Ortakoy Mosque 2024 (The Most Influential and New Information)
Ortakoy Mosque is one of the pearls of the ancient city of Istanbul and the symbol of the district with the same name, located between Besiktas and Bebek neighborhoods.
The two minarets of the mosque rise near the Martyrs’ Bridge in Iskele Square, right on the shore of the Bosphorus. This mosque’s face can be seen in any tourist brochure dedicated to Istanbul, and he deserves to devote an entire day to it.
Ortakoy Mosque History
The Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid I built a mosque instead of the Cantemir Palace. The building was constructed in record time. The temple severely damages in the earthquake that occurred in Istanbul in 1894. In 1960 it was on the verge of its complete existence. The foundation of the building and the soil beneath it were in a condition that required capital restoration.
The fire that occurred in the early 1980s of the last century seriously damaged the mosque, and restoring many interior decoration elements was impossible. The authorities carried out the severe first restoration after a fire in the 1980s of the 20th century. Then the temple opened its doors to the guests and residents of Istanbul. The mosque was subject to restoration work from 2011-2014.
Exciting Facts About Ortakoy Mosque
What else can surprise tourists, the pearl of Istanbul hovering over the waters of the Bosphorus? Here are some exciting facts about Ortakoy Mosque:
- This is the only central temple standing on the seashore. The mosque is so beautiful that the sultans sitting on the opposite side of the Bosphorus used to come to Ortakoy in boats to pray.
- Like all mosques built during the reign of Sultan Abdulmejid, Ortakoy consisted of two parts, the harem and the sultan’s private room for hosting guests. Sultan Abdulmecid, who ordered the tomb’s construction, had a hand in its interior design. As a calligrapher, the sultan painted the walls of the temple.
- In the mid-20th century, experts discovered a severe threat of collapse of the mausoleum resulting from the foundation’s condition. The mosque was closed, and extensive restoration was carried out, requiring about 80 tons of concrete.
- To check the foundation’s condition, the authorities used an X-ray machine that showed which piles urgently needed replacement.
- After the second restoration on 6 June 2014, the authorities opened the mosque to visitors.
What Hours is Ortakoy Mosque Open?
The mosque is open from morning to evening until the first and last prayer of the day.
How to get to Ortakoy Mosque?
The easiest way is to take a taxi and not wander around big Istanbul. But if you are going to find Ortakoy on your own, there are several ways. Take the tram along the T1 line from Sultanahmet and depart from the Galata Bridge to the Kabatas stop. Take buses 22, 22RE, and 25E to the Ortakoy finish and walk 200 meters from there. Take the 40, 42T, and 40T buses from Taksim Square and walk to the Ortakoy stop.
