Kestanepazarı Mosque
The Kestanepazarı Mosque in the Kemeraltı Bazaar in İzmir, or the Kızıl İbrâhim Mosque, Ahmed Ağa Mosque with its other names, was built by Eminzade Hacı Ahmed Ağa in Hijri 1078 (1667-68 Gregorian), according to a four-line inscription that does not exist today but is recorded in Evliya Çelebi. was built by On the new inscription made near the present day, the date of construction is written as Hijri 1079 (Gregorian 1663). Eminzade Hacı Ahmed Ağa, who was the minister of Baruthane-i Âmire, also had foundations in Üsküdar district of Istanbul. The building, which is mentioned as Hacı Ahmed Ağa Mosque in a foundation record dated 1730, is referred to as Kızıl İbrâhim Mosque from the foundation of the same person in two foundation records dated 1735 and 1838. Thus, two more old names of the mosque, which are not used today but are mentioned in old documents, are known. According to Ahmet Vefa Çobanoğlu, while there was Kızıl İbrahim Mosque in its place at the time, it was rebuilt by Ahmed Ağa in 1078 (1667-68). According to the hanging sign, it was written in its inscription: This Mosque is a building and a work dedicated by Eminzade Hacı Ahmet Ağa. The date of construction: 1663 Gregorian, Arabi 1079. In his inscription, it is written: Cenâb sahibül hayrat Ahmet Agha hasseten lillah. This ali built the mosque. Kast-ı hayr was nagâh. It was built in the area known as the chestnut market between Başdurak Mosque and Şadırvanaltı Mosque. In addition to these two mosques, Kemeraltı Mosque is among the most important historical mosques in Kemeraltı, along with Konak Yalı Mosque and Hisar Mosque. The mosque, which was damaged by a great fire in the 19th century and underwent renovation, underwent another restoration in 1965. The historical Kestanepazarı Mosque, which was restored in 1993, was reopened with a ceremony in February 1998, especially since the carrier vaults were damaged by the earthquake that last occurred in 1992 in İzmir.
