Beylerbeyi Mosque

Rising gracefully on the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus, right by the water's edge, the Beylerbeyi Mosque is an Ottoman masterpiece that immediately catches the eye with its impressive silhouette. Considered one of Istanbul's most beautiful waterfront mosques, it offers a postcard-perfect view for boats and yachts passing through the Bosphorus. Its Baroque-detailed facade and two slender minarets add a unique beauty to the Bosphorus view at any time of day. Especially when illuminated in the evenings, the mosque's reflection on the water leaves an unforgettable first impression.

History of Beylerbeyi Mosque

The Beylerbeyi Mosque (also known as the Hamid-i Evvel Mosque) was built in 1777-1778 by Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid I in memory of his mother, Rabia Sultan, and commissioned to the chief architect Mehmed Tahir Ağa. It was opened for worship in 1778. This mosque, a Selatin Mosque (mosque built by the Sultan), originally had a single minaret, but underwent extensive renovations in the early 19th century during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II. During these renovations, the last prayer area was rebuilt, the original minaret was demolished, and two symmetrical minarets were added in its place. Also during the same period, a muvakkithane (clock room) was built to the south of the structure, a four-sided fountain on the seashore, and a hünkâr kasrı (sultan's resting place) adjacent to the mosque. Repaired several times throughout the 19th century, the mosque suffered severe damage in the great Istanbul earthquake of 1894 and underwent extensive restoration in 1969. On March 13, 1983, a fire that broke out following the burning of a historic mansion next to it caused the collapse of the mosque's wooden dome; the mosque was quickly repaired by the General Directorate of Foundations and reopened for worship on May 29, 1983. Following its last restoration in 2013-2014, Beylerbeyi Mosque is currently open for worship and visits.

Architecture of Beylerbeyi Mosque

The mosque's architecture is a pioneering example that blends the classic Ottoman single-domed plan with the influences of the Baroque style that emerged in the late 18th century. Built in the Baroque style, the mosque features cut stone walls and a central single dome resting on an octagonal base. The main dome, supported by a half-dome in the direction of the mihrab, gives the interior a spacious height with its double drum structure. Thanks to the windows in the dome drum and a total of 55 windows, plenty of natural light enters the interior; the painted motifs adorning the walls and the colorful Ottoman and European-style tiles reflect the aesthetics of the period. Designed as a waterfront mosque, the main facade of Beylerbeyi Mosque is built facing the sea; The eleven-step staircase leading to the entrance on the shore side and the boarding stone, which allowed the sultan to easily disembark when arriving by boat, are unique examples of this feature. Two elegant minarets rising from either side of the structure, with their classic pointed finials and single balconies, complete the silhouette of the mosque. Beylerbeyi Mosque, in addition to offering an impressive view on the Bosphorus coast with its facade arrangement, holds a pioneering position among the mosques in Istanbul due to its main facade being designed facing the sea.

Exploring Beylerbeyi Mosque by Yacht

Located on the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus, at the point where it comes very close to the shore, the Beylerbeyi Mosque stands out as one of the structures that makes you feel that worship is fully integrated into daily life, with its stance that doesn't distance itself from the water. Viewed from the sea, the mosque exists in harmony with its surroundings, with its measured facade and balanced proportions, without claiming great monumentality. This simplicity, often unnoticed from land, becomes clearer from the water level, revealing the mosque's conscious design of modesty. As the yacht moves parallel to the shore, the structure silently explains why places of worship on the Anatolian side have a calmer and more introspective character. At this point, the architecture uses a language that prioritizes tranquility over ostentation. The Beylerbeyi Mosque chooses to be a part of the landscape rather than dominating it. Stopping and observing it is like taking a calm breath away from the noise of the Bosphorus. Seeing the Beylerbeyi Mosque in this measured tranquility takes on a much deeper meaning when you sail on a yacht chartered on the Bosphorus. Those planning a trip around Beylerbeyi Mosque can evaluate the yachts in our fleet online according to their preferences for duration and number of people, and clearly see how their budget will be structured as they choose from the menu and extra services via yatkiralama.net/en.