 |
Articles in this category :
Bezmialem Valide Sultan (Dolmabahce) Mosque
The Dolmabahce Mosque is located on the Bosphorus in the southern part of
Dolmabahce Palace. Construction of the mosque began at the behest of Sultan
Abdulmecid s mother, Bezmialem Valide Sultan, but when she died, Sultan
Abdulmecid took over. It was completed in 1855, and the architect was Karabet
Balyan. It is one of the highly decorated Baroque-style mosques. Being part of
the palace complex, the mosque contains a front section in which the sovereign
and state officials could worship and a two-storey section for the sovereign
suitable for the public procession of the Sultan to the mosque on Fridays. The
circular arrangement of the windows, which resembles a peacock s tail, is an
unusual sight relatively unknown among the architects of mosques.
The two minarets both have a gallery. The inner door is decorated in a
mixture of the Baroque and Empire styles. A valuable chandelier hangs from the
alcove. The niche (mihrap) and pulpit (minber) of the mosque are made of
porphyry marble
|
|
