After an excellent meal in Istanbul, there is not necessarily a dessert. That’s because Turkish desserts and sweets are so elaborate – and often so generous – that they command undivided attention.

Turkish desserts and sweets are not an after-thought – they’re an event, and an essential part of an Istanbul street food experience.

The Famous Sweets of Istanbul – Turkish Delight

Treat, souvenir, and edible icon – Turkish delight takes its name from the country. In Turkey, their name is lokum. Lokum come in an astounding variety of flavors and price ranges. Made of starch and sugar, locum with simple flavorings can be an expensive treat.

Locum made with fruits – like pomegranate – and nuts are more luxurious, and priced accordingly. Some more elaborate versions of locum include layers of nougat, nuts, or fruits. The opulent window displays of locum in the higher-end confiseries of Istanbul are beguiling.

This essential Turkish sweet comes in flavors as exotic as perfumes, like bergamot, rose, masticha, and pomegranate.

Pişmaniye

This dreamy Turkish sweet is a hybrid of cotton-candy and halva hybrid. It’s a treat of spun sugar and toasted flour with butter.

We bought a box of pişmaniye and ate it in bed in our hotel room after the hamam, washed down with şalgam (pickled turnip juice). From touch alone you would never think this is food – it feels like some gossamer insulation or packing material – dry, fluffy, delicate. You put wisps of it in your mouth and it melts on the tongue, leaving a lingering faint coating of richness from the roasted flour. Because of this flour, it is less sweet than cotton candy, so you can just keep eating wisp after wisp of it until you fall asleep, which is exactly what we did.

Pişmaniye wilts easily on a damp day. Enjoy it as soon as you open the box while it’s fluffy and fresh

Lokma or Lokmasi – A Turkish Dessert to try Fresh and Hot

Lokma means a “bite” in Turkish. These bite-sized (sometimes larger) puffs are soaked in a honey syrup. They manage to be crisp, soft, and juicy all at once. You can find excellent lokma by the Galatas bridge, near the ekmek balik vendors and the şalgam carts.

Dondurmas – An Entertaining Turkish Dessert

Dense, silky dondurma is a delight. Dondurmas is unlike like any ice cream you have ever had before. Originating in the town of Maras, dondurmas is thickened with sahlep – the pounded root of a type of wild orchid. This gives it an incredible texture, so thick it is actually chewy. In fact, it’s so thick that the traditional dondurmas vendors of Maras even hang slabs of it from hooks.

In Istanbul, the dondurmas have a little fun with it, swirling the cones and and tossing them around. The elastic dondurmas won’t fall out of the cone, and children are delighted with the show.

Traditional Turkish Desserts with Phyllo

Turkish desserts made with delicate phyllo are extremely popular. Baklava comes in many varieties, with different shapes and fillings. However there are also many Turkish sweets with various types of phyllo, cream, and nuts. Some of the finest ones are made fresh, and served warm.

Baklava

Turkish baklava is delicate. In a good baklava, the butter comes forward, and your fingers are not sticky with syrup. Baklava comes in all shapes – rolls, diamonds, circles and spirals – and had various nut fillings. While walnuts are most common in Greece, much Turkish baklava is filled with pistachios.

For partly this reason, the most famous baklava is from the town of Ganziatep. The local pistachios fill baklava that is so excellent that it has a protected origin designation.

Even if your pistachio baklava is not from Gaziantep, you will still enjoy the rich – even strong – flavor of pistachio.

In all events, having baklava in Istanbul is an essential experience of the city, one of many to try.

Künefe and Katmer: Turkish Desserts Served Warm

Two things make the künefe a special Turkish dessert- you eat it warm, and it has a filling of melted cheese. This is not cheese like the ricotta in canoli or the cream cheese in a cheesecake. It’s a gooey, stringy cheese, like a mozarella. The cheese is in the center of two discs of kataifi- delicate strands of dough. Kataifi has a wonderful texture and also soaks syrup very well.

Künefe is delicious cooked over the coals. You can find it this way at small places in the alleys near the spice market. Once the kataifi is golden and the cheese is melted, the künefe is served with hot syrup. The cheese doesn’t soak up the syrup, and is a fine contrast to the crisp, syrupy kataifi.

