Gulgun Benek

The 4 stars is not for the mosque which is beautiful but for those who are supposed to take care of it today.

The complex was commissioned by Mihrimah Sultan and constructed by Mimar Sinan (Architect Sinan) in 1565. The cornplex included a mosque, a madrasah with 17 different classes, an infants' school, a mausoleum, a fountain and a series of shops. Some of the shops have been demolished during road expantion works.

The mosque has a rectangular plan with two stories. Sinan, with a new technique, expands the 19m diametered and 27m high main dome situated on four pillars to the sides with three half as high smaller domes each. There are a total of 204 windows on the facades. The mosque has a manirat with a single balcony that is from chiseled stone with a lead conic top. The mosque has three gates. Its mihrab is made of white marble, with golden gilt, muqarnas, with inscriptions and eight rows of stalactites. The mosque courtyard surrounded by 'U' shaped madrasah classes has a conic roofed, marble storaged 'şadırvan' (fountain used for ritual ablutions) with 16 columns. The courtyard can be entered by two seperate gates. On the left side of the enterance to mosque there is a 'musalla' (area within a mosque courtyard where funeral services are performed), in the front there is a large garden and a small hazîre (a burial area surrounded with fences, formed by additional burials around a single tomb) next to a well.

After the completion of the Beşiktaş square, looks more beautiful.
His statue is on the opposite side, closer to the Naval Museum, which is also an attractive museum.

It was closed so I couldn't get in.
As far as I know, there's a holy spring in this church.

Another beautiful building saved by IMM Heritage department.
The only downside is reaching there, as neither IMM Transport nor the Büyükada municipality operating properly.
Located on Kadiyoran Street in Büyüka Taş Mektep was built in the second ha of the 19th century by the Greek Orthod Patriarch Sofronios. Taş Mektep, also known as "Sofronios Mansion", was use as the summer residence of Patriarch Sofronios for many years.

In 1922, the building was purchased by the Istanbul Municipality and started to serve under the name "Köprülü Mehmed Paşa Numune Mektebi" after the first official Turkish school of Büyükada was moved here. The name of the school was changed to "Büyükada İlkokulu" [Büyükada Primary School] in 1924-25.
Taş Mektep, also known as "Eski Mektep" [Old School] among the people, continue to serve Büyükada Primary School until 1967 and Büyükada Secondary School since then. Evacuated in the 1978-79 school year due to fire hazard, Taş Mektep has survived to the present day as one of the cultural assets in need of protection.
Taş Mektep, which was taken under protection with extensive restoration works carried out by IBB Miras [IMM Heritage] between 2021-2023 and transformed into a new living space to host current events, opened its doors to all Istanbulites as a cultural focus that will add dynamism to the social life of the Adalar [Islands].

The church I have seen several times, from outside, but only today had the chance to see inside.
All I did was to ring the bell.
As you may understand from the photos, I asked if they allow photos and not approved, I could only capture pictures from outside.
I'll try one Sunday to see what can be done more or at least how inside is when lights are on.