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Turkey & the Balkans
Fatih Mosque
Fatih district, Istanbul, Türkiye
The first great sultanic mosque of Istanbul after the Conquest, raised by Mehmed II on the site of the Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles and ringed by law madrasas that seeded Ottoman learning. The Conqueror's own tomb lies in its courtyard.
Story & history
The Conqueror wanted his new capital to be a centre of learning: he built the mosque with eight law colleges around it and summoned the East's scholars, such as Ali al-Qushji — historians count it the first regular Ottoman university. The original mosque collapsed in the 1766 earthquake and Sultan Mustafa III rebuilt it on the same plan, while the old madrasa courtyard and the Conqueror's tomb preserved their authenticity.
Getting there
Pin the site on the map or head straight there with your maps app; opening hours and access vary by season.
Quick facts
- The first sultanic mosque of conquered Istanbul
- On the site of the old Church of the Apostles
- Mehmed the Conqueror's tomb in its grounds
Visiting tip
In the bustling heart of the Fatih district; combine with the local bazaars.