Bursa - Great Mosque

(Local Name: Ulu Cami) The Great Mosque (Ulu Cami) in the city center of Bursa was begun in 1379, during the reign of Murat I. It is a typical pillared mosque, very much in the Seljuk tradition. The entrance on the north side with its two flanking minarets, leads directly into the main hall, its 20 domes supported on twelve pillars linked to pointed arches. The open central dome and the fountain basin below give the hall something of the aspect of an inner courtyard. Round the fountain is the raised platform on which worshippers pray. On the square pillars and the walls are calligraphic inscriptions in the angular Kufic script and the Neshi script. There is a fine cedarwood mimber (pulpit) of about 1400.