New Istanbul Mosque

The New Mosque, originally called the Valide Sultan Mosque, is an Ottoman Imperial mosque situated in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, specifically on the Golden Horn. This 17th-century edifice is one of the city’s most prominent mosques, famous for its magnificent architecture. It is also known as the “bird mosque” since there are numerous birds within the complex at all times.

A testament to the Sultanate of Women period of the Ottoman Empire, the mosque was built under the orders of the Safiye Sultan. It has two minarets and 66 domes and semi-domes arranged in a pyramidal form. There is a courtyard on its west side which comprises a collonaded peristyle with 24 small domes as well as an ornamental şadırvan or ablution fountain in the centre. On the inside, it is square-shaped and has been decorated with white, blue and green Iznik tiles. It features several columns topped off with arches of different styles. The pillars that meet the dome on the four sides have calligraphic plates with the names of the first four Khalifas. Some other features of the New Mosque include a Royal Pavilion on the northeast side, mihrab, minbar, library with a unique pen works in the dome and pendants, seventeen tombs and more.