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It is the mosque which was built for
Bezmialem Valide Sultan, the mother of Sultan Abdulmecit, by
Nikogos Balyan, the architect of the Dolmabahce Palace and the
son of the famous Armenian architect
Karabet Balyan. Bezmialem Valide Sultan dedicated all of her
wealth for the charities; The mosque, which was completed
between 1852-1853, was built under the influence of Baroque and
Renaissance movements. Its architecture is very different from
the classical Ottoman mosques. Since it was designed as a part
of the Dolmabahce Palace, it resembles a highly decorated palace
hall more than a holy place. |
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It is so designed that it reveals
its beauty more when it is watched from the sea side than when
it is examined closely. The general plan of the Dolmabahge Mosque consists of a single
dome resting on a square floor. The light from the large windows
contributes to the beauty of the colorful marble decoration. The
interior of the mosque is decorated with designs and embroidery,
and the niche and the pulpit are decorated with European
patterns. |
