastation. The Sultan Fatih Camii’s large courtyard continues its role. This is as a venue for important funerals. Each Wednesday the vast Fatih Pazarı street market enlivens the area around the mosque. The Sultan Fatih Camii remains a dynamic heart of Istanbul. Its story one of destruction and rebirth continues to captivate visitors today.