Gülfem Hatun Mosque

Audio Narration

Construction Year:

1539-1540

Location:

Üsküdar, İstanbul

Ordered by:

Gülfem Hatun, one of the concubines of Suleiman the Magnificent

Architect:

Unknown

- Changes after its construction
  • The mosque was damaged by a great fire in 1850 and was repaired in 1868-69 with money collected by the local people.
  • While Üsküdar Square was being renovated in the 1930s, the shrine and school were demolished and the gravestones were moved next to the mosque.
  • The mosque lost its original architectural appearance during the revival works in the 19th century, and its minaret underwent changes in the late period, taking the form of a small dome.
- Prominent features
  • The word “martyr” on the tombstone of Gülfem Hatun, the founder of the mosque, suggests that she was executed for an unknown reason.
  • The mosque is a modest building with a rectangular plan; in its current form, it lacks any architectural elements of artistic value.
  • It is understood from Manisa accounting books and documents regarding her foundations that Gülfem Hatun was a wealthy woman; she donated shops, houses and various charities in Istanbul and Manisa for the mosque.
  • The madrasah belonging to the mosque was destroyed in a fire in the 19th century and was not revived.