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The Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque (Kılıç Ali Paşa Camii) is a beautiful example of Ottoman architecture. It’s located in the Tophane area of the Beyoğlu district in Istanbul, Turkey.
History
The mosque was built by Kılıç Ali Pasha (1519-1587), who was originally an Italian farmer and sailor named Giovanni Dionigi Galeni. On April 29, 1536, he was captured by the Ottomans and forced into slavery. A few years later, he converted to Islam and began to rise through the ranks of the Ottoman Navy until he was named Grand Admiral (Kaptan-ı Derya) in 1571. Kılıç Ali Pasha is buried in a tomb next to the mosque.
The Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque was designed by Mimar Sinan and built between 1578 and 1580. The rest of the complex, which includes a hamam, madrasa, tomb, and fountain, was built between 1580 and 1587. The complex originally sat right on the shores of the Bosporus, but the land has since been reclaimed.
Courtyard
The courtyard of the mosque is narrow and contains an ablutions fountain. The mosque only has one minaret. There’s a detailed scale model of the entire mosque complex on display in the courtyard.
Prayer Hall
The porch contains the entrance to the impressive prayer hall. There are 247 windows including 24 in the central dome.
There’s a two-story gallery on each side, which gives the prayer hall a strong resemblance to Hagia Sophia. The central dome is 12.7 meters in diameter.
Hamam
The Kılıç Ali Pasha Hamam (Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı) was built by Mimar Sinan between 1578 and 1583 to serve the marine forces of the Ottoman Navy. It sat in a dilapidated state for many years but reopened to the public after a seven year restoration completed in 2015. Check the official website for hours, services, and prices.
In the Area…
You can reach the Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque by taking the T1 tram to the Tophane stop. Just outside the mosque is the Tophane Fountain. Across the street is the Tophane-i Amire Culture and Art Center. A few steps away is the Nusretiye Mosque, while behind it are several cafés and restaurants in the lively Karaköy area. The upscale Galataport cruise terminal includes a building for Istanbul Modern that opened in early 2023.
