Brief History:

Gazi Süleyman Pasha Mosque is a historic mosque located in Thessaloniki, Turkey. It was built in 1526 by Turahan Bey, the Ottoman Governor of Thessaloniki (1457-1463). It is considered a characteristic example of the 16th century Ottoman architecture. It was dedicated to Süleyman Pasha, who was the fourth Ottoman Sultan, and was given the name Gazi Süleyman Pasha by the locals in recognition of him being a victorious commander. The mosque is built on the foundations of a Byzantine-era church, and has some elements of that building still visible. Its minaret is the oldest in the city, and one of the tallest, at 60 meters. The mosque underwent some renovations throughout the centuries, including one in the 19th century which covered its walls with decorations taken from other structures of the old city. The mosque is still in use today and it is an important part of the local culture and Muslim identity of Thessaloniki. It is open to the public and remains an important place of worship. It is one of the most famous mosque in Turkey which you must visit.

Architecture:

The Gazi Süleyman Pasha Mosque, or Yeşil Mosque, is a 16th-century Ottoman mosque in Thessaloniki, Greece. The mosque stands on the site of an older Byzantine church of the same name, which was destroyed in the Ottoman conquest of Thessaloniki in 1430. The mosque was built between 1559 and 1561 by the Ottoman commander Gazi Süleyman Pasha, at the request of Sultan Suleiman I, and is considered one of the most important examples of Ottoman architecture in the city. The mosque's architecture follows traditional Ottoman design principles. It consists of a square main hall, with a spacious domed prayer hall covered by a high octagonal dome with a diameter of 16.02 metres. Inside the prayer hall are two staircases leading up to the stone minbar, built in 1620 by Grand Vizier Chelebi Mehmed Pasha. The four corners of the original building each contain an arcade supported by two pointed arches, and a niche in the center of each wall. There are windows with stone masonry frames in the middle of the facades, flanked by two muqarnas arched frames and rosettes decorating the upper windows. The exterior walls are decorated with red and white alternating stripes of ashlar masonry. A stone fountain is located in the center of the courtyard. This is why, it is considered one of the most beautiful mosque in the world.

Visiting Hours:

The visiting hours of the Gazi Süleyman Pasha Mosque in Thessaloniki, Turkey, from Monday through Saturday are from 7:30am to 6:30pm. On Sundays, the visiting hours are from 8:00am to 6:00pm. best mosque in the world.

Travel Information:

By Train The Gazi Süleyman Pasha Mosque is served by Thessaloniki's main train station, which is conveniently located nearby. You can take a direct train from Istanbul to Thessaloniki in around 7 and a half hours. By Bus If you are traveling from Istanbul, buses are also an option. You can take the 24 or 25 bus from Istanbul's bus terminal to the Otogar in Thessaloniki. Buses take around 10 to 12 hours, depending on traffic. By Plane The quickest way to travel from Istanbul to Thessaloniki is by plane. Direct flights take around 1 hour and 45 minutes and are operated by several airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and Atlasglobal. Upon landing at Thessaloniki International Airport, you can take a taxi to the Gazi Süleyman Pasha Mosque. beautiful masjid.