Hafız Ahmet Paşa Mosque

Audio Narration

Construction Year:

1595-1609

Location:

Fatih, İstanbul

Ordered by:

Hadım Hafız Ahmed Pasha

Architect:

Davud Agha (presumed)

- Changes the building has undergone since its construction
  • The complex, whose minaret was damaged in an earthquake in 1763, was renovated in the Baroque style.
  • Although the complex and the surrounding structures were damaged in the Cibali-Fatih fire in 1918, no comprehensive repair work was carried out.
  • When the madrasah building became the subject of dormitory construction attempts in the 1960s, it was decided that the building should be preserved and restored.
  • The complex was revived with partial restorations carried out between 1976 and 1991.
  • The tomb, fountain and public fountain were rebuilt with a comprehensive restoration carried out in 1995-1996.
- Prominent features of the mosque
  • Hafiz Ahmed Pasha Complex was built as a complex consisting of a mosque, a madrasah, Darülkurra, a shrine, a fountain and a primary school. The structures of the complex were made of cut stone.
  • The mosque has a rectangular plan. There is a large dome in the middle and two square rooms with smaller domes on the sides. The mosque is adjacent to the courtyard and has a simple and elegant structure in the classical Ottoman style.
  • The minaret is located to the right of the central space; it was rebuilt in the Baroque style during the earthquake of 1763. There are relief motifs on the balcony railing.
  • Darülkurra is next to the main gate of the mosque , has two floors, and has stonework compatible with the complex.
  • The shrine, located adjacent to the mosque, has a square plan and a dome. It has been revived.
  • The fountain at the corner of the tomb has a door opening onto the street and was originally designed in the Baroque style.
  • The fountain is located to the west of the madrasah, with a pointed arch and cut stone work.