Grand Mecidiye Mosque (Ortaköy Mosque)

The Ortaköy Mosque, also known as the Grand Mecidiye Mosque, is a prominent 19th-century mosque located at the northern end of the Ortaköy Square in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. The site originally hosted a mosque constructed in 1721 by Vezir İbrahim Paşa’s son-in-law, Mahmud Ağa, and later renovated around the 1740s by Mahmud Ağa’s son-in-law, Kethüdâ Devâtdâr Mehmed Ağa. The present structure was commissioned by Sultan Abdülmecid and constructed in 1854, as indicated by a plaque written by Ziver Pasha.

Architectural Highlights of Ortaköy Mosque:

1. Location:
   • Situated on the Ortaköy Pier Square, overlooking the Bosphorus.
2. Historical Background:
   • The original mosque on the site dates back to the early 18th century.
   • The current structure was built in 1854 during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid.
3. Architectural Design:
   • Designed by the architect Nikogos Balyan.
   • Features a combination of a prayer hall (harim) and an imperial lodge (hünkâr kasrı) typical of 19th-century imperial mosques.
   • Symmetrical along the north-south axis with equal dimensions for the prayer hall and the imperial lodge on the east and west facades.
4. Structure of the Prayer Hall:
   • The prayer hall is a square space approximately 12.25 meters on each side, topped with a dome supported by pendentives.
   • The northern section houses additional rooms covered with barrel vaults.
   • The mosque has large, tall windows, with the central window on the qibla wall being blind to accommodate the mihrab.
5. Interior and Artistic Features:
   • The marble mihrab is in the Empire style, featuring relief floral motifs and geometric decorations.
   • The marble pulpit is decorated with pink stones and baroque swirls.
   • The mosque’s walls are adorned with red and white marbled stucco, and the pandatives and dome feature landscape and architectural motifs in paint.
6. Imperial Lodge (Hünkâr Kasrı):
   • Two-story structure with east and west wings connected by a ground floor hall and upper floor salon.
   • The western wing served as the imperial residence, with three interconnected rooms on each floor.
7. Exterior Design:
   • The exterior showcases Baroque and Rococo styles with stone carvings and reliefs.
   • Two slender minarets with bases embedded within the structure of the lodge.
8. Restorations:
   • The mosque underwent renovations in 1862, 1866, and a significant restoration in 1969 after being closed for prayers. Further restoration followed after a fire in 1984.

Ortaköy Mosque, with its unique architectural blend and scenic location by the Bosphorus, remains one of Istanbul’s most iconic and beloved landmarks.