Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque
- Changes after its construction
- The mosque was built as a social complex and was completed between 1867-1871.
- The shrine was first moved back in 1926-1929 to expand the tramway route; it was moved again in 1958 as part of the Prost project.
- During the Aksaray Square arrangement in 1968-1969, the tomb was moved to its current location, but it was understood that the structure was damaged during the moving and reconstruction processes.
- The complex remained below the road level after every new development and road arrangement.
- The courtyard that was supposed to be on the qibla side of the mosque is located in the northwest corner, and a part of the complex had to be demolished over time to adapt to the landscaping.
- Prominent Features
- The mosque is a single-domed, four-arched structure built on four large piers in an eclectic style. The large arched arches are not visible from the outside and the drum is kept quite high.
- It contains a hexagonal drum, geometric inserts, muqarnas eaves and a Gothic window on each facade. The large pillars highlighted at the corners of the mosque contribute to the facade design by being raised like a tower.
- There are monumental courtyard gates in the north decorated with niches, a plain one in the east, and one bearing the signature of Sultan Abdulaziz in the west. The inscriptions on the gates were written by the famous calligraphers of the period, Abdülfettah Effendi and Mehmed Rifat.
- The interior decoration of the mosque is full of hand-drawn works so intense that it tires the eye; floral and star motifs are used in blue tones. There is an intricately decorated inscription medallion in the center of the dome and star arrangements on the pendentives.
- The mihrab and the minbar are of simple design and made of marble. The cone of the minbar is covered with a curved and segmented dome.
- The minarets on both sides of the mosque have square bases, grooved bodies and are decorated with stone cones.
- In addition to the mosque, the complex includes a school, a tomb, a tomb keeper’s room, a library, a timing room (muvakkithane), a police station, six fountains and seven shops.
- Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Tomb, built within the scope of the complex, attracts attention with its marble workmanship, Gothic windows and elegant carved decorations; Valide Sultan and her grandson Mehmed Sadeddin Efendi are buried here.
