Lütfü Paşa Mosque

Lütfü Paşa Mosque

This mosque, located in Izmir Tire district, was built by the son-in-law of Sultan Selim I, Grand Vizier Lütfü Pasha, when he was the Governor of Sancak in the 1500s. Since it does not have an inscription indicating the date of its construction, a precise date cannot be put forward. Only in the endowment of Lütfü Pasha dated 1543, it is written that the mosque is a lead-domed place of worship, and in front of it is the narthex with five domes and five marble columns. Accordingly, the mosque was built in the middle of the 16th century. It is learned from the foundation certificate that there are fifteen-room madrasah and twelve shops next to the mosque. Lütfü Pasha also built Tirede inn, almshouse, fountain and water tank with a fountian. This structure, which is one of the typical examples of classical Ottoman architecture, has a square plan made of cut stone. A central dome, which is provided with muqarnas trumpets, covers the place of worship. The narthex, which is reached by a three-step staircase from the courtyard in front of the mosque, has five sections and is carried by six columns. The section in front of the door that provides the entrance to the mosque in the middle of the last congregation place is lead domed, and the other sections are covered with tiles. The mihrab is in the form of a round niche. Window wings of the mosque are made of wood and in kündekari technique. The minbar, on the other hand, is made of wood and covered with decorations in the crossing technique. The minaret with a stone base, round body and single balcony located in the west of the mosque is reached from the last congregation place.