Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
chiefly as one of the few octagonal buildings to be used as a mosque.
This külliye and the other two we have just looked at have recently
been well restored; Kara Mustafa's medrese has been converted into
an institute commemorating the celebrated poet, Yahya Kemal, who
died in 1958.
GEDİK AHMET PAŞA HAMAMI
The street just beyond this little külliye is called Gedik Paşa Caddesi;
this leads to a hamam of the same name at the second turning on the
left. This is one of the very oldest baths in the city, built in about 1475,
and it is still in operation. Its founder was Gedik Ahmet Paşa, one of
Mehmet the Conqueror's Grand Vezirs (1470-7), commander of the
fleet at the capture of Azof and conqueror of Otranto. This hamam
has an unusually spacious and monumental soğukluk consisting of a
large domed area flanked by alcoves and cubicles; the one on the right
has a very elaborate stalactited vault. The hararet is cruciform except
that the lower arm of the cross has been cut of and made part of the
soğukluk; the corners of the cross form domed cubicles. The bath has
recently been restored and now glistens with bright new marble; it is
much patronized by the inhabitants of this picturesque district.
THE BEYAZİDİYE
Returning once again to the main avenue, we continue along to
Beyazit Square, a confused and chaotic intersection of no recognizable
geometric shape. Crossing to the right-hand side of the avenue, we
come to the Beyazidiye, the mosque and associated pious foundations
of Sultan Beyazit II. The Beyazidiye was the second great mosque
complex to be erected in the city. Founded by Beyazit II, son and
successor of Mehmet the Conqueror, it was built between 1501 and
1506, and consists of the great mosque itself, a medrese, a primary
school, a public kitchen, a hamam and several türbes. Heretofore, the
architect's name has variously been given as Hayrettin or Kemalettin,
but a recent study has shown that the külliye is due to a certain
Yakub-şah bin Sultanşah, who also built a kervansaray at Bursa. His
background is unknown and his origin uncertain, but he may have
been a Turk. Whatever his origin, he created a work of the very first
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