Katmer

This is another delicious Turkish dessert that you eat while its fresh and hot. Katmer is a delicate, flaky pastry of Anatolia. You can find katmer with a variety of fillings throughout Turkey. But the Katmer you will enjoy in Istanbul is Gaziantep-style. It’s rich with the taste of pistachios. In Gaziantep, katmer has a filling of thick cream and ground pistachios.

Turkish Desserts from the Muhallebicisi

A Muhallebicisi is a pudding shop- a store specializing in milk-based Turkish desserts.

Tavuk Göğsü

The reputation of the almost legendary tavuk göğsü stems from its key ingredient – chicken breast. Tavuk göğsü in fact means “chicken breast” – it’s part of the sumptuous culinary heritage of Ottoman Palace cuisine.

It is not nearly as strange as it sounds. You can faintly taste the chicken through the dessert’s milky sweetness. It’s very pleasant. The chicken, pounded, serves as a thickener that makes an unusually thick, almost elastic texture.

This is a Turkish dessert worth finding while you are in Istanbul. It’s as delicious as it is unusual.

Kazan Dibi

Kazan dibi means “bottom of the pot.” Imagine a crème caramel with attitude.

This classic Turkish dessert is traditionally tavuk göğsü with the bottom of the cream burned The cream is then removed from the pan and served burned-side up, often in a roll. The kazan dibi at Saray along the Istikal Caddesi (near Taksim square) is so thick you chew it.

Saray- Kuloğlu, 107, 34433 Beyoğlu

Muhallebiler – Comforting and Creamy Turkish Desserts

In addition to the classic Turkish puddings like tavuk göğsü, kazan dibi, and sütlaç (rice pudding), there are more elaborate, jewel-like pudding desserts. Creamy puddings shimmer under layers of gelatin, fruits, and nuts.

Pastalar

The pastry chefs of Istanbul are great at western desserts, like pastalar -layer cakes. The exotic Istanbul touch is in the excess. They have more fillings, more icings, more decorations than their western counterparts. There is an excellent selection at Hazif Mustafa – you’ll find locations throughout Istanbul. They have many excellent layered puddings as well.

Istanbul’s Food Culture

These classic Turkish desserts are just one aspect of Istanbul’s unparalleled food culture. Turkish cuisine is complex and compelling, with many classic dishes and regional specialties to explore.

The experience begins as soon as you wake. Turkish breakfasts, as you will see at one of these ideal Istanbul breakfast places are legendary – a gastronomic and cultural ritual.

Istanbul’s grand culinary culture will inevitably be a part of your day. As you visit the Magnificent Mosques of Istanbul, you can take a break at a Çay Bahçesi (tea garden), get a hot pides (like an open calzone) from a wood-burning oven for lunch, or an ekmek balik (fish sandwich) by the Galata bridge. Then continue to a meyhane in the evening for conversation and meze with a little raki.

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The great Mosques that define Istanbul’s skyline and express the aesthetics of the Ottoman Empire at its apex are all the work of one extraordinary man: Mimar Sinan (The Architect Sinan). He’s also known as the Great Sinan, Mimar Koca Sinan (The Great Architect Sinan) and – Eurocentrically – as the Michelangelo of the Ottoman Empire.

On a recent trip to Istanbul, my chief wish was to experience the works of Sinan and learn more about this definitive architect. Our private tour “Ottoman Architecture: Istanbul’s Magnificent Mosques” gave us a depth of understanding and an experience of great beauty.

Visiting the great mosques of Istanbul is a defining experience of the city, along with seeing Agia Sophia, the colorful houses of Balat, and the swirl of activity in the spice market.

Understanding History and Architecture in Context

Our visit to two splendid mosques by Mirmar Sinan truly did provide context. Our tour with our guide Ebru began with an introduction to the history of the Ottoman Empire at its height. In addition to the story of Mimar Sinan, we also learned the tales of the people behind the mosques- the Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the powerful favorite Roxelana – the legendary Hürrem Sultan – and the sons they lost.

