The Dolmabahçe Mosque is located on the Bosphorus
in the southern part of Dolmabahçe Palace. Construction
of the mosque began at the behest of Sultan Abdülmecid's
mother, Bezmialem Valide Sultan, but when she died, Sultan
Abdülmecid took over. It is completed in 1855, and the
architect was Karabet Balyan. It was one the highly decorated
Baraque-style mosques. Being part of the palace complex,
the mosque contains a front section in which the sovereign
and state officials could worship and a two-storey section
for the sovereign suitable for the public procession of the
Sultan to the mosque on Fridays.
The circular arrangement of the windows which resembles
a peacock's tail, is an unusual sight relatively unknown
among the architects of mosques.
The two minarets both have a gallery. The inner door is
decorated in a mixture of the Baroque and Empire styles.
A valuable chandelier hangs from the alcove. The niche
(mihrap) and pulpit of the mosque are made of prophyry
marble.