Mosque

Rüstem Paşa Mosque

It was damaged by the great fire in 1660 and the earthquake in 1766, after a hundred years; its dome and minaret were rebuilt.
In the 18th century, the dome drum was renewed in the Baroque style and various hand-drawn decorations were added.
It was repaired by the Directorate General of Foundations in 1960-1961 and 1964-1969, and underwent a major restoration in 1992-1995. During this restoration, the tiles, wooden doors, Kundekari inlaid coverings, marble minbar and the decorations inside the vaults were renewed in accordance with the original.

The mosque, built as an elevated structure, consists of shops and vaulted warehouses below and a prayer area above. The rectangular planned Harim has a central dome resting on eight large pillars. The main dome is supported by four rectangular and four octagonal pillars, giving the space width.
The mosque is famous for its extraordinary tile decoration. The interior and the walls of the narthex are covered with 16th century Iznik tiles. Nature motifs, stylized plant patterns and decorations on a dark blue background are among the most beautiful examples of classical period tile art.
There are large tile panels on both sides of the main entrance door of the mosque in the narthex. The panel on the left is a unique example of classical period tile decoration.
The mosque courtyard is accessed from two sides by covered staircases. These staircases are located at the northern corners of the courtyard surrounding the mosque and near the entrance doors on the sides of the mosque.
The single-balcony minaret of the mosque is located in the northwest corner and is made of cut stone.
A plain fountain with an octagonal plan is located in a square courtyard to the east of the mosque. The graveyard is located on the Hasırcılar Street side.