Bursa’s Green Mosque: A Marvel of Ottoman Architecture
Planning to visit Turkey? Bursa is one of the Best Places to Visit In Turkey , if not yet then plan now because there is a beautiful Green Mosque in Bursa and you should go to The Green Mosque of Bursa, also famous as the Mosque of Ahmed I. It would be unfortunate if you walk by the Green Mosque, one of Bursa’s beautiful landmarks, and not step in for a glimpse.
Bursa is home to many beautiful attractions making it a must-visit with Turkey Tours . The mosque was named green mosque because of its green and blue interior tile decorations. It is located in the middle of a Kulliye, a complex housing multiple facilities. Kulliye complex includes mosques, royal burials, soup kitchens, schools, and libraries. It is the city’s largest and most famous Mosque in Bursa.
Bursa became the capital of the Ottoman in 1326 and even though Edrine became the capital of the Ottoman 39 years later the place continued to build amazing structures for Bursa. It is an important Ottoman landmark and an architectural gem in Bursa. Plus it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Bursa. The construction of the Mosque began in 1412. It is a must-visit place for the lovers of architecture and history.
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History of The Green Mosque, Bursa
It was commissioned by Sultan Mehendi I Çelebi in 1412, who ruled from 1413 to 1421, after a fight against his brothers to reunite the Ottoman Empire. The mosque’s construction and patron of arts vizier Haci Ívaz Pasha, a commander under Mehmed I. Upon his death. Amidst his death, he was buried in a mausoleum called Green Tomb commissioned by his son and successor, Murad II situated within the complex. The decorative work continued on the mosque after Mehmad I’s death.
Due to the Bursa earthquake of 1855, the complex went through a large renovation by Léon Parvillée, a French architect and artist, in 1863. A patron of the preservation of Ottoman Cultural Heritage and the regional administrator of West Anatolia, Ahmet Vefik Pasa asked Parvellée to restore the major 14th and 15th-century royal monuments of the city. In this period Bursa was undergoing a change into a modern city.
Parcellée worked in the empire as a contractor, architect, and decorator. He was well versed in the main aspects of the early Ottoman style due to his experience as well as his detailed research of the subject. He was involved in restoring the exterior and interior of the mosque including the tile work. He restored the black line tiles on the portal of the mosque. The two minarets were reconstructed on an old base of Parvillée. It went through another renovation from 1941–1943 the ceramic facing of the tiles was removed and reinstalled. The Green Mosque underwent another renovation starting in 2010 reopening on May 11, 2012.
Architecture of The Green Mosque, Bursa
The mosque is seen as the culmination of the early Ottoman architectural style due to the aesthetic and technical mastery displayed within the mosque. It is based on an inverted T-plan and is a cubed-shaped, two-story building with an extension on the south side. There are 4 windows in the mosque, each containing 2 mihrabs and 4 niches with railings where incomplete scriptures are engraved around the center of each window. There is an octagonal pool underneath the main dome of the mosque.
The domes are 25 meters high and 13 meters wide. Its amazing architecture and ornamental stonework make it one of the most mesmerizing mosques in the world. The masterpiece of the mosque is the tile-adorned mihrab painting, which features intricate geometric patterns, iron accents, windows, doors, and cabinets which were also expertly crafted. The best tiles are seen on the ten-meter high 5 to 6-meter-wide altar of the mosque. The marble mosque is the first marble structure built in Bursa. The marble was bought from Marmara Island in the sea of Marmara.
Things to be kept in mind while visiting The Green Mosque, Bursa
- Women should cover their heads as it is an active prayer place.
- All the visitors should wear decent clothes and must cover their shoulders and knees.
- The mosque is open for visitors from 8 am to 6 pm but they can visit it during the time when namaz does not pass, which happens five times a day.
- Non-Muslim visitors are allowed into the mosque courtyard but not in the prayer hall.
- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the busiest days at the Green Mosque.
- Usually, people take around 30 minutes to see the Mosque.
Other Tourist attractions in Bursa
Some of the tourist attractions in Bursa are:
- Bursa City Museum
- Grand Mosque of Bursa
- Irgandi Bridge
- Karagoz Museum
- Uludag Ski Center
Conclusion
The Green Mosque is a magnificent place and is worth a visit. You should definitely visit this place to see the beautiful architecture and learn more deeply about the place. The place will connect you to history.
