Great Mosque of Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır Ulu Camii
Commissioned in 1091 by Seljuk Sultan Malik Shah, it is one of Anatolia’s oldest mosques. The facades flanking its courtyard blend Roman stone columns with exquisite carved decoration.
The Great Mosque was built on the site of a Byzantine church of St. Thomas, and its plan follows the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. It is considered one of the sources of Islamic architecture in Anatolia. The two-story colonnades on the east and west sides of the courtyard reuse Roman-era Corinthian columns and carved cornices, interwoven with Arabic inscriptions. At the center of the courtyard stands an ablution pavilion with a conical roof, and on the north side is an old madrasa. Entry is free. Women must cover their hair and dress conservatively, and it is best to avoid Friday prayers and prayer times. The mosque sits on Gazi Street in the center of the old city, opposite the Hasan Pasha Caravanserai.
Opening hours
Open outside service times
Nearby sights
- Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum
- Hasan Paşa Hanı
- Four-Legged Minaret
- Mar Petyun Chaldean Church
- Surp Giragos Armenian Church
- Dengbêj House
- Behram Pasha Mosque
- Hazreti Süleyman Mosque