“Woodpecker Mosque” they call it. The \u0130skender \u00c7elebi Camii stands before us. It is a piece of history nestled in Istanbul’s Kocamustafapa\u015fa district.
\u0130skender \u00c7elebi Camii was built in the 16th century. Debba\u011f \u0130skender \u00c7elebi commissioned it. The exact construction date remains a mystery. But records from 1546 mention it. These records suggest its foundation dates back to 1538.
Debba\u011f \u0130skender \u00c7elebi built the mosque. His tomb is located near the mosque’s front side. No other graves are in the courtyard. Kalayc\u0131zade Mehmet Efendi played a role too. He added a minbar transforming the building into a mosque.
The \u0130skender \u00c7elebi Camii has a rectangular design. Its walls consist of rubble stone. The mosque’s roof is covered with tiles. Over time the \u0130skender \u00c7elebi Camii fell into disrepair. But in 1955 it was rebuilt. The rebuilding followed the original plan. The mihrab the minber and the kürsü are made of wood. The harim has a wooden ceiling. It can accommodate eight rows of worshippers. A door on the right wall leads to the minaret.
The lower parts of the walls are covered in tiles. These tiles extend to the top of the windows. The minaret with a single balcony stands to the right. It is the only original part of the old structure. The \u0130skender \u00c7elebi Camii stands as a testament to time. It has been rebuilt and it still stands.