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The Tiled Mosque (Çinili Camii) is one of the most underrated and undervisited mosques in Istanbul. It’s located in the Üsküdar district.
Getting There
The easiest way to get to the mosque is to take the M5 metro line from Üsküdar Square to Bağlarbaşı. It’s about an eight minute walk from the Bağlarbaşı metro station. The Atik Valide Mosque is also in the area, about a seven minute walk.
History
The Tiled Mosque was built between 1638 and 1640 by Kösem Sultan (1589-1651), the wife of Sultan Ahmed I and the mother of Sultans Murad IV and Ibrahim. The architect was Kasım Ağa. The complex consisted of a madrasa, an elementary school, three fountains, a hamam, and a tomb. The mosque was repaired in 1938 and 1965.
My Visit
The mosque can be a bit difficult to find and was locked when I arrived. A caretaker was nice enough to ask the imam to open it for me. The imam was very enthusiastic about the mosque and answered all of my questions.
Prayer Hall
The Tiled Mosque doesn’t look like much from the outside but the prayer hall is stunning. It’s almost completely covered in blue and white Iznik tiles. The pictures don’t do it justice. In fact, when the imam turned the lights on, my jaw dropped.
