Ortakoy mosque is a great mosque in an amazing and beautiful city of Turkey – Istanbul. It should be noted that officially the mosque is the Large outside mecidiye mosque (Buyuk Mecidiye Camii).

It is located in Ortakoy in the new part of the city near the Bosphorus bridge. The mosque was built in 1853-1854, in the style of Ottoman Baroque. The mosque was built by order of Sultan Abdul-Majid in the middle of the XIX century Padeshahi living in the Palace of Beylerbeyi on the opposite Bank, for namaz specially crossed rowing boats in Ortakoy mosque. Due to its location right on the Bosphorus and elegance of the structure is one of the best examples of late Ottoman architecture.

In 1853, Sultan Abdul-Majid I commissioned the construction of the mosque of the noble architect Nikogas Baleanu, author of the Dolmabahce Palace, which was erected in the shortest possible time. The mosque, built in the style of Ottoman Baroque. Completed its construction in 1854. It has two minarets, adjoining, consisting of white stone slabs. It should be noted that each of the minarets has its own balcony, which the locals call the seref.

Ortakoy mosque consists of two parts, like all mosques, which were built in the era of Abdul-Mejid I. This is a harem and personal space of the Sultan "hunkar". Walls and the inner part of the dome of the mosque is decorated with beautiful multi-colored mosaics. Quite wide and tall Windows well you have to interact with sunlight, reflected the waters of the Bosphorus, which are iridescent. Prayer niche, complemented by mosaics made of marble, and the marble of the Department, in turn, covered with porphyry.

The mosque stands on a promontory, which the Byzantines called Kleidon, which translates as "the Key" (the Bosphorus). Another small area is found behind the mosque. It offers a wonderful view of the famous Bosphorus bridge, which is one of the most beautiful and longest suspension bridges in the world. The length of this bridge is 1560 m, height above water is 64 m, the distance between the supports — 1074 m, and the height of the towers is 165 m).

On the area of Ortakoy, as in many public places of Istanbul, love to feed pigeons who flock here in large numbers. Another local highlight in ortaköy very special dish – Jacket, which you can try here. The essence of cooking is very simple: in a huge boiled potato choose the core and fill with all sorts of fillings. You can buy it at the local shopping stalls. Behind the mosque in ortaköy stretches the whole street, consisting of such staff.

Ortakoy mosque is today one of the main attractions of Turkey.