Islamic Landmarks
The Yeni Valide Mosque is an early 18th century Ottoman mosque built by Ahmet III in honour of his mother. It is located in the Üsküdar district, in the Asian side of Istanbul. The Semsi Pasa Mosque and Mihrimah Sultan Mosque are close by.
- The complex includes a hospice, school, tombs, clock tower and offices. The architecture is typical of the Classical Ottoman period.
- The mosque is most easily identified by the Sultan’s green, birdcage-like tomb (see above), whose meshed roof was designed to keep birds out while allowing rain in to water the garden below.
Exterior
- The complex is entered through a large gateway, with the Quranic school built above it. This leads into a spacious courtyard featuring an ablution fountain (sadirvan). The grilles of its cistern are highly wrought, their complex geometric pattern echoed in the stone carvings above them.
- The mosque is in the classical style, yet there are Baroque embellishments on the tomb of the Valide Sultan, the neighbouring sebil (kiosk from which drinks were served).
Interior
- The interior decoration is dominated by repetitive floral patterns and motifs. The calligraphy is the work of Hezarfen Mehmet Efendi.
References: The rough guide to Istanbul, Eyewitness Travel – Istanbul, Wikipedia
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