Bursa Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami)

A Huge Early Ottoman Mosque Of 1399 With Twenty Domes, A Central Fountain Under A Skylight, Large Calligraphy Panels And A Famous Pulpit Of Carved Wood, Standing At The Centre Of The Old Market. A Restful Break From The Shops, With A Quiet Interior · Osmangazi, Bursa

The Bursa Grand Mosque, Ulu Cami, stands on Ataturk Avenue in the old market quarter of Bursa, the first great capital of the Ottomans in north-west Anatolia, and it was built in 1399 under Sultan Bayezid I (confirm). It is a vast hall of twenty domes on twelve pillars, a plan that came before the single-dome mosques of later centuries. Under the central dome a fountain of ablution sits below a skylight that lets in daylight, and the walls carry large calligraphy panels by many masters, while a famous carved wooden pulpit stands near the prayer niche. The mosque is a working place of worship at the heart of the covered bazaar, so visitors should come between prayers and dress modestly. Koza Han, the old silk market, is a few steps away, and Iskender kebab was born in the same streets. The covered bazaar around it still trades in silk, cloth and sweets. Allow 30 to 45 minutes, and confirm the opening between prayers.

Bursa Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), in the centre of Bursa beside the Koza Han and the covered bazaar, on Ataturk Street; coordinates approximate, Osmangazi, Bursa, Turkiye

The Grand Mosque is a working mosque, open to visitors between the five daily prayers, usually from morning until evening, but times shift with the season and the congregation (confirm). It closes to tourists during prayer and is crowded and closed to sightseeing around the Friday noon service, when the hall fills. Prayer times change through the year with the sun, so check the day. Cleaning, funerals and religious festivals can limit access. Confirm times on the day, and expect a short wait if a prayer is under way.

Bursa Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos