MOSQUE OF BEYAZIT- BEYAZIT CAMÝÝ
Beyazit, son of the Conqueror Mehmet II had it built the mosque of Beyazit in 1501-1505. It is one of the classical examples of Osmanli Architecture. The placing of the courtyard and the gates reflect the Seljuk influence; the arcades of the courtyard rest on 20 columns of green and grey granite, the white marble capitals and the marble stalactites depending from them, are in the Turkish style; the 24 cupolas rising from the columns follow the encircling line of the monument. The entrance to the mosque has a feature peculiar to itself, not found elsewhere, it encloses the stalls of rosary sellers and parfumiers specialising in sweet-smelling essences. The interior of the mosque is simple in plan, being a variation on that of Saint-Sophia. The central dome is supported by two half-domes which themselves rest on two solid columns. These columns, 6 meters in height and 1 meter 40 cm in circumference, are made of Egyptian porphyry.
The present bareness of the square may surprise you, but scarcely ten years ago it was one of the most beautiful in Istanbul, with a fine pool jetting miniature cascades among the leafy foliage of the trees and shrubs, an abundance of greenery to rest the gaze, the noble reflections of the mosque in the still waters of the pool... Everything which gives value to this square belongs to the service of history: buildings, private mansions, ancient edifices, etc...
The builder of this beautiful mosque, which bears his name, the Sultan Beyazit, had an lmaret built opposite to it, and a little further down, at the beginning of the boulevard, a Hamam with twin cupolas. As for the Hamam, it awaits a renewal of life to resume its activities; the Imaret has become a large municipal library. To the right rise the monumental gates of the University, which were originally, in the Ottoman era, the portals of the War Ministry. The University buildings situated in the garden belonged originally to the War Department; to the right of the gateway are the rectory offices, to the left those of the teachers; the central building in the interior of the garden is used for meetings organised by the University, and one part of it serves as the administrative section.
Right at the beginning the Conqueror had a wooden palace built on the present site of the University garden. After the building of the Topkapi Palace, this wooden palace was given the title of Old Seraglio and was used to accomodate the aged ladies of the Palace and those who, either by the death or deposition of a Sultan, had forfeited their rank.