We were glad that our tour was at the beginning of our stay in Istanbul. For it was not only history that our excellent guide Ebru illuminated for us, but the architecture itself. Because of our tour, we had an introduction to the principals and elements of Islamic architecture and design. This opened up a world of appreciation and meaning on our other mosque visits throughout our stay.

For a glossary of terms for understanding the basics of Islamic worship, Mosque architecture and decorative motifs, please read here.

Mimar Sinan

Mimar Sinan was chief architect of the Ottoman Empire when the empire was at its most powerful. At one time, the Ottoman Empire covered 12 million square kilometers, including much of the Arabian peninsula, North Africa, the Balkans, and Southeastern Europe up to Vienna.

The reign of Suilleiman the Magnificent was the golden age of the Ottoman Empire. Mimar Sinan gave the empire’s grandeur its monumental expression.

Sinan had a long life (1490 – 1588), and an enormously productive career. He entered the service of the sultan though the Devshirme. This was the act of conscription the strongest and ablest boys of Christian families into the service of the empire. They converted to Islam and many became Janissaries, the elite of Ottoman military corps. They could even rise to the rank of Grand Vizier – the head of government.

Sinan already had a foundation in architecture. His father had been a stone mason and Sinan assisted him. After his conscription, Sinan trained as an architect while also training as an officer. On military campaigns, he was able to study architectural masterpieces. Sinan initially constructed buildings, fortresses, and bridges. His works are in cities throughout the former Ottoman empire.

Mimar Sinan and the White Tower of Thessaloniki

Among the military fortifications built by Sinan is – possibly – the symbol of Thessaloniki, the White Tower – or Lefkos Pirgos. Sinan built architecturally similar fortresses, on in particular is in Albania. Sinan also built mosques that are still standing in Greece. Among these are the Osman Shah Mosque in Trikala, the Zincirli Mosque of Serres, and the Kurşunlu Mosque of Kastoria.

The Many Works of Mimar Sinan

Even though by most accounts he was nearly 50 years old at the time of his appointed to the Imperial court, Sinan enjoyed an enormously productive career. Sinan built over 80 – by some accounts over 90 – mosques. He also built many mescid (smaller mosques), baths, caravanserais, medreses (schools of theology), hospitals, imarets (charity kitchens), turbes (masoleums), and public works such as bridges and aqueducts. In addition, he also built mansions and palaces.

The excellence of even his early works display his maturity.

The Mosques of Mimar Sinan in Istanbul

The skyline of Istanbul is an architectural poem. Understanding this glorious city and its architecture is central to an itinerary of Turkey. And to do that, one must become acquainted with magnificent works of Sinan, architect of a defining feature of that skyline. Sinan designed the magnificent and iconic Süleymaniye Mosque, high on one of Istanbul’s seven hills. It’s a glory to see from the opposite side of the Golden Horn.

This is one of Istanbul’s most famous mosques, and one of several Istanbul Mosques that Sinan designed. Some are nearly equal in grandeur; others are more modest, and one is even hidden in a maze of fragrant shops. The Sulleimaniye is traced against the evening sky, and the Cihangir shimmers on the surface of the Bosporous. Some have a sad tale – like the Cihangir Mosque and the splendid Şehzade Mosque. One – the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque – even has a love story (maybe …). This is the tale of three of them.

The Şehzade Mosque

Our tour began not in a tourist area but in a neighborhood near the University, with broad boulevards, tidy shops, and street vendors making elaborate sandwiches in charming red and white carts.

We met our guide Ebru across from a large walled garden. We could glimpse minarets over the tops of the walls.

The Şehzade Mosque complex of 1543 – 1548, stunning as it is, was a work of Mimar Sinan’s apprenticeship. Sinan took care to make the Mosque a place of reflection. As soon as you pass through the arch in the stone wall and enter the mosque’s complex, the scent of sweet pines greets you. There is a large and lush garden to make your way through as you approach the Mosques’s entrance. The fragrant garden isolates the mosque from the sounds and scents of the street. The tranquility prepares you for prayer and contemplation.

