Banya Bashi Mosque, Sofia, Bulgaria: description, photo, where it is on the map, how to get there. Mosque in Sofia
Bulgaria was under the Ottoman yoke for 5 centuries. The only mosque in Sofia, Banya Bashi, is a monument to those times. The dome of this medieval building is visible from almost anywhere in the capital; it is not surprising that most excursions begin from this place.
The mosque was built in the center of the Bulgarian capital. The amazingly beautiful building was erected in the middle of the 16th century by the architect Mimara Sinan. Literally, the name of the mosque means “many baths”, because the structure was built on an active natural thermal spring. There are valves installed along the walls inside the building, through which steam is still vented. Next to the mosque there are fountains with hot mineral water, which you can drink and improve your health.
The mosque reflects the architectural features of the Ottoman period. The building is made of brick and stone. There are small turrets in the corners of the mosque. The walls of the prayer hall are decorated with cut stone, and the columns supporting the arch of the structure are carved from solid blocks of stone. The central dome, covered with tin plates, has a diameter of 15 m. Above it is a minaret tower, reaching into the heavens, which is certainly the most beautiful part of the building. The building is decorated with unique white and blue tiles of wondrous beauty. In the arch above the entrance there is an inscription on the stones made in ancient paint. The text of the inscription can no longer be made out. But the date is visible: 974, which corresponds to 1567 according to the modern calendar.
The mosque is historical monument, therefore open to tourists. It is one of the oldest in Europe. Up to 700 Muslims flock here for Friday prayers, and on the Eid al-Fitr holiday the number of believers exceeds 1,000 people. Tourists and pilgrims from all over the world flock here to see this miracle of medieval architecture.
How to get there
The mosque is located on Maria Luisa Street in the very center of the city. From the Serdika metro station to the mosque is about 270 meters - that's a 3-minute walk.
Coordinates:Built on the initiative and with the financial assistance of the benefactor Mullah Efendi Kada Seifullah. Thus, in different sources the mosque is indicated under the name “Molla Efendi” mosque or as “Kady Seifullah”. On a stone located in the arch above the door there is a text written in old paint that is impossible to read. The date 974 is indicated under the text, which gives reason to believe that the mosque was built in 974 according to the Hijri (Islamic calendar) or - year
Story
Architecture
In its current state, the mosque can accommodate about 700 Muslims for Friday prayers and up to 1,200 Muslims for Eid al-Adha. In the past, near the mosque there were the graves of Mullah Efendi Kada Seifullah and Emin Dede
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An excerpt characterizing the Banya Bashi Mosque
Only then did I suddenly notice that when she moved, her body easily seeped through furniture and other solid objects, as if it were woven from dense fog... I asked if it was difficult for her to be here? She said yes, because it was high time for her to leave... I also asked if it was scary to die? She said that it’s not scary to die, it’s scarier to watch those you leave behind, because there’s so much you still want to tell them, but, unfortunately, nothing can be changed... I felt very sorry for her, so sweet, but helpless, and so unhappy... And I really wanted to help her, but, unfortunately, I didn’t know how?The next day, I was calmly returning home from my friend, with whom we usually practiced playing the piano together (since I didn’t have my own at that time). Suddenly, feeling some strange inner push, I, for no apparent reason, turned in the opposite direction and walked along a completely unfamiliar street... I didn’t walk for long until I stopped at a very pleasant house, completely surrounded by a flower garden. There, inside the courtyard, on a small playground, sat a sad, absolutely tiny girl. She looked more like a miniature doll than a living child. Only this “doll” for some reason was infinitely sad... She sat completely motionless and looked indifferent to everything, as if at that moment the world around us for her it simply did not exist.
“Her name is Alina,” a familiar voice whispered inside me, “please talk to her...
I went to the gate and tried to open it. The feeling was not pleasant - as if I was forcibly breaking into someone’s life without asking permission. But then I thought about how miserable poor Veronica must have been and decided to take a risk. The little girl looked up at me with her huge, sky-blue eyes and I saw that they were filled with such deep melancholy that this tiny child simply should not have yet. I approached her very carefully, afraid to scare her away, but the girl had no intention of being scared, she just looked at me in surprise, as if asking what I needed from her.
I sat down next to her on the edge of the wooden partition and asked why she was so sad. She didn’t answer for a long time, and then finally whispered through her tears:
- My mother left me, but I love her so much... I guess I was very bad and now she will never come back.
