Ottoman Architecture is a style that was heavily influenced not only by Islamic Mamluk traditions but also by Byzantine, earlier Seljuk and Iranian architecture. It is the quintessential blend of Middle East and Mediterranean artistry. Most of these structures feature huge domes that result in very spacious interiors and a play on light and shadows. You will also see a lot of domes, columns, semi domes and vaults. Up until now, the converted Hagia Sophia is the model by which other Ottoman mosques were measured.
When the Ottoman Empire was established, Sultan Mehmet II went into a building spree. Reconstruction of the existing buildings was done in grand scale.
Here are some of the major structures in Istanbul that boast of Ottoman Architecture:
Topkapi Palace
Standing at the point between the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn, this was the Ottoman Empire’s seat of power (or administrative center, if you may) from 1465 to 1853. Sultan Mehmet II commissioned its construction in 1459 and it took 6 years to finish this. It has four courts which are surrounded by a number of small buildings. Here, you will see the Throne Room (where dignitaries and guests went to pay their respects to the sultan), the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle (which holds relics of Muhammad, the first prophet, as well as the first Caliphs), the Tower of Justice and the Baghdad Pavilion. Other functional buildings include the stables, the bakery, kitchens and palace hospital. You should not miss the 600-piece exhibit of the Sacred Trusts which you can find in the Treasury. These are relics and precious finds of the Ottoman age. There is also the Endurun Treasure, which is mainly made up of jewels for men. Alas, most of the pieces were stolen.
Dolmabahce Palace
Sultan Abdulmecid ordered this built from around 1842 to 1853, all to the tune of a whopping five million Ottoman gold pounds. That’s around 35 tons of the glittery stuff! Most of the gold (around 14 tons) was formed into gold leaf that gilded the palace’s ceiling. The Dolmebahce is also your place to go if you are interested in chandeliers, as the palace has a world-renowned collection of chandeliers, including the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier. It even boasts of having a great staircase that has Baccarat crystals for its banisters! The palace is composed of apartments of the members of the royal family, the ceremonial halls and the men’s quarters. It has 285 rooms, 6 baths (the large kind – the hamam), 68 toilets and 46 halls. You may visit this from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. except on Mondays and Thursdays.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque or the Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque was the creation of Sedefkar Mehmet Aya, one of the Ottoman’s foremost architects. He wanted to show the world that the Ottomans could create something that will match the visual beauty of the Christians’ Hagia Sophia. The result is an architectural treasure that is considered as one of the greatest and the last great mosque created during the Classical Period. Sultan Ahmet I commissioned its construction in 1609 but it was only in 1616 that it was completed.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque boasts of 6 minarets. The mosque can accommodate 10,000 and has a gigantic dome (77 feet in diameter and around 140 feet high!). This dome is held up by four great pillars. You will surely wonder at the blue Iznik tiles and chandeliers, along with the 260 windows, all of which make a marvelous lighting effect. Some reminders when visiting the mosque: Prayers take place five times a day, so be prepared for a 90-minute wait. There is no exact schedule for these prayers, as they depend on the season. You should also dress properly, as this is a religious building.
Ortakoy Mosque
Formally known as the Buyuk Mecidiye Camii, this was designed by the father-and-son team of Garabet Balyan and Nigogayos Balyan. It was commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid during the mid-1850s. A point of interest is the calligraphy works, some of which is by the sultan himself.
Other buildings that are great specimens of Ottoman architecture include
- the Suleiman Mosque
- the Anadoluhisari
- residential buildings built during the Ottoman rule
- the tomb of Roxelana