Photo gallery of the Green Mosque
Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii)
Green Mosque, Bursa, Turkey
The Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) is one of the key monuments of early Ottoman architecture in Bursa. It stands in the Yeşil quarter to the east of Bursa's center and is part of the Green Complex together with the Green Tomb, a madrasa and an imaret.
Construction began under Sultan Mehmed I around 1419 under the supervision of the architect Hacı Ivaz Pasha and was completed in the early years of Murad II's reign, in the 1420s. The mosque marks the transition to mature Ottoman architecture and remains an important example of courtly building of that era.
The layout follows the Bursa type with a hall in the shape of an inverted T. The main portal and facade are faced with light marble with fine carving and ceramic insets, and two minarets rise above the prayer hall. The interiors are covered with green-glazed tiles, which gave the mosque its name.
Over time some decorative elements and the minarets have been restored after earthquakes, including after the destructive 1855 quake. Today it is one of the city's most visited shrines and a convenient starting point for exploring the Green Complex ensemble.
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The Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) is one of the key monuments of early Ottoman architecture in Bursa. It stands in the Yeşil quarter to the east of Bursa's center and is part of the Green Complex together with the Green Tomb, a madrasa and an imaret.
Construction began under Sultan Mehmed I around 1419 under the supervision of the architect Hacı Ivaz Pasha and was completed in the early years of Murad II's reign, in the 1420s. The mosque marks the transition to mature Ottoman architecture and remains an important example of courtly building of that era.
The layout follows the Bursa type with a hall in the shape of an inverted T. The main portal and facade are faced with light marble with fine carving and ceramic insets, and two minarets rise above the prayer hall. The interiors are covered with green-glazed tiles, which gave the mosque its name.
Over time some decorative elements and the minarets have been restored after earthquakes, including after the destructive 1855 quake. Today it is one of the city's most visited shrines and a convenient starting point for exploring the Green Complex ensemble.
Observe the dress code and respect worshippers.
How to visit the Green Mosque: what to see inside and nearby
This is an active mosque. Visitors remove their shoes at the entrance, clothing should cover shoulders and knees, and women will need a headscarf. Behave quietly; photography is usually allowed without flash and with respect for worshippers. Ablutions are performed at the outdoor fountains in the courtyard; the interior fountain is for cooling and is not used for ablutions.
Inside, note the tall mihrab covered with multicolored tiles by masters from Tabriz, the finely carved marble minbar, as well as wooden doors with geometric patterns and calligraphic panels. Light passes through the stained-glass windows, highlighting the shades of the green-glazed tilework and the scale of the central domed space.
Nearby you can easily visit the Green Tomb on the adjacent square and the Yeşil Madrasa, which houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. Within walking distance are the Emir Sultan Mosque and the Irgandı Covered Bridge on the way to the markets of the historic center.
You can reach it from central Bursa by city bus or dolmuş to the Yeşil stop, then a few minutes on foot; from the Şehreküstü metro station it is about a 20-25 minute walk or a short taxi ride.
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