In between the Pera Palace and the Galata Tower, closer to the Tower, you'll find this charming…read morelittle mosque. There are conflicting reports on the history of this mosque. Some say the original building was built on the order of Haci Ali Bereketzade, the castellan of the nearby Galata Tower, in 1453. Others say it dates from circa 1702 and was built by Bereketzade Mehmed Efendi (the version presented in the mosque). It was completely destroyed in 1948 and the current building dates from 2006. The old drinking fountain once onsite has been moved to a location close to the Galata Tower.

Built in 1585, this mosque is notably friendly and inviting. It honors Kazasker Ivaz Efendi, on of…read morethe highest ranking military judges in the Ottoman Empire. At one time it sat on a terrace of the sprawling Blachernae Palace, a gargantuan imperial Byzantine residence dating back to around 500CE that stretched all the way to the Golden Horn, later razed by the Ottomans. The courtyard cemetery has some beautiful Arabic calligraphy and turbans carved into stone. The interior of the mosque is lovely.

!5th century mosque was the first mosque built in Galata after the conquest of Istanbul. It's just…read morebelow the Galata Tower, there was a secret passage from the Galata Tower to the minaret but I couldn't find it. Classical Ottoman neighborhood mosque (wooden roof).

Bereketzade Ali Efendi Mosque is known as the first mosque built in Galata after the conquest of…read moreIstanbul. The mosque is namesake of the Bereketzade Neighborhood located just below the Galata Tower. The mosque was founded by Bereketzade Hacı Ali bin Hasan, one of the guards of the Galata Tower. In addition to the mosque, a madrasah and a fountain were also built, but the madrasah has not survived. The mosque was closed in the 1920s due to lack of congregation and was completely demolished in the 1950s. However, it was rebuilt and restored to its original state by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in the 1990s. The mosque's inscription states that there was a secret passage from the Galata Tower to the mosque's minaret and from there to the old Karaköy harbor. This passage was partially unearthed during excavations.

Not far from the Blue Mosque, on the way back to the Obelisk hotel is this little gem The Vilayet…read moreMosque, originally constructed in the 15th century, is a bit of a mishmash or fusion of styles as a result of restoration and rebuilding. The current structure dates back to 1869, so new by Istanbul standards. This version of the mosque reflects the architectural styles of the 19th century, particularly those influenced by the era's blend of Ottoman and Western design elements. The name "Vilayet" (meaning "province" in Turkish) is derived from the mosque's historical ties to the Sublime Porte, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Situated close to this powerful institution, the mosque served not only as a place of worship for the local community but also as a spiritual haven for the government officials and bureaucrats who worked at the heart of the empire's political structure.

Less crowded than The Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia The New Mosque (Yeni Camii) is visible from…read morenearly every part of Istanbul thanks to a favorable location on the Golden Horn at the southern end of the Galata Bridge. Featuring 66 domes and semi domes in a pyramidal arrangement the Mosque was originally ordered for construction by Safiye Sultan, who was the wife of the then Sultan.

Although it is called the Babıali Mosque because it is located near the Istanbul governor's office…read morein Babıali, or the Imam Ali Mosque after its founder, it is known among the public as the Nalli Mosque because of the horseshoe-shaped marks that once stood on the minaret rostrum. It was built by İmam Ali Efendi, a relative of Ottoman religious scholar, poet and mystic saint Akshamsaddin (1389-1459) during the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror (reigned 1444-1446, 1451-1481) in the 15th century. Rebuilt in the late 19th century the mosque is designed in eclectic architectural style and some details are used which are normally seen in Rajasthan Indian and Iranian architecture. It is painted today in red and white, although the original color was yellow and beige. Not far from the Blue Mosque.

Mid 15th century mosque, bricked minaret added in the early 20th century. Also known as the Masjid…read moreof Cakircibasi, Cakir Aga was one of the Sekbanbasi of Ftih Sultan Mehmet. The public fountain in fron of the mosque was built for Ali Aga, the head barber of Sultan Mahmud. On the walk along the wall between the Edirnekapi gate and the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus.