Alaca Imaret Mosque

What I can see

It is a rare monument of the early Ottoman period and although it was built based on traditional Islamic architecture, it has several Western influences. It consists of bricks and carved stones, has a brick-enclosed masonry system and marble frames around the openings. It is a monument that bears witness to the city’s 5-century history. Its floor plan is in the shape of an inverted T, it consists of a twin central prayer area with two domes of equal size, 4 side compartments for other functions (e.g. breadline, school) and the entrance has an arcade with columns and domes. Inside, the frescoes depict geometric shapes and plant motifs. Today, the monument is “lost” in the dense apartment buildings that surround it, as a result of which it becomes more and more “invisible”, thus the knowledge of residents and visitors about it, is gradually lost.

What I can't see

Apart from a place of prayer, it was a poorhouse (imaret) and an Islamic school (medrese). There was also a large stoa, which served as a shelter for refugees and beggars. The stone minaret was on the western side and was colourful (alaca) with diamond-shaped patterns. This type of minaret originates from Central Asian and Persian Islam. In the original Islamic architecture of central Anatolia, the courtyard was covered by a dome and had a small prayer area. When the prayer area grew bigger, the dome became the main part of the building. Alaca Imaret was built with the funding of the local lord Inegiolu Isak Pasha. Luxurious mosques needed generous funding. The speed of construction of mosques demonstrated an abundance of skilled workers, developed architectural traditions and the availability of sufficient resources.

Info

• Address: Dimitrion Sq.

Bibliography