Konak (Yalı) Mosque
Konak Mosque, also known as Yalı Mosque, is a mosque located in Izmir, Turkey. It is located in Konak district, in Konak Square in the city center. The mosque, which was built in the 18th century in the style of classical Ottoman architecture, decorated with turquoise tiles, is a building identified with Konak Square. Next to it are the Izmir Clock Tower, the Government House and the First Bullet Monument erected for Hasan Tahsin, who was killed by the Greeks on May 15, 1919. There is no definite information about when the mosque was built and by whom. It is said that it was named "Mansion" because it was located by the sea at the time it was built. In some sources, the construction date of the mosque is given as 1755. In some sources, there is information that the mosque was built by Katipzade Mehmet Pasha, the notable of Izmir, in 1774, next to his wife Ayşe Hanım, together with a madrasah. Since the Katipzadeler family is known to have close relations with foreigners, it is also known as the "English Ayşe Mosque". The madrasah structure, which is thought to be next to the mosque, has not survived. It is known that Governor Rahmi Bey repaired the mosque during World War I. There is an inscription stating this repair on the entrance door. It is thought that this repair was made by Architect Tahsin Sermet because of the similarity of the marble ornaments on the door of the mosque with the marble ornaments in the Izmir National Library and Izmir National Cinema, which are the work of Architect Tahsin Sermet. The mosque was repaired once again in 1964. During this repair, most of the Kütahya tiles on the facade of the mosque were removed and only the window and door jambs were left. Before the final arrangements, the exterior of the building was completely covered with Kütahya tiles, today the window surrounds and pediments are decorated with the best Kütahya tiles of the 19th century. The tiles are signed by Hafız Mehmed Emin Efendi.