I was confused. And what could I tell her? How to explain? I felt that Veronica was with me. Her pain literally twisted me into a hard, burning ball of pain and burned so hard that it became difficult to breathe. I wanted to help them both so much that I decided that whatever happens, I won’t leave without trying. I hugged the girl by her fragile shoulders and said as softly as possible:
– Your mother loves you more than anything in the world, Alina, and she asked me to tell you that she never abandoned you.
- So she lives with you now? – the girl bristled.
- No. She lives where neither you nor I can go. Her earthly life here with us is over, and she now lives in another, very beautiful world, from which he can observe you. But she sees how you suffer and cannot leave here. And she can’t stay here any longer either. That's why she needs your help. Would you like to help her?
- How do you know all this? Why is she talking to you?!.
I felt that she still didn’t believe me and didn’t want to recognize me as a friend. And I couldn’t figure out how to explain to this little, ruffled, unhappy girl that there was an “other”, distant world, from which, unfortunately, there was no return here. And that her beloved mother speaks to me not because she has a choice, but because I was simply “lucky” to be a little “different” than everyone else...
“All people are different, Alinushka,” I began. – Some have a talent for drawing, others for singing, but I have such a special talent for talking with those who have left our world forever. And your mother speaks to me not at all because she likes me, but because I heard her when no one else could hear her. And I am very glad that I can help her in at least something. She loves you very much and suffers very much because she had to leave... It hurts her very much to leave you, but it is not her choice. Do you remember she was seriously ill for a long time? – the girl nodded. “It was this illness that forced her to leave you.” And now she must go to her new world where she will live. And for this she must be sure that you know how much she loves you.
Banya Bashi Mosque (Bulgarian: Banya Bashi Jamia, Turkish: Banya Başı Camii) is a mosque in Sofia, Bulgaria. Built on the initiative and with the financial assistance of the benefactor Mullah Efendi Kada Seifullah. Thus, in different sources the mosque is indicated under the name “Molla Efendi” mosque or as “Kady Seifullah”. On a stone located in the arch above the door there is a text written in old paint that is impossible to read. The date 974 is indicated below the text, which gives reason to believe that the mosque was built in 974 according to the Hijri (Islamic calendar) or 1566 - 1567
One of the oldest mosques in Europe, it was completed in 1567. The mosque gets its name from the phrase Banya Bashi, which literally means “many baths.” The most outstanding feature of the mosque is that it was actually built over a natural thermal spa. You can even see steam coming up through vents at the base near the walls of the mosque. The mosque is famous for its large dome and minaret. Currently, Banya Bashi is the only functioning mosque in Sofia.
Architecture
The main building of the mosque is quadrangular. Among the four corner domes rises the central dome and minaret. In front there is an extension with three small domes. It was built in memory of Kada's late wife Seyfullah Efendi. The Banya Bashi Mosque is an interesting architectural creation that reflects the specifics of Ottoman architectural thought in the 16th century. The mosque was built by the Ottoman architect Sinan. The walls of the mosque are made of stone and brick, with rows of red bricks inserted between the rows of stones. In the four corners, as in the Maqbul Ibrahim Pasha Mosque in Razgrad, there are small towers, under which support structures descend through hoops. Double supports are installed in the corners of the sixteen-ray hoops. The walls of the prayer hall, like the arches, are made of cut stone. The columns are made of solid stone and have a matte color. The arch above the front door is also made of stone. The central dome is covered with tin plates. The minaret of the mosque is an elegant architectural work. According to Evliya Celebi, the beauty of this minaret has no equal in Sofia. The interior of the mosque acquired its current appearance as a result of repeated reconstructions. The last major reconstruction took place in the 20s of the 20th century with the financial support of the Turkish Ambassador to Sofia, Fethi Bey. Partial repairs, painting, plastering, were carried out after the Second World War. In recent decades, repairs have been carried out with the help of Turkish and Arab waqfs. With their support, an underfloor heating system was installed. In its current state, the mosque can accommodate about 700 Muslims for Friday prayers and up to 1,200 Muslims for Eid al-Adha. In the past, near the mosque there were the graves of Mullah Efendi Kada Seifullah and Emin Dede
: 42°41?58 s. w. 23°19?21 in. d. / 42.6995111° s. w. 23.3225750° E. d. / 42.6995111; 23.3225750 (G) (O) (I)
Banya Bashi Mosque
Banya Bashi Mosque (Bulgarian: Banya Bashi Jamia, Turkish: Banya BasCamii) is a mosque in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Built on the initiative and with the financial assistance of the benefactor Mullah Efendi Kada Seifullah. Thus, in different sources the mosque is indicated under the name “Molla Efendi” mosque or as “Kady Seifullah”. On a stone located in the arch above the door there is a text written in old paint that is impossible to read. The date 974 is indicated under the text, which gives reason to believe that the mosque was built in 974 according to the Hijri (Islamic calendar) or 1566 - 1567
Banya Bashi Mosque at the end of the 19th century
Story
One of the oldest mosques in Europe, it was completed in 1567. The mosque gets its name from the phrase Banya Bashi, which literally means “many baths.” The most outstanding feature of the mosque is that it was actually built over a natural thermal spa. You can even see steam coming up through vents at the base near the walls of the mosque. The mosque is famous for its large dome and minaret. Currently, Banya Bashi is the only functioning mosque in Sofia.
