Ortaköy Mosque (Turkish: Ortaköy Camii), officially the Büyük Mecidiye Camii (Grand Imperial Mosque) of Sultan Abdülmecid) in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey, is situated at the waterside of the Ortaköy pier square, one of the most popular locations on the Bosphorus.

The original Ortaköy Mosque was built in the 18th century. The current mosque, which was erected in its place, was ordered by the Ottoman sultan Abdülmecid and built between 1854 and 1856. Its architects were father and son Garabet Amira Balyan and Nigoğayos Balyan (who also designed the nearby Dolmabahçe Palace), who designed it in Neo-Baroque style. Within the mosque hang several examples of Islamic calligraphy executed by the Sultan Abdülmecid himself, who was also a hattat (master calligrapher). Sultanahmet Hotels

The wide, high windows let the ever-changing light reflections of the Bosphorus shine in the mosque. Istanbul Boutique Hotels

The Suleiman Mosque (Turkish: Süleymaniye Camii) is a grand 16th-century mosque in Istanbul built by Suleiman the Magnificent.

History

The Suleiman Mosque was built on the order of sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan. The construction work began in 1550 and the mosque was finished in 1557.

It is located at the Sultanahmet Square, opposite to the Hagia Sophia church. The Blue Mosque is one of the most famous religious buildings of the world. The mosque is one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. This Mosque has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul. The location of the mosque is just opposite of the Hagia Sophia as it is trying to compete with it.

The Blue Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I as a rival to Hagia Sophia and designed by architect Mehmet Aga. Construction on the Blue Mosque began in 1609 and took 7 years. Sultan Ahmet died only a year after the completion of his masterpiece, at the age of 27. He is buried just outside the Blue Mosque with his wife and 3 sons.