Six domes instead of one? That’s not a typo. Here before us stands the Piyale Pasha Mosque. It is a testament to architectural innovation.
The Piyale Pasha Mosque, also known as Tersane Mosque, resides in Istanbul’s Kasimpasa area. Tersane means Shipyard Mosque. Its story began in the 16th century.
Grand Admiral Piyale Mehmed Pasha commissioned the mosque. He chose Mimar Sinan, the brilliant Ottoman architect, for its design. Construction occurred between 1565 and 1573.
Sinan broke convention. He designed the Piyale Pasha Mosque with six domes. These are arranged in two rows of three. Each dome spans about 9 meters. Only one other Istanbul mosque shares this multi-domed design. That is the Vasat Atik Ali Pasha Mosque.
Two slender granite pillars support the domes. They stand in the prayer hall’s center. The minaret sits unusually in the center of the anti-qibla wall. It saw reconstruction in the 19th century.
Look closely at the interior. Notice the Iznik tiles. These tiles adorn three walls. White thuluth script graces their cobalt-blue background. Originally the Piyale Pasha Mosque interior was richly decorated. Now it is whitewashed. The stained glass in the qibla wall windows isn’t original.
Northwest of the mosque stands an octagonal mausoleum. It houses Piyale Pasha’s tomb. His sons and daughters rest here too. Thirteen sarcophagi fill the space.
Piyale Pasha’s wife Gevherhan Sultan also has a story. She was the daughter of Selim II. After Piyale Pasha’s death, she remarried. She now rests in Selim II’s mausoleum near Hagia Sophia.
Fragments of the Piyale Pasha Mosque’s past are scattered. Identical Iznik tiled lunette panels are now in museums. You can find them in Paris, Lisbon and London. These panels once adorned the mosque’s upper walls. Some believe they came from a demolished kiosk nearby. In 2004, Christie’s auctioned two tiles. These tiles likely came from the mihrab.
In 2007, the Piyale Pasha Mosque underwent restoration. It became a modern, clean space. It is now one of Mimar Sinan’s finest mosques.
Piyale Pasha’s tomb is located in front of the mosque. He captured the island of Sakiz. He is a historical figure. The Piyale Pasha Mosque stands as a unique landmark. It blends history, art, and architectural innovation. Its six domes testify to Sinan’s genius.