Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque

Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque History

Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque: The complex ordered by Kılıç Ali Pasha, one of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman’s naval officersi is situated close to the sea, and consists of a mosque, a madrasah, a tomb and a public bath.
The plan, with its lateral galleries surrounding the central area on three sides, resembles very much that of Saint Sophia. Its concept of space is different from that of the Süleymaniye, which also shares a smilar plan.

Address:
Kemankes Karamustafa Pasa Mh.
34425 Beyoğlu / Istanbul

Coordinate:
41.027100,28.981137
Latitude: 41°1’37.56¨N (41.0271)
Longitude: 28°58’52.09¨E (28.981137)

Date Of Construction: 1580-1583

Who built: Kılıc Ali Pasa

Architect: Mimar Sinan

Architecture: Ottoman

The Minaret: 1

The central and lateral areas are separated from one another, which brings the work closer to Saint Sophia. Contrary to what has been attempted until then in other mosques, here the plan is developed in length rather than in width. This has caused many to arque that the mosque could not have been built by Sinan. The dome rests on a square base, with supporting semi-domes on two sides, and, on the two others, very wide arched buttresses reaching from the piers to the outer wall.

Even though the galleries advance as far as the central area, calling to mind the Zal Mahmud Pasha Mosque, the arches supporting the dome remain much higher than the upper galleries. The riwaq is doubled. The lateral façades make a nice impression, with the twin Windows niched inside each of the arch intervals. The mihrab and pulpit as well as the tiles and ornamental paintings are interesting.