Reaching Up to the Heavens: the Great Mosque Complex

Are you ready for a holy journey from Adana’s heavenly citrus gardens to its Great Mosque that was built in the 1500s?

The oldest of all the mosques in Adana is the Great Mosque. It almost touches your soul with its grandeur and its minaret that reaches up to the skies and eternity. According to the plaque at the entrance of the mosque, the structure was built in 1541 by Piri Bey, the son of Halil Bey, during the Ramadanid Dynasty of Adana. Ramadanids fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire in 1608. The mosque displays many cultural influences.

In the complex, you can see traces of the Zengid and Mamluk architecture that came from the South beside Seljuk and Ottoman decorations. The gates of the mosque have two distinctive features. The eastern gate was built in 1513, when the Ramadanids belonged to the Sultanate of Memluk, so it exhibits design influences from them. The western gate, however, dates back to 1541, and displays traces of unique Ottoman art. When you enter through the western crown gate, you reach a mysterious complex whose function is still unknown. This section is completely different from the rest of the building. It is evident that it is an extension of ancient remains built at the site of the mosque.

When you gaze at the magnificent minaret on the northeastern corner of the Great Mosque, it is impossible not to admire the modest beauty of this building and its two-tone tiling. The form of the minaret, again, clearly shows the influences of the Zengid Dynasty and Mamluk Sultanate. Its eye-catching Iznik tiles reach up to a certain height in the interior and the altar of the mosque. With its many harmonious transitions of colour, the tiles present a riot of colour. The figures on these tiles are also remarkable; they show dagger-shaped leaves, curled branches, carnations, peonies and floral patterns emerging from vases! This feast for the eyes seems to reward the sanctity and value of the mosque.

The Great Mosque complex is one of the most precious and sacred treasures from the past, and consists of a mausoleum, Turkish bath, madrasa, palace and a market. When you visit the mausoleum, you will see three tiled sarcophagi. The sarcophagi are covEmirates, ered with decorative tiles and contain the two sons of Piri Pasha, who built the mausoleum, and Halil Bey. The walls of the mausoleum are completely covered with tiles, too. You can also visit the mausoleum of the Ottoman Governor Ziya Pasha who died in 1880. It is visible from the park adjacent to the mosque. The eastern side of the mosque has remained intact until this day, and includes a madrasa and a palace.

If you want to discover these sacred and historical treasures, visit Adana. The city is located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, which is also full of citrus and history, among other things. Built on the banks of the magnificent Seyhan River at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, Adana welcomes you with its delicious eponymous kebab, hospitable people and magnificent natural environment. MUST-SEES The Museum of Adana

The museum was established in 1924 as a regional institution, and this means that artifacts unearthed in archaeological excavations in the provinces of Adana, Kahramanmaraş, Tarsus and Mersin are all exhibited there. The site of the National Textile Factory has been selected as the future location of the museum. When construction is completed, Adana will be home to the largest museum complex of Turkey and the Middle East. The first phase of construction will include Museums of Archaeology and Mosaics, and the second phase a City Museum and Museums of Ethnography, Agriculture and Industry. It will serve as a shining example in Turkey with facilities like conference rooms, a library, a cinema, cafeteria and children’s playgrounds. The New Mosque

The New Mosque was built by Abdurrezzak Antaki in 1724, and its minaret constructed by Ali Beşe in 1729. The minaret is covered with 10 small domes, and displays Arabic influences. The Stone Bridge

The Stone Bridge is one of the most important symbols of Adana. According to its epigraph in the Adana Archaeology Museum, the bridge is 1700 years old. The bridge was built by an architect named Auxentios during the Roman Empire. It is the oldest bridge in the world still in use. After its renovation in the 2000s, the bridge was pedestrianised. The bridge is 319 meters long, and 14 of its 21 original round arches still remain today.