Category: Religious
Type: Mosque
Location: Aziz Mahmut Hüdayi, Mehmetpaşa Değirmeni St. Üsküdar
Date: 1757-1761
Designer: Mehmet Tahir Ağa
Period: Ottoman Empire
Photos: Kaan Çorbacı
The Ayazma Mosque, situated on a hillside overlooking the Bosphorus in the Üsküdar district, was commissioned by Sultan Mustafa III in memory of his mother and brother and completed in 1761. Designed by the imperial architect Mehmed Tahir Ağa, the structure serves as a quintessential example of the Ottoman Baroque style, characterized by its elegant proportions and Western-influenced decorative motifs. The mosque is distinguished by its elevated position on a high basement, accessed via twin curved staircases, and its central dome supported by four massive arches. Inside, the space is illuminated by numerous windows and adorned with fine marble work, particularly the mihrab and minbar, which showcase intricate floral patterns and late Ottoman craftsmanship. A notable exterior feature includes the charming miniature birdhouses carved into the stone walls, reflecting the compassionate architectural traditions of the era while the mosque itself remains a significant landmark of the 18th-century architectural transformation in Istanbul.
