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The Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) is one of the most important Ottoman landmarks in Bursa, Turkey. It’s located in the Yeşil neighborhood and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Bursa.
History
The Green Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Mehmed I and built between 1419 and 1424. The architect was Hacı İvaz Pasha (d. 1428). Decorative work continued after the death of Sultan Mehmed I, who’s buried in the Green Tomb just behind the mosque.
The Green Mosque was damaged during an earthquake in 1855 and restored by French architect Léon Parvillée (1830-1885) beginning in 1863. He rebuilt the two minarets and restored the interior, exterior, and tiles. Further restorations took place between 1941 and 1943, and again between 2010 and 2012.
Exterior
The exterior of the Green Mosque is made of sandstone covered with marble panels. The domes on top of the building were once decorated with blue-green tiles but are now covered in lead.
There are fine carvings on the entrance portal and window frames. The portal is made of carved marble and features a muqarnas niche. It was once covered by a porch that was destroyed during the earthquake in 1855.
If you look closely at the window to the right side of the entrance portal, you’ll notice the carving has not been completed. This implies that for some reason the decorations on the mosque are unfinished. Also, some windows on the side of the building are bordered with blue-green tiles.
Ablutions Fountain
Directly in front of the entrance to the Green Mosque is an octagonal ablutions fountain (şadırvan) under a pavilion.
Vestibule
The entrance portal leads into a small vestibule connected to the central hall. This is where visitors get their first glimpse of the beautiful green tile work the mosque is known for. Both walls are covered in dark green hexagonal tiles. A roundel in the middle contains intricate floral patterns.
Central Hall
The central hall is the lower level of today’s prayer hall. It sits under the largest dome of the mosque and wasn’t originally carpeted. When the mosque was built, it was intended to be used as both a mosque and government center with a courthouse. The central hall linked the government center with the prayer hall and other rooms.
The central hall contains a gorgeous octagonal marble fountain with a pool. The purpose of the fountain was to prevent eavesdropping with the natural sound of running water.
Sultan’s Loge
On the rear wall of the central hall, there are two niches on either side of the entrance. The niches are elaborately decorated with fine tile work. The even more stunning sultan’s loge (hünkâr mahfili) sits just above. The sultan’s loge is usually closed to the public.
Side Rooms
The mosque was built on an inverted T-shaped plan. Rooms to the left and right flank the central hall. Each room is topped by a dome and decorated with tiles along the walls. These rooms were used for government business as well as prayer.
Prayer Hall
Three steps lead up to the prayer hall. The huge mihrab stands 15 meters (49 feet high). It’s adorned with ornate tiles along with fine calligraphy. The tile work is attributed to Nakkaş Ali, who managed a team of craftsmen called the Masters of Tabriz. This explains the Persian and Timurid influence in the decoration.
The prayer hall is topped with the most elegantly decorated dome in the building, featuring colorful floral patterns. On either side of the steps leading up to the prayer hall are marble niches to store shoes.
Government Offices
Finally, small doors on either side of the prayer hall lead to two government offices. Each room has a flat ceiling. Many guidebooks indicate these were guest rooms attached to the mosque to housed traveling dervishes, but a guide told us otherwise.
The guide said it’s not logical that the rooms were used as guest rooms. It would have been too dangerous to have guests in close proximity to the Sultan and a government center. Also, the niches and cabinets were meant to store documents. Click here for a virtual tour of the Green Mosque.
