Ottoman Sites

Below is an illustrated index of the 7 Ottoman sites profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.

Muhammad Ali Mosque
Cairo, Egypt
Completed in 1848, the Ottoman-style Muhammad Ali Mosque or "Alabaster Mosque" is the most noticeable in all of Cairo; it dominates the skyline from its lofty location on the Citadel.
Blue Mosque
Istanbul, Turkey
The cascading domes and six slender minarets of the Blue Mosque dominate the skyline of Istanbul. The 17th-century mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I to rival the Hagia Sophia.
Eyup Mosque and Mausoleum
Istanbul, Turkey
This is the holiest site in Istanbul and one of the most sacred places in the Islamic world. Erected by Mehmet the Conqueror, it honors the tomb of Eyüp Sultan, the standard-bearer for the Prophet.
Fatih Camii
Istanbul, Turkey
Originally built in 1470, this mosque was entirely rebuilt in 1766 after an earthquake. It shelters the tomb of Fatih Mehmet the Conqueror.
Suleymaniye Mosque
Istanbul, Turkey
Commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, this beautiful mosque patterned after the Hagia Sophia was finished in 1557.
Yeni Camii
Istanbul, Turkey
The "New Mosque" is not so new - it was built in the 1600s. Designed by Da'ud Aga, a pupil of Sinan, Yeni Camii has become a defining feature of Istanbul's skyline.
Al-Masjid al-Haram (The Holy Mosque)
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The holiest mosque in the world, the Haram Mosque has been much expanded from its original 7th-century form. Today it can accommodate up to 820,000 worshippers in air-conditioned comfort.