Architecture
Minaret of the Banya Bashi Mosque 
Banya Bashi Mosque in summer
The main building of the mosque is quadrangular. Among the four corner domes rises the central dome and minaret. In front there is an extension with three small domes. It was built in memory of Kada's late wife Seyfullah Efendi.
Banya Bashi Mosque - view from Maria Luisa Boulevard
The Banya Bashi Mosque is an interesting architectural creation that reflects the specifics of Ottoman architectural thought in the 16th century. The mosque was built by the Ottoman architect Sinan. The walls of the mosque are made of stone and brick, with rows of red bricks inserted between the rows of stones. In the four corners, as in the Maqbul Ibrahim Pasha Mosque in Razgrad, there are small towers, under which support structures descend through hoops. Double supports are installed in the corners of the sixteen-ray hoops. The walls of the prayer hall, like the arches, are made of cut stone. The columns are made of solid stone and have a matte color. The arch above the front door is also made of stone. The central dome is covered with tin plates. The minaret of the mosque is an elegant architectural work. According to Evliya Celebi, the beauty of this minaret has no equal in Sofia.
Banya Bashi Mosque
The interior of the mosque acquired its current appearance as a result of repeated reconstructions. The last major reconstruction took place in the 20s of the 20th century with the financial support of the Turkish Ambassador to Sofia, Fethi Bey. Partial repairs, painting, plastering, were carried out after the Second World War. In recent decades, repairs have been carried out with the help of Turkish and Arab waqfs. With their support, an underfloor heating system was installed.
In its current state, the mosque can accommodate about 700 Muslims for Friday prayers and up to 1,200 Muslims for Eid al-Adha. In the past, near the mosque there were the graves of Mullah Efendi Kada Seifullah and Emin Dede
Story
It is one of the oldest European mosques. Its construction was completed in 1567. The name “Bashi Bath” literally means “many baths.” The most outstanding feature of the mosque is undoubtedly the fact that it was built over a natural thermal spa. Tourists can see with the naked eye how steam flows up the valves at the base of the mosque. The mosque is also famous for its large dome and minaret. Today, Banya Bashi is the only functioning mosque in Sofia. 
Architecture
The main building of the mosque has a quadrangular shape. Among the four corner domes rises a minaret and a central dome. In front there is an extension with three miniature domes. This building was built in memory of Kada's late wife Seyfullah Efendi.
The Bashi Bath is a very interesting architectural creation that reflects the specifics of Ottoman architectural thought of the sixteenth century. The famous Ottoman architect worked on the creation of such an unusual and luxurious project. The walls of the mosque are made of brick and stone, with rows of red bricks interspersed between the slender rows of stones.
In four different corners, just like in the Maqbul Ibrahim Pasha Mosque in Razgrad, there are small towers, under which support structures descend through hoops. There are double supports in the corners of the sixteen-rayed hoops. The walls of the prayer hall, like the arches, are made of cut stone. The columns were built from solid stone and were matte in appearance. The arch over the main entrance is also made of stone. 
The central dome is covered with tin plates. The minaret of the mosque is an elegant architectural work. Architectural expert Evliy Celebi believes that the beauty of this minaret has no equal in the capital of Bulgaria.
Now let's go inside: the interior of the mosque acquired its current appearance as a result of repeated alterations and reconstructions. The last major restructuring took place in the 20s of the 20th century with the financial support of the Turkish Ambassador to Sofia, Fethi Bey.
Something was repaired, tinted, plastered just after the end of World War II. In recent years, restorations have been carried out with the support of Turkish and Arab waqfs. With their help, an underfloor heating system was installed, thanks to which the mosque is warm at any time of the year. 
Today, the mosque can accommodate about 700 people for Friday prayers, and up to 1200 for Eid al-Adha! Once upon a time, next to the mosque there were the graves of Mullah Efendi Kada Seifullah and Emin Dede.