The enclosed courtyard is large and elaborate. Ebru tells us this is perhaps to balance the relatively spare interior. The Şehzade Mosque is a memorial Mosque – it means “The Mosque of the Crown Prince.” Sulleiman the Magnificent had it built in memory of the son he had hoped would succeed him. Şehzade Mehmed died at age 22 under mysterious circumstances, after returning from a successful military campaign in present-day Hungary. He was the son of Sulleiman with his beloved Hürrem Sultan – the legendary Roxelana (and her story is a fascinating one).

A Mosque of Reflection and Benevolence

Although built in sadness, the Şehzade Mosque has a strong positive energy. Peace and tranquility fill you on entering. In the vast space, large widows at ground level look out into the garden, and illuminate the pages of the Koran at individual stations for private study. Cats wander freely through the Mosque. One joined us, reclining on Ebru’s map. The Şehzade Mosque is filled with a profoundly benevolent mood that transcends both faiths and species alike.

The Süleymaniye Mosque

This is the best known Mosque of Istanbul. Although the Blue Mosque – built by an apprentice of Mimar Sinan – may be more common in name, the grandeur of the Süleymaniye Mosque, 1550 -1557, crowns the city from the third of Istanbul’s seven hills. The mosque and the silhouette of its minarets against the golden sky of evening is the definitive Istanbul view.

The Mosque belongs to an entire complex. At one time, it included a hospitals, baths, a caravanserai, an imaret (charity kitchen), and medrese (schools for studying the Koran). It also has the glorious turbes (masoleum) of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan.

There were rules for building an Imperial Mosque. The Sultan needed to build it on land he owned or purchased at a fair price. The cost of the construction had to come from new conquests, of which 1/5 was his “righteous share.” From this, a Sultan could build an Imperial Mosque.

This prime Istanbul location had once been the Imperial Palace. But it had fallen into disrepair. In the meantime, Suleiman the Magnificent and the Imperial household and court had been using the glorious Topkapi Palace. After a fire, he dismantled the old palace. It was the ideal site for his Imperial Mosque, the grand Süleymaniye.

A Work of Mimar Sinan in his Prime

The 17th century traveler and chronicler Evliya Çelebi considered the Süleymaniye mosque to be a work of Mimar Sinan’s peak. He called the Şehzade Mosque (1543 -1548) a work of Sinan’s apprenticeship, and Edirne’s Selimye Mosque (1568 – 1575) the culmination of his maturity. The Selimye Mosque is widely regarded a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.

The Süleymaniye Mosque and Agia Sophia

The glorious 6th century Agia Sophia was Mimar Sinan’s model in designing the Süleymaniye. He emulated the structure of a central dome, two semi-domes, and then exedra- semi-circular recesses. With its straight sides, this design unites the oblong basilica shape with a central dome, as in Agia Sophia. The dome is 53 meters high, and, like Agia Sophia’s appears to hover weightlessly in the heavens thanks to a ring of windows at the dome’s base. He did not match the 55 m height of Agia Sophia’s dome. (But he eventually would, surpassing it in his magnificent design for the Selimye Mosque).

The Ingenuity of Design of the Süleymaniye Mosque

Mimar Sinan employed ingenious devices in his design of the Süleymaniye Mosque. For acoustics, he took inspiration from the Greek technique. He used clay pots to reflect and amplify the sound. 256 such pots, undetectable with mouths of just 1.5 centimeters wide, are embedded in the dome.

Candles lit the Mosque by night. A ventilation system prevented the build-up of soot. The soot flowed into vents near the entrance. It was then collected and used for calligraphy.

Many mosques and also Agia Sophia are lit from low, simple, ring-shaped chandeliers. Hanging from the chandeliers of the Süleymaniye Mosque, you will find not only lights but also ostrich eggs. Although they are beautiful, their purpose is actually a more practical one. Apparently the scent of a pierced ostrich egg deters spiders.

