High up on a hill and with particularly tall minarets, Üsküdar's most important mosque is another work of Mimar Sinan, this time designed in 1583 for Nurbanu Sultan. the wife of Sultan Selim II and Mother of Murat III. She was the first of all sultan's mothers that ruled over the Ottoman Empire from the harem.
Atik Valide Mosque.
To find the Atik Valide Mosque you need to walk up Eski Toptaşi Caddesi (Old Cannonball Street), readily identifiable by a small monument in the middle of the road incorporating a cannonball said to have been used during the siege of İstanbul 1453.
The Mihrab.
The Atik Valide Mosque (name translation:Old Mosque of the Sultan's Mother) was one of the most extensive mosque complexes in Istanbul area. Mimar Sinan completed the mosque in 1583, and it was his last major work.
Window next to mihrab.
İznik tiles.
Main dome.
Five semidomes with arches upholds the main dome.
Chandelabre hanging from the main dome.
View of the dome thru the main chandelabre.
Flat arch over the entrance portal.
A narthex of tweelve arches filled with fine metalwork opens onto an interior that seems unexpectedly small after the grand exterior.
Tweelve arches sorrounds the narthex.
Arches.
Window facing the cemetery.
The interior is surrounded on three sides by galleries.
.
Exterior
This powerful complex of buildings was compose by the mosques, madrasas, lodge, primary school, caravanserai, a Turkish bath, a hospital and library. This complex made the Sultan to reinforce the strength of Istanbul, the complex is one of the largest in terms of size.
Two Minarets.
Back entrance.
Two minarets.
Tiles over the wondows.
Gallery.
Perfume vendor.
View of courtyard.
Wednesday at İstanbul's Group.
Ablutions fountain.
Ablutions fountain.
Described by John Freely as one of the half-dozen most impresive Ottoman monuments in the country, the Atik Valide Mosque has a delightful courtyard filled with plane trees and rosebushes, a place where old men while away the day over glasses of tea and their newspapers.
Courtyard sorrounded by arches.
Courtyard filled with plane trees and rosebushes.
Arched corridor.
Wednesday at İstanbul's Group.
View from the side entrance door.
Entrance door.
Cemetery next to the mosque.
The guardian.
I found this 3D View of Atik Valide Camii and I thought to share it with you since it will give 360 degrees view of the mosque's interior.
Unfurtunately, the surrounding complex is not being well maintained. İt is property of Marmara University's School of Fine Arts and it needs restoration. The mekteb (School) at the back is also in ruins, as is the imaret (soup kitchen) with its graceful brick chimeneys. This part of the complex can not longer be visited since is in ruins and is now under construction. They are trying to built a hotel and congress as I heard.
As of now, I hope you enjoyed the views!
Soreya Reyes
www.searchingforemotion.com
STREET LIFE AND DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY
Twitter: @street_photos_
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Twitter: @street_photos_
Instagram: street.photos.soreyar
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