“I wonder if these walls could talk” I think as I stare at the Hoca Paşa Cami. What tales would they tell of Istanbul’s ever-changing face? Today we are exploring this beautiful mosque. Its story is woven into the very fabric of this vibrant city.
The Hoca Paşa Cami stands where Ibni Kemal Caddesi meets Hoca Paşa Sokak in Sirkeci. Its original name was Hoca Üveys Mescidi. It was named after Hoca Üveys bin Kayser who commissioned it. Construction concluded between 1580 and 1590 during the reign of Mehmed II also known as Fatih.
Hoca Üveys was a significant figure. He served as chief treasurer under Sultan Murad III. Later in 1585 he became the Beylerbey of Budin. His success in increasing the revenues of the Egyptian treasury earned him the title of vizier in 1590.
Initially the Hoca Paşa Cami was built on a street near Ebussud Caddesi. A major reconstruction took place between 1868 and 1869. This gave the mosque its 19th-century architectural style. The mihrab was renovated in 1964 and adorned with Kütahya tiles.
The minaret of Hoca Paşa Cami features a thick body a single balcony and a stone cone. To the right of the entrance a rococo-style mirror stone fountain catches the eye. Its seven-verse inscription indicates it was renovated by the fourth wife of Mahmud II who reigned from 1808 to 1839. The fountain originally stood opposite the mosque during the Fatih period.
Hoca Üveys passed away in 1590. He was buried in the courtyard of his second mosque in Egypt. The Hoca Paşa Cami has seen many changes. It suffered damage in the Hocapaşa fire of 1829. The current structure dates back to the 1830s.
The mosque covers 304 square meters. Its roof is tiled. Oval windows add to its unique appearance. Colorful jambs surround the windows. The Hoca Paşa Cami lacks a courtyard. One enters directly from the street. The main entrance is in the middle of the last congregation area. Other doors exist on different sides.
Inside wooden craftsmanship adorns the doors. A gallery surrounds the prayer hall. Five wooden columns support it. The minbar is wooden. The mihrab was recently rebuilt and covered with tiles. Near the mosque stands a 19th-century fountain and the Hocapaşa Hamam. As you leave take one last look at the Hoca Paşa Cami.