Yeni Valide Mosque

Dominating the waterfront at Eminönü beside the ferry piers, this large imperial mosque was begun in the late sixteenth century and completed in 1665 after long delays, commissioned by successive queen mothers of the Ottoman court. Its cascading domes and slender twin minarets form one of the most photographed silhouettes on the Golden Horn. The complex includes a royal pavilion, tombs and a covered market whose revenues supported it. Flocks of pigeons and the surrounding trade make it a lively hub.