The Nurosmaniye mosque was built by a Greek architect, Simon, who in the opinion of Strolling Through Istanbul (Redhouse, 1989) produced "a failure, but a charming one". I fell for its spell ages ago, not the least because crossing its awkwardly formed "court" from the Covered Market side to the exit at the other side provides a short moment of rest in the busy city. If you want some more rest, the mosque is spacious and quiet. The mosque was begun by Sultan Mahmut I in 1748 and finished by his brother and successor, Osman III in 1755. Nur is "sacred light", so "Osman's Sacred Light". Strangely I always find it a bit dark inside.

This is the ceilling above the mimbar.