Green Mosque in Iznik

Overview

Near the Lefke Gate of Iznik, a small mosque of white stone lifts a minaret covered in green and turquoise tiles. This is the Green Mosque, one of the first great buildings of the Ottomans. Our Nicaea day trip visits it with Hagia Sophia and a tile workshop.

The Story of the Green Mosque in Iznik

The vizier Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Paşa began the mosque in 1378–79. He died in 1387, and his son Ali Paşa completed it in 1391–92. The minaret of glazed brick and tile gave the mosque its name.

What to See

First, stand back from the porch and look at the minaret, where the tiles make patterns in the brick. Step inside under the dome. Think of the tile kilns of Iznik, which made the city famous a century later.

The Architect and the Tiles of the Minaret

Its architect was Hacı Musa. The minaret follows Seljuk tradition, and its glazed brick carries tiles of green, turquoise, yellow and purple, which gave the mosque its name. Inside, the prayer hall sits under a single dome, and a porch runs across the front. So stand at a little distance first, where the colors of the minaret show best against the white stone.

How to Visit the Green Mosque in Iznik

The mosque stands near the Lefke Gate on the east side of Iznik, a walk from Hagia Sophia. It is a working mosque, so dress modestly and avoid prayer times. For the region, see our Bursa guide. We plan your Iznik walk from Hagia Sophia to the Green Mosque between prayer times.

Would you like a day in Iznik from Istanbul or Bursa? The tiled minaret is a stop on our Iznik day trip, between Hagia Sophia and the tile workshops; read our page on Iznik for the rest.