This mosque, which is situated in Bayezid Square, was built by Sultan Bayezid II and completed in the years 1500–1505. It was originally thought to have been designed by Architect Sinan Hayreddin or Architect Kemaleddin but later research suggests the architect may have been Yakubşah Bin Sultan. The complex is composed of a mosque, a kitchen, a primary school, a hospital, a medresse, a hamam, a soup kitchen for the poor and a caravanserai. It differs from the Faith center before it, for the fact that it was not built symmetrically, but in a seemingly random style.

Bayezid Mosque is at the center of the complex. Its main dome is 16.78 meters in diameter and is supported by four pillars. The stone and wood craftsmanship and stained glass are artistic masterpieces. The courtyard paving materials and pillars used as a reservoir for ablutions were reclaimed from Byzantine ruins. These pillars in particular demonstrate the quality of Byzantine workmanship.

The soup kitchen and Caravanserai are to the left of the mosque and are used today by the Bayezid State Library. The Turkish Foundation of Calligraphy uses the medresse far to the right of the mosque as a museum. The hamam is far from the medresse, on Ordu Street next to the Department of Literature.

Tombs are found on the Kiblah [Mecca] side of the mosque. Sultan Bayezid II, his daughter Selçuk Hatun and architect of Tanzimat Fermanı, Mustafa Reşit Paşa, are buried here.

Words are not enough to explain this lovely mosque, why don’t you plan a trip to Istanbul with the best offers on accommodations?