The Rüstem Pasha Mosque

Mimar Sinan designed the Rüstem Pasha Mosque for Grand Vizier (head of government) Rüstem Pasha, son-in-law of the Sultan. He had married Mihrimah Sultan, daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent by Roxelana. The story of the Mosque is less inspiring – but perhaps not less interesting – than others. Accounts of Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha vary greatly. Some accounts portray him as a man of uncommon virtue, modesty, and generosity. He had come from humble circumstances and risen in his career through his own hard work and merit. Through his diligence and prudence, he amassed great wealth even before his marriage and appointment, and distributed this wealth generously through charitable foundations.

Other accounts dub him the “Louse of Fortune” (Kehle-i-Ikbal), rumoring him to have been infected with lice when he married Mihramah. The name reflected his alternative reputation as a generally loathsome character.

Accounts agree on at least two things- that he was involved in persuading the Sultan to have his son Mustafa strangled, and that he had this elaborate Mosque constructed. Whether the magnificence of the Rüstem Pasha mosque is an attempt to atone for his life or to give his virtue glorious expression is uncertain. The splendor of the Mosque answers either purpose.

A Jewelbox Hidden in the Marketplace

It is an unusual place to find the Mosque of a Grand Vizier. A corner of the sprawling Spice Market is called the Hasırcılar Çarşısı – the Straw mat weavers’ market. It’s a place of loud commerce and cheerful chaos. Mimar Sinan took the location into account, and built the Mosque above the noise of the street. The entrance is hard to find. You ascend a shabby and unpromising staircase between warehouses. But the surprise of the tiled splendor that greets you is all the greater for it.

The Glory of Iznik Tiles

If you shop for souvenirs in the Grand Bazar or the many tourist shops of Sultanahmet, you will see beautiful tiles. These are copies of the famous Iznik tiles.

Iznik is ancient Nicaea, a town in Bursa on the Sea of Marmara that became known for its ceramic production. From the 16th century, craftsmen began adding to their palette of cobalt and sage green. Turquoise, red,and a deep emerald green joined their palette, and the style became more flowing and expressive.

Mimar Sinan made use great of Iznik tiles, and nowhere more beautifully than in the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. Over 2,300 jewel-like tiles of many patterns cover the exterior, and most of the walls inside as well.The effect is truly dazzling.

Please note- the Rüstem Pasha Mosque was closed for renovations when we visited Istanbul in July of 2019. I happily had seen it on a previous visit.

Islam and the Urban Experience

Istanbul’s many mosques shape the urban landscape. They are much more than a part of the visual experience. With the muezzin ascending the minarets five times daily to call for prayer, Islam is the very rhythm of the city. The path of the sun determines the times of calls for prayer. They are closer together in winter than in the long days of summer. It is a keeper of time, a reminder to transcend the cares of the moment.

The sound is glorious. From the height Süleymaniye Mosque, the muezzin’s call to prayer joins that of many others, echoing from the hills and from across the Bosporus and the Golden Horn. Visiting several Mosques is an essential Istanbul experience.

Visiting Mimar Sinan’s Mosques with Context Tours

Our intensive and fascinating private tour with Ebru of Context Tours gave us a complete overview of the history of the Ottoman Empire and the social and cultural context to make the most of our experience. Our guide also opened our eyes to the mystery and beauty of Islamic architecture and elements of design that enhanced the whole of our stay in Istanbul, and our appreciation of Ottoman architecture and history in general. It was deeply enriching. Context Tours offers many focused, in-depth tours to give you an unique and transforming experience of Istanbul

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Knowing some terminology and some basic practices of Islam gave added meaning to the beauty of the magnificent Mosques I visited in Istanbul. I hope you too will find them useful, and that they help you make the most of your travels.

You’ll see many words for Mosque on your travels. Camii, Masjid, Jami Masjid, and Mescit are all words for mosque in different cultures. Masjid is the word for Mosque in Arabic. Camii and Mescit are used in Turkey.

A Vocabulary of Islam and Mosque Architecture

To introduce features of Mosque architecture and understand them in context, it is helpful to know some basics about the practice of Islam.

Salat: Daily Prayer

Salat, or daily prayer, is one of the five pillars of Islam. The faithful pray five times daily- just before dawn, at noon, in the afternoon, at sunset, and at night. The path of the sun determines the times of prayer.

