Eyup Sultan Mosque (Eyup Sultan Camii)
Eyup Sultan Mosque (Eyup Sultan Camii) is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Istanbul audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~45 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Istanbul Istanbul guide
About Eyup Sultan Mosque (Eyup Sultan Camii)
One of Turkey's holiest mosques, built over the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad; a major pilgrimage shrine at the Golden Horn's head.
The Eyup Sultan Mosque, at the head of the Golden Horn just outside Istanbul's historic land walls, is one of the holiest Islamic sites in Turkey. It was built beside and over the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, known in Turkish as Eyup Sultan, a companion and standard-bearer of the Prophet Muhammad who, by tradition, died during the first Arab siege of Constantinople in the 670s.
According to pious tradition, the long-lost grave was rediscovered after the 1453 conquest by Mehmed II's teacher Aksemseddin, and a mosque complex was built on the site around 1458, the first major Ottoman mosque in the city. The present building is largely a reconstruction completed in 1800 under Sultan Selim III. The richly tiled tomb faces the prayer hall across the courtyard, and the mosque remains a major place of pilgrimage, as well as a favoured setting for boys' circumcision celebrations.
Did you know? On their accession, Ottoman sultans came here to be girded with the Sword of Osman, the empire's version of a coronation, arriving along a ceremonial route still known as the Accession Way.
How long should you spend at Eyup Sultan Mosque (Eyup Sultan Camii)?
Plan about ~45 min at Eyup Sultan Mosque (Eyup Sultan Camii). That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Eyup Sultan Mosque (Eyup Sultan Camii) worth visiting?
Eyup Sultan Mosque (Eyup Sultan Camii) is one of the 40 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Istanbul, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Istanbul
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Hear the story of Eyup Sultan Mosque (Eyup Sultan Camii)
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