The Esmahan Sultan Mosque- Mangalia, Romania

The oldest mosque in Romania is located in Mangalia, in the southern seaside of the country. The Esmahan Sultan Mosque was named after its founder, the daughter of one of the greatest rulers of the Ottoman Empire, in memory of her father Sultan Selim II. Built in 1573, it looks like a welcoming family house surrounded by a beautiful garden containing a graveyard with tombstones older than 300 years. The mosque is a historical and religious monument that is still used as a place of worship by the muslim community in Mangalia.

The mosque in Mangalia is even older. It is located in the old part of the town and looks like a welcoming family home, surrounded by a cool and comforting garden. Ismet Halil, the imam of the Esmahan Sultan Mosque, tells us about the history of this monument:

“The Esmahan Sultan Mosque is one of the oldest in the country, dating back to 1573. It was named after its founder, princess Esmahan, who was the daughter of the Ottoman Sultan Selim II and wife to Sokollu Mehmet Pasha. The mosque was made of stone by Turkish masons, and the walls are 85 centimeters thick. Inside the mosque there is the mihrab, the altar, indicating the direction of the Kaaba in the holy city of Mecca. From here, the imam leads the prayer. On the right there is the minbar or pulpit from where the imam delivers his sermons on Fridays and holy days. The minaret is placed on the northern side of the mosque. The minaret gallery is reached by climbing on interior spiral staircase.”