Muslims can respond to the call for prayer wherever they are, and pray anywhere. The exception is the Friday noon prayer, where the faithful should attend prayer at the Mosque, and hear a sermon.

Adhan: The Call to Prayer

The call to prayer is called the Ahdan. As Christians use bells to summon the faithful to worship, the Muslims call out the proclamation that God is Great.

Muezzin: The One who Calls for Prayer

When you visit an Islamic country, you will often wake just before dawn to a beautiful melodic call, delivered like a song. This is the voice of the muezzin. The muezzin has an honored position. He is selected for both his character, and of course for the strength and excellence of his voice.

Muadhan

Another word for Muezzin

Mosque Architecture: Minaret- The Tower Used by the Muezzin to Call for Prayer

At a small mosque, the muezzin may call out from a side door of the Mosque. But larger Mosques generally have one or more minarets. These graceful slim towers are taller than the mosque itself. The muezzin ascends the minaret so that the adhan can be heard far and wide.

The great height of the minaret- much like a spire of a Christian church – is also central to identity. Minarets serve to visually proclaim faith throughout both the countryside and in the urban landscape.

Mosque Architecture: Mihrab – The Ornate Niche that Shows the Direction of Prayer

The Mihrab is a central feature of Mosque architecture. It indicates the qiblah, the directions of prayer. Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca.

When you visit a Christian Church that subsequently became a Mosque, you will notice the addition of a mihrab. In the western world, as Mecca is towards the east, and as altars in Christian Churches are in the east, the mihrab is usually close to the former altar.

Mosque Architecture: Minbar- for Delivering Sermons

The most immediately recognizable element of Mosque architecture in the interior in the minbar. A minbar more closely resembles a narrow and graceful staircase, usually with an ornamental canopy at the top, than a platform. The Imam delivers a sermon at the Friday noon prayer from the minbar.

The minbar is placed at the right of the mihrab. The Imam generally does not ascend to the very top of the minbar, as this was the place from which the first caliphs delivered their sermons.

Imam: For Sunni Muslims, the Leader of Worship in a Mosque

The Imam for Sunni Muslims – as practice in Turkey – is also a community leader and a provider of religious guidance. The Imam delivers the sermon, or khutbah, at the Friday noon prayer.

For the Shi’a Muslims, the word Imam comprises a different meaning.

Khutbah: Sermon

Sermons focus on living a life of faith and devotion in accordance with the teachings of the Koran. Here are examples of inspirational topics that a khutbah may touch upon.

Mosque Architecture: Sahn- The Courtyard

Although not an essential feature of Mosque architecture, the courtyard serves an important purpose. Especially in an urban setting, these courtyards provide a tranquil space to cleanse the mind of the noise and cares of the city, and to prepare for prayer.

The sahn also has a practical function. There is very often a fountain for refreshment and for ritual ablutions – wadu – before prayer. It is also a place to remove one’s shoes in order to enter the Mosque.

Sebil- A Public Fountain

All over Istanbul, you will find beautiful ornate kiosks for dispensing water, often in the Ottoman Baroque style. These were a common feature of cities throughout the former Ottoman Empire. Outside of Mosques, at crossroads, and in town squares one would find a sebil, where drinking water would flow freely for all.

Wudu- Ritual Ablutions

To prepare for prayer, the faithful must have a clean mind, heart, and body. Outside of all Mosques, fountains provide a place for these ablutions, which are a specific ritual unto themselves. Wudu not only cleanses the body, but prepares one spiritually for prayer.

Islamic Decorative Vocabulary and Mosque Architecture

Islamic decoration is aniconic, meaning that it does include the depiction of humans or animals. This stems from a prohibition against idolatry, and also a belief that God is the sole creator of living forms. In fact, one of the word used to describe God – “musawwir” – means artist, or maker of forms.

This prohibition of depicting the human form has resulted in a complex and beautiful decorative vocabulary. Islamic artists and craftsmen have risen to the occasion, creating skillful and intricate ornamentation with symbolic meaning.

There are three fundamental types of Islamic decoration:

The Arabesque: A Familiar Decorative Motif in Mosque Architecture

Arabesques cover many surfaces in a Mosque. These sweeping curves and patterns of interlacing forms inspired by flowers, foliage, and tendrils cover many surfaces in a mosque, and are also common motifs found on Iznik tiles. Our excellent guide Ebru of Context Tours explained that botanical motifs represent paradise in Mosque architecture.

Geometric Patterns and Motifs

Islamic scholars of the Golden Age of Islam were great pioneers in the fields of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and astronomy. Mathematics as an expression of the divine has given rise to beautifully complex patterns and motifs. Circles, interlaced circles, polygons, and stars – some extremely intricate with many points – represent divine infinity. They convey a sense of cosmic unity and harmony.

Logos: Calligraphy as a Decorative Art

Derived from the Greek for “the word,” Logos is a type of Islamic decoration that elevates the art of calligraphy to its height.

Calligraphy conveys not just a message, but is also a powerful decorative element in Mosque architecture.

After Agia Sophia in Istanbul became a Mosque, 8 calligraphic discs of 7.5 meters in diameter – the largest such panels in the Islamic world – were added. On these are written Allah, Muhammed, the four caliphs (religious rulers and successors of Mohammed) – Abu Bukar, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (Son-in-law of Mohammed, married to his daughter Fatima). The other two panels have the names of the grandsons of the Prophet – Hasan and Husayn. Similar discs decorate many other Mosques.

Kufi (Qufi)- The Union of Calligraphy and Geometry

Kufi, developed in the 7th century in Kufa, Iraq, was frequently the script of choice for writing the Koran. This more austere script with a horizontal orientation developed into a form of ornament.

Geometric kufi script appears as an abstract ornament. But in fact it conveys a message in words. This abstract-looking decorative panel from the 16th century Şehzade Mosque in Istanbul reads: “Apart from God there is no other God.”

Muquarnas – The Stalactite Vault

This beautifully intricate geometric motif is one of the most recognizable design elements of Islamic architecture. A muqarnas frequently tops a mihrab or an entrance, or fills the corner spaces where dome tops a square room. It’s a common decorative element, not only in Mosques but also elsewhere.

This intricate, ornamental type of vault consists of interlocking triangles. It is sometimes called “honeycomb” vaulting or “stalactite” vaulting.

The complex geometry of the muqarnas expresses infinity. Drawing the eye upward, it invites us to contemplate heaven and the divine.

Kündekari – an Intricate Puzzle of Wood

Kündekari is the art of interlocking pieces of wood into complex geometric patterns to form the surfaces of doors, mimbars, shutters, and panels of furniture. No glue or nails are used, which makes the resulting piece of craftsmanship extremely durable against the effects of moisture and heat.

In addition to woods like pear, cedar, ebony, walnut, and rose, kündekari also often includes tortoise shell, mother of pearl, ivory, and metals.

Very few craftsmen today are skilled in kündekari.

You will find beautiful examples of this art in the magnificent Mosques of Istanbul, and in the Topkapi Palace.

Iznik Tiles

The town of Iznik in the Province of Bursa is famous for its pottery. From the late 15th century through the 17th century, the craftsmen of Iznik produced fine painted pottery and more interestingly still they produced ceramic tiles. The craftsmen of Iznik developed a distinctive loose, flowing style, using arabesques and botanical motifs. To their traditional cobalt blue and pale green, they added red, turquoise, and emerald green. During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) in particular, the demand for Iznik tiles and pottery was very high. Mimar Sinan, the great Imperial architect, used Iznik tiles in many of his works.

Excellent examples of Iznik tiles decorate the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. These sumptuous tiles also decorate the Blue Mosque, and parts of the Topkapi palace, such as the Baghdad Kiosk.

Islam, Mosque Architecture, and Islamic Design Motifs

I hope this has been a useful introduction to the meaning and beauty of Mosque architecture for the western traveler. There are many excellent articles available that I was able to consult. I have provide links for those who are interested in reading further.

If any readers have corrections or additional information to share, I will be very grateful.

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