Mosque of Sultan Bayazid

Mosque of Sultan Bayazid, called by travellers The Pigeon Mosque, on the Seraskerat Parade Ground, is interesting solely on account of its courtyard, which is the finest and most picturesque of any mosque court in Constantinople. The columns supporting the numerous domes of the arcade running round it were taken from Greek monuments and churches ; in the centre is a beautiful ablution fountain surrounded by trees. This courtyard serves as a place of business for numerous public letter-fariters, seal-cutters, vendors of rosaries and Oriental perfumes.

During Eamazan it is crowded with tents containing stalls for the sale of all kinds of Egyptian and Persian sweets. The building derives its nickname of the ‘Pigeon Mosque ’ from the vast number of pigeons kept in its precincts, all descended from a single pair of these birds, bought from a poor woman by Sultan Bayazid and presented by him to the mosque. Travellers wishing to do so are allowed to feed the birds with grain, which can be procured for a piastre or two at the grain stall kept on purpose in the yard. The food of these birds is, however, provided for out of donations and funds bequeathed to the mosque for that purpose by pious Moslems.

Rustem Pasha Mosque, at Yemiss Iskelessi, just beyond the Egyptian bazaar, is remarkable for its tile-work, and will be found interesting by connoisseurs of this branch of art. Admission 10 piastres (Is. 8d.) each; less is also accepted.

Valideh Mosque, called Yenl Valideh Jamesl by the Turks, stands close to the Stambul end of Galata Bridge. Entrance through the gate opposite the Turkish General Post Office; only the galleries and Sultan’s private pew are visited; admission 5 piastres per head. This mosque, commenced in 1615 by the wife of Ahmed I. private tour istanbul, was completed in 1665 by the mother (Yalideh) of Sultan Muhammad IV. Its walls are covered with beautiful blue tiles, and the stained-glass windows in some of the rooms are very beautiful indeed.

Shah Zadeh mosque

The Tomb of Shah Zadeh (The Prince’s Tomb), in the garden of Shah Zadeh mosque, was erected in 1543-48 by Suleiman the Magnificent in memory of his son Muhammad who died at the age of eighteen. Admission 5 piastres per head. Travellers who are pressed for time should give this tomb the preference; its walls are faced with beautiful tiles of all colours, and a wooden railing in the centre of the building encloses three tombs. The middle one is that of Prince Muhammad (1525-43). The high wooden erection over the grave is said to have been put up by Suleiman’s orders, in allusion to the throne his unfortunate son would have occupied had he lived On the stool by the grave the deceased prince’s robes, said to be richly embroidered, are exhibited once a year during the month of Ramazan. The tomb on the right of Muhammad’s is that of his brother, Prince Mustapha ‘ Zihanghir,’ that on the left contains the remains of his sister.

Visitors should ask to see the beautifully illuminated Koran kept in this mausoleum, and said to have been transcribed by Prince Muhammad, who, however, did not live long enough to complete the work.

The Tomb of Sultan Muhammad II., the Conqueror, situated in the cemetery attached to the mosque of Muhammad II. Admission 10 piastres (Is. 8d.) per head. The tomb is an octagonal building with an interior almost as plain as its exterior. The walls are painted various colours, and are embellished with inscriptions. In a frame hanging before the window facing the door is a transcription of Muhammad’s prophecy, ‘ Thou shalt take Constantinople ; happy the prince, happy the army that achieves this.’ The conqueror’s grave is in the centre of the building, solitary, and surrounded by a wooden railing inlaid with mother- of-pearl. At the head is an enormous turban. On the left when entering, and near the window, is a box said to contain two of the prophet’s teeth lost in battle, and a portion of his beard, which are exhibited to the faithful on the 15th of Ramazan.