The New Mosque, originally named the Valide Sultan Mosque and later the New Valide Sultan Mosque, is an Ottoman imperial mosque located in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul. Its foundations were laid in 1597 by order of Safiye Sultan, wife of Sultan Murad III, and the building was finally completed and opened for worship in 1665 through the great efforts and endowments of Turhan Hatice Sultan, mother of Sultan Mehmed IV. Contributing significantly to the city's silhouette, it is the final example of a large imperial mosque commissioned by the Ottoman royal family in Istanbul.
The construction was initiated by Safiye Sultan in the Bahçekapı district, an important commercial centre close to the customs house and port, to represent her political power after the ascension of her son Mehmed III. Churches, a synagogue, and several shops occupying the site were expropriated, and the local inhabitants were relocated to Hasköy. The initial architect appointed to the project was Davut Ağa, who established the site and drew up the plans before foundations were laid in 1598.
During the excavation of the foundations, heavy water seepage was countered with pumps, and stone blocks from Rhodes alongside piles bound with lead bands were used to stabilize the ground. Following the death of the first architect Davut Ağa from the plague, Dalgıç Ahmed Çavuş was appointed as chief architect. However, the construction was suspended upon the death of Mehmed III in 1603 and Safiye Sultan's relegation to the old palace, leaving the structure abandoned for many years. Due to its ruined state and the extra taxes it caused, local residents referred to it as "Zulmiye" (The Mosque of Oppression).
The derelict structure suffered damage during the Great Fire of Istanbul in 1660. Later that year, upon the recommendation of Köprülü Mehmed Paşa, Turhan Hatice Sultan revived the project, and construction resumed under the responsibility of imperial architect Mustafa Ağa. The surrounding area was expanded, the Spice Bazaar and other complex structures were added, and the mosque was finally inaugurated in 1660s (completed in 1663, opened in 1665), appearing in court registers as "Adliye". Following restoration works initiated by the Directorate General of Foundations, the mosque was reopened for worship.
The New Mosque follows the classical Ottoman plan featuring a colonnaded courtyard and a central dome structure. The main dome, measuring over 16 meters in diameter, is supported by four semi-domes and rests on four massive piers. A distinctive feature is the pyramidal rise of the dome. The building materials include cut ashlar stone, marble, and brick, supplemented by two reddish-tinged monolithic marble columns brought as spoils from the conquest of Crete.
The northern side of the mosque features a square colonnaded courtyard with twenty columns possessing stalactite capitals and twenty-four domed units under pointed arches. Two minarets with three balconies each rise from square bases and are capped with lead-covered spires. The interior is illuminated by six tiers of windows, while the lower wall surfaces are adorned with blue, turquoise, and green İznik tiles.
Alongside the mosque, the külliye originally included the Valide Sultan Mausoleum, the Royal Pavilion, a sebil, a fountain, a primary school, a darülkurra, and the L-shaped Spice Bazaar. In subsequent periods, a library built by Ahmed III, a muvakkithane, additional fountains, and a second mausoleum were added. The mausoleum houses the tombs of Turhan Hatice Sultan, her son Mehmed IV, and several later sultans and court members.
Today, situated at the southern end of the Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn, the New Mosque stands as a prominent landmark of Istanbul. Attracting both locals and visitors, the complex bridges the historical commercial core and the modern city, preserving centuries of architectural and cultural heritage.
Wikimedia research dossier · Last checked: 2026-09-28 05:44:03
