Doesn’t the New Mosque look magnificent against the Istanbul skyline? The Yeni Cami is a landmark that tells a story of ambition delays and ultimate triumph.
Welcome to the Yeni Cami also known as the New Mosque. It is an Ottoman imperial mosque with a fascinating history. Its story is intertwined with powerful women and political intrigue.
Construction on the Yeni Cami began in 1597. Safiye Sultan commissioned it. She was the wife of Sultan Murad III and later the Valide Sultan or Queen Mother of Sultan Mehmed III. She wanted to extend Islamic influence in Istanbul. Eminönü was a commercial center with a large Jewish population.
The original architect of the Yeni Cami was Davut Ağa. He was a student of the famous Mimar Sinan. Davut Ağa died in 1599. Dalgıç Ahmed Çavuş replaced him. Political issues and financial concerns caused delays. The Janissaries thought the mosque was unnecessary. Safiye Sultan had to stop the project when Mehmed III died in 1603.
After Safiye’s death the structure fell into disrepair. The Great Fire of 1660 damaged it further. The imperial architect Mustafa Ağa suggested Turhan Sultan complete the mosque. She was the mother of Sultan Mehmed IV. Turhan also ordered the construction of the Spice Bazaar. This formed part of the New Mosque’s külliye or complex.
Construction of the Yeni Cami restarted in 1660. It finished in 1663 and opened in 1665. It was renamed the New Valide Sultan Mosque. Over time people shortened it to New Mosque or Yeni Cami.
The exterior of the Yeni Cami features 66 domes and semi domes. They are arranged in a pyramid shape. Two minarets rise gracefully. The main dome is 36 meters high. It rests on four semi domes. The design is similar to the Şehzade Mosque. Mimar Sinan designed that mosque.
The courtyard of the Yeni Cami is 39 meters on each side. A colonnaded peristyle surrounds it. Twenty four small domes cover the peristyle. An ornamental şadırvan or ablution fountain stands in the center. Ritual purification happens with water taps on the south wall. The facade features İznik tiles. Stone blocks came from Rhodes for the construction.
Inside the Yeni Cami is a square space measuring 41 meters per side. Four large piers support the central dome. Marble columns and arches connect the piers. The dome’s diameter is 17.5 meters. It reaches a height of 36 meters. Calligraphic plates display the names of the first four caliphs. These are Abu Bakr Umar Uthman and Ali.
A gilded screen marks the Royal Loge. Members of the imperial court could attend services here. A passageway connects it to a Royal Pavilion.
Blue green and white İznik tiles decorate the interior. The mihrab features gilded stalactites. The minbar has a conical canopy with marble columns.
Ahmed III built a library in 1724 to 1725. It stands near the tomb. The library has stone brick walls and a flattened dome. Unique pen work adorns the dome.
Seventeen tombs are located here. These include the tomb of Hasan Bedreddin Bey. He was the son of Abdülaziz’s daughter Esma Sultan. The Cedîd Havâtîn Tomb holds twenty one tombs. These are the graves of Abdulmejid I’s daughters and Abdulaziz’s daughters. Murad V and his consorts are buried here. Abdul Hamid II’s children and his mother are also here.
Like other imperial mosques the Yeni Cami was designed as a külliye. It included a hospital a primary school and a palace. The Spice Bazaar still operates today.
The mausoleum holds the graves of Turhan Hatice and Mehmed IV. Five later sultans are also buried here.
Ongoing restoration preserves the Yeni Cami for future generations. The Turkish General Directorate of Foundations manages these works.
The Yeni Cami stands as a testament to Ottoman architecture. It shows the power and influence of the women who shaped its destiny. